The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) - the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging - has chosen Barbara Berkman, DSW, PhD, of Columbia University as the 2009 recipient of the Donald P. Kent Award.
This distinguished honor is given annually to a GSA member who best exemplifies the highest standards for professional leadership in gerontology through teaching, service, and interpretation of gerontology to the larger society.
The award presentation will take place at GSA's 62nd Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 18 to 22, 2009, in Atlanta, GA. This conference is organized to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners who specialize in the study of the aging process. Visit www.geron.org/am for further details.
Berkman is the Helen Rehr / Ruth Fizdale Professor of Health and Mental Health at the Columbia University School of Social Work and an adjunct professor in the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, NY.
She has directed 27 federally and foundation supported research projects focusing on issues in geriatrics, and is currently the principal investigator and director of the John A. Hartford Foundation's Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program. She is a former president of the Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research.
Berkman is also the author of the renowned "Handbook of Social Work in Health and Aging." Additionally, she is a GSA fellow, which represents the Society's highest class of membership.
The Kent award was created in 1973 in memory of Donald P. Kent for his outstanding leadership in translating research findings into practical use. The winner traditionally presents a lecture at the Annual Scientific Meeting the following year. The Kent lecture is expected to be one of the conference's highlights.
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