American Psychological Association honors WSU researcher for contributions to aging

The American Psychological Association's Committee on Aging recently presented its Award for the Advancement of Psychology and Aging to Peter Lichtenberg, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Gerontology and the Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute at Wayne State University. Lichtenberg was recognized for his outstanding contributions to clinical geropsychology that integrate science, practice, education, public interest and public policy.

"Dr. Lichtenberg has been instrumental in advancing Wayne State's Institute of Gerontology and enhancing its visibility in science, education and civic engagement both within Detroit and across the nation," said Hilary Ratner, Ph.D., vice president for research at Wayne State. "Peter is most deserving of this award for his hard work and dedication to his field."

Lichtenberg has authored numerous books and articles on assessment in clinical gerontology and advanced clinical practice. He is president of the American Psychological Association's Division 20 and chair of the APA's Committee on Aging. In addition, he serves as chair of the Behavioral and Social Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America.

In his 15 years of service as the director of the Institute of Gerontology, Lichtenberg helped develop the Lifespan Cognitive Neuroscience Research Program and the Aging and Health Disparities Research Program at WSU. He developed a continuing education program that serves more than 3,000 professionals each year and an independent funding effort that has raised more than $3 million dollars for the Institute of Gerontology's community programs. Lichtenberg also secured a grant from the National Institute on Aging for a pre-doctoral training program, whose graduates have continued gerontology research at universities nationwide, including the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Pittsburgh.

Lichtenberg received his bachelor's in psychology from Washington University, his master's in clinical psychology from Purdue University, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in geriatric neuropsychology at the University of Virginia Medical School. He is the author of several books, including the "Handbook of Assessment in Clinical Gerontology" and the "Handbook of Dementia: Psychological, Neurological and Psychiatric Perspectives."