With Top Awards, AGS Recognizes Outstanding Accomplishments in Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Practice

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) presented awards to outstanding researchers, clinicians, and educators during its Annual Scientific Meeting in May.

G. Paul Eleazer, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of both the Division of Geriatrics and the Geriatrics Fellowship Program at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine/Palmetto Health, received AGS' 2010 Dennis W. Jahnigen Memorial Award. The award honors an individual whose leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of geriatrics education at medical and health professional schools.

Jerome Epplin, MD, Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, received AGS' Clinician of the Year Award. The award recognizes the vital importance and contributions of geriatrics practitioners.

AGS' Nascher-Manning Award, which honors Dr. Ignatz Leo Nascher's pioneering work by recognizing an individual with distinguished lifelong achievement in clinical geriatrics, was presented to Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, Professor Emerita, Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing at New York University's College of Nursing.

AGS' Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award, presented each year to a clinician whose research results in significant improvements in the care of older patients, went to Cynthia M. Boyd, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and a member of the faculty of both Johns Hopkins' Center on Aging and Health and its Roger C. Lipitz Center for Integrated Healthcare. Dr. Boyd, who has a joint appointment with Hopkins' Department of Health Policy and Management as well, has made improving the care of older adults with multiple chronic conditions the focus of her groundbreaking research. She delivered the meeting's Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award Lecture, which provided an overview of this work.

Meghan Gerety, MD, received the Society's David H. Solomon Distinguished Public Service Award. The award honors Dr. Solomon's commitment to community service and to the advancement of geriatrics care and goes to an individual or organization committed to community service and to promoting the care of older adults. Dr. Gerety is Chief of Staff of the New Mexico VA Health Care System and Associate Dean and Professor of Medicine at the University of New Mexico.

Sharon Inouye, MD, MPH, Director of the Aging Brain Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center was honored with AGS' 2010 Henderson State-of-the-Art Award and delivered the meeting's Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecture. The Henderson Award goes to an individual whose research advances understanding of and responses to problems inherent in caring for older adults. Dr. Inouye's lecture focused on her seminal research on delirium and functional decline in hospitalized older adults.