Congratulations to Elizabeth Perkins, RNMH, and PhD Candidate in the School of Aging Studies, for her recent appointment as President of the Gerontology Division for the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD).  AAIDD is the oldest (since 1876) and largest interdisciplinary organization of professionals, educators, researchers, and clinicians, whose focus is on intellectual disabilities and related disabilities. Over 7,000 people in the U.S. and 55 other countries are members of AAIDD. AAIDD has been responsible for officially defining "intellectual disabilities" since its inception and publishes two of the most highly ranked journals in the field, American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Ms. Perkins, who is a Registered Nurse for people with intellectual disabilities (from the UK),  says “I am thrilled at the opportunity to undertake a leadership role in such a prestigious organization, and to push the agenda of aging-related issues for persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their caregivers".

The School of Aging Studies held its Annual Preceptor Award Reception on April 4th, 2008 in Campus View East Room at the Marshall Center. Each year the School of Aging Studies awards outstanding students in the field of Gerontology. The following scholarship awards were given:

The School of Aging Studies also honors faculty who have shown outstanding teaching and service in the field of Gerontology. This year’s faculty awards were given to:

The awards ceremony for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Teaching Assistant were held on April 15.  Provost Ralph Wilcox presented the awards this year. It proved to be a great day for the Aging Studies department! 

The Provost's Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Teaching Assistant was awarded to Elizabeth Perkins. She was presented with a plaque and a check for $1000.

Chivon Mingo and Brianne Stanback both received the Provost's Commendation for Outstanding Teaching, and were also presented with plaques to commemorate their achievement.

They were accompanied by Dr. Cathy McEvoy and Dr. William Haley.

Dr. Jessica McIlvane, Assistant Professor in the USF School of Aging Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, has been awarded the William R. Jones Outstanding Mentor Award. Dr. McIlvane receives the  award for her “Outstanding Contribution to the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program.”  Dr. McIlvane, nominated for this award by Ph.D. in Aging Studies student, Chivon Mingo, will receive the award at the Annual McKnight Doctoral Fellows Conference sponsored by the Florida Education Fund (FEF) on November 10th 2007 at the Awards and Induction Ceremony being held at the Tampa Airport Marriott, Tampa, FL.

USF Magazine
Global Learning
By Ann Carney

Elizabeth Perkins, RNMH, a Doctoral Candidate in the School of Aging Studies Program, is one of the featured International students in the Fall issue of USF Magazine. To read the full Global Learning article  http://usfweb2.usf.edu/ur/usfmagazine/magazine_pdfs/USFMag_Fall2007.pdf

The USF School of Aging Studies had its annual “Welcome Back Kickoff - New Student Reception” on August 30, 2007-2008. Dr. Cathy McEvoy, Director of the School of Aging Studies, welcomed everyone back for another year and gave the “State-of-the School’s Annual Report. To see report……

Congratulations to Dr. Yanen Li

Congratulations to Kathy Hyer, Ph.D.,  Associate Professor, USF School of Aging Studies, College of Arts and Sciences and Director,  USF Training Academy on Aging, Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, who has been named a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  This honor is awarded only after achieving national distinction in the field of aging research.

Poster

Dr. Sandra Reynolds, Associate Professor and Assistant Director for Academic Affairs in the School of Aging Studies, College of Arts and Sciences has received one of 10 awards given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Center for Health Statistics at its recent conference celebrating 50 years of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which is the primary source of information on the US population’s health. Dr. Reynolds was one of thousands invited to submit an idea for a poster that would best display the productive use of the NHIS in researching the health of the population. Out of all those invited to submit, approximately 40 persons submitted for the 10 possible winning awards.

Dr. Reynolds poster is entitled, “Using the National Health Interview Surveys to Understand Older Adults’ Health”, in which she highlights work she has collaborated on with Drs. Eileen Crimmins (University of Southern California), Yasuhiko Saito (Nihon University, Tokyo), and Christine Himes (Syracuse University).  The thrust of the research in the poster is to continue and enlighten the dialogue going on about whether older adults are living longer and better, or not.  The results showed inconsistent evidence of positive trends in health, along with some evidence that the health of aging baby boomers may not be as good in old age as the health of their parents in old age.  Baby boomers are already showing signs of increases in work disability, musculoskeletal and orthopedic problems, diabetes, and obesity.  The public policy implications are major, especially to the extent that Congress has lulled itself to sleep on future funding for long term care, based on the assumption that

Congratulations to Dr. Mihaela (Mishu) Popa for successfully defending her Ph.D in Aging Studies doctoral dissertation “Modifiable Factors for Disability:  Is there Potential for Reducing Racial Disparities in Disability in Older Age?,” on Friday July 06, 2007, 10:00am, In Rm #MHC 1329.

Congratulations to Dr. Helen Zayac, for successfully defending her Ph.D. in Aging Studies dissertation “COMMUNITY CONTEXT AND HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG OLDER ADULTS,” on June 29th,  2007 at 3:00pm in Westside Conference E.

Dr. Sandra Reynolds Hosts International Conference

Dr. Sandra Reynolds, Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Academic Affairs, USF School of Aging Studies, College of Arts and Sciences hosted the 19th Annual Meeting of Réseau Espérance de Vie en Santé (REVES) International Network on Health Expectancy on May 15-17 at the Tradewinds Island Resort in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. Theme for this year’s conference was “Fresh Approaches to Population Health: Healthy Behavior and Bio-Demography.”

The agenda of REVES is always to explore trends in health expectancy across the globe. REVES includes over 150 scientists and policy makers representing 30 countries worldwide as well as a wide range of professional disciplines including demography, epidemiology, gerontology, sociology, psychology, public health, health policy, health economics, medicine, biology and statistics. Researches from Japan, Denmark, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Germany, the UK and the USA shared their findings and compared interpretation of health expectancies both cross-nationally and over time. The researchers promote the use of standardized methods for collection of underlying health and disability data for and calculation of health expectancies.

The Sponsors for this year’s conference included College of Arts and Sciences, AARP, University of South Florida, Florida Health Policy and Research Center.

Kudos to Karon Phillips, a USF School of Aging Studies Ph.D., student in being selected to receive The AARP Office of Diversity and Inclusion  AARP Student Fellowship to the upcoming Diversity and Aging  in the 21st Century Conference on June 19-21, 2007 in Los Angeles, California at the Hotel Bonaventure. Ms. Phillips was previously awarded a summer internship with the AARP Office of Diversity and Inclusion and will provide assistance to Office of Policy Integration (OPI) staff in reviewing Association policy to ensure that diversity and inclusion are represented; to assist with research on key policy issues in the areas of economic security, health and consumer protections; and to assist in the ongoing efforts of OPI staff to ensure that policy respects the values and individual differences among various segments of the population.    

Congratulations to Ms. Nonna Kozlenko, a USF School of Aging Studies graduate, on being accepted at Nova Southeastern Doctor of Osteopathic Medical Program. Ms. Kozlenko will begin her medical school training in early August.

Kudos to Ms. April Slack, a USF School of Aging Studies Ph.D. in  Aging Studies student, in being awarded an AARP summer internship in the Department of Policy Integration in Washington, DC.  Ms. Slack will be assisting with research on long-term care and the economic security of older adults.

Dr. Ladislav (Laddie) Volicer, MD, PhD., professor in the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida, Tampa campus, is the cover story in the May/June 2007 issue of Advance For Long Term Care Management  magazine. The article written by Liz Rosto & Maureen McAndrews, is entitled: “Making the Case for Comfort Care.” Dr. Volicer is one of the nation’s pre-eminent Alzheimer’s researchers and has published many volumes in regard to his research. He is currently working in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association on a Campaign for Quality Residential Care. Scheduled to be released this summer at the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Conference are new guidelines on improving end-of-life care for people with advanced dementia.

If interested you may obtain a free subscription to the magazine at the following website:

http://long-term-care.advanceweb.com/Common/SignUp/SignUp.aspx?Setup=Subscribe

Congratulations to Ms. Shady Khorram, a Premed/Gerontology graduate, on being accepted to the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. Shady stated, “I started out being a molecular biology major and found that to be boring and then took one gerontology class and was hooked and felt like the major really provided very beneficial information to everyday life. Shady also said, “Everyone is going to grow old one day and I believe we should have knowledge of what is going to happen to us and how we can support one another better.” Shady was a student athlete and ran track and cross country.  She has been a runner since the age of 7, competing competitively, so injuries to her lower extremities like stress fractures, ankle sprains, toe sprains, etc. is all  to familiar.  Shady said, “her podiatrist was a life saver, and if my feet felt good so did the rest of my body, my knees stopped hurting, along with my back.”

Chivon Mingo, M.A., a USF School of Aging Studies Ph.D. in Aging Studies student, has been accepted to participate in the 2007 Michigan Center for Urban African American Aging Research (MCUAAAR) Summer Program to be held at Wayne State University June 4-6, 2007.  “For more information about The MCUAAAR Workshop http://mcuaaar.wayne.edu/about.php

March 28, 2007, USF Students in the USF School of Aging Studies Gerontology Program and the Administrator of  Whispering Oaks Long Term Care Center attended “Nursing Home Administrator's Legislative Day” in Tallahassee, FL.

Students from the School of Aging Studies Gerontology Program were invited to participate in meeting legislators as part of their membership in the USF student chapter of American College of Health Care Executives (ACHCE). The above photo (from left to right) Ms. Cindy from Whispering Oaks Long Term Care Center;  students attending were Ms. Siberia Swain,  who is in her last semester in the B.S. in Gerontology Program; Ms. Celine Carty, a second semester graduate student in Gerontology, and Ms. Nancy Thurman the Administrator of Whispering Oaks Long Term Care Center. If you would like more information about joining ACHCE contact Dr. Kathryn Hyer at khyer@cas.usf.edu or call 813-974-3232.

Kudos to Giyeon Kim, M.A., a Ph.D. in Aging Studies student in receiving  The Southern Gerontological  Society’s (SGS) Student Award for “Best Paper.” The announcement and presentation was made at a luncheon at the SGS annual meeting on April 14th, 2007. Ms. Kim’s  paper extends the work she has been doing on metric equivalence of standard screening tools in mental health.

Kudos to Ph.D. in Aging Studies students Ms. Elizabeth Perkins and Ms. Elizabeth Bergman in receiving a 2007 "Provost's Commendation For Outstanding Teaching By A Graduate Teaching Assistant".  

Ms. Nonna Kozlenko received one of the Undergraduate Research Awards for her work entitled: “Depressive Symptoms Increase Mortality and Disability in Older Adults: A Prospective Study of Life Expectancy”   Dr. William Haley served as second author and  her  Research Mentor was Dr. Sandra Reynolds from the School of Aging Studies.

Congratulations to USF School of Aging Studies 2007 Scholarship and Faculty Awardees

The School of Aging Studies held its Annual Preceptor Award Reception on April 5th, 2007 in Westside Conference Center. Each year the School of Aging Studies awards outstanding students in the field of Gerontology. The following scholarship awards were given:
Ms. Kali Thomas received The Harold L. Sheppard  Endowed Memorial Scholarship Award;
Ms.Chelsea Reimer received the Tollette Family Endowed Scholarship in Gerontology Award
Mr.Thomas Cardillo received The Dick Rotsell  Memorial Endowed Scholarship in Gerontolgoy Florida Health Care Association, District V Award.

The School of Aging Studies also honors faculty who have shown outstanding teaching and service in the field of Gerontology. This year’s faculty awards were given to
Dr. Cathy McEvoy who received the Wiley P. Mangum Service Award in Gerontology for her Outstanding Service in the field of Gerontology
Dr. Brent Small received the Sue V. Saxon Teaching Award in Gerontology.

All preceptors received a Certificate of Appreciation

TampaBay Newspapers
Largo Leader
By: Joe Harless
Thursday, April 5th 2007

Student’s Success Continues

LARGO – From an outside perspective, David Herrington has led a life that few people see outside of inspirational movies. The kind of life where everything that could be thrown in the way of his success and his accomplishments have been all the more spectacular for it. More… http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/largo_leader/content_articles/040507_lle-01.txt

St. PeteTimes Online North Pinellas
June 9, 2002
By: Aaron Sharockman

Interested in reading the original article. Read more …….. http://www.stpetetimes.com/2002/06/09/NorthPinellas/Mom_would_be_proud.shtml

Congratulations to Dr. Deborah K. Hedgecock, in receiving her Ph.D. in Aging Studies. by successfully defending her doctoral dissertation “THE PRELIMINARY IMPACT OF 2001 FLORIDA TORT REFORM ON NURSING FACILITY LITIGATION IN ONE COUNTY.” on March 30th, 2007, 2:00pm in Rm 1430 in Aging & Mental Health.

Helen Zayac's poster, "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Availability, Accessibility, and Quality of Healthcare in Florida" was awarded best poster on Environmental and Global Health Research by a Graduate Student for USF Health Research Day, on Friday, February 23, 2007. She will receive a plaque and a cash award. Helen's chairs are Drs. Jennifer Salmon and David Chiriboga.  She also worked with her committee member Dr. Steven Reader, Geography, on this poster.

http://health.usf.edu/medicine/research/COM%20ResNow%20vol2%20iss3.pdf

There were 150 poster presentations, of which only 17 won Graduate Student Awards.  I am pleased for Helen and her mentors, and of course this is another indication of the high quality of our PhD in Aging Studies students and the value of their campus wide collaborative efforts.  I am also pleased that USF Health has encouraged Aging Studies students to participate—we truly are a campus wide PhD program. William Haley

student in the School of Aging Studies Ph.D. program,  in having her article, “Self- and Proxy Reports Across Three Populations; Older Adults, Persons With Alzheimer’s Disease, and Persons With Intellectual Disabilities” accepted for publication in the Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, Volume 4 Number 1 pp 1-10 March 2007.

Congratulations to Dr. Jung Kwak for receiving one of the 2007 Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards at the Outstanding Doctoral Dissertaion and Master Thesis Award Ceremony on January 16th, 2007. http://usfweb3.usf.edu/absolutenm/templates/?a=98&z=14

http://usfweb3.usf.edu/absolutenm/templates/?a=98&z=10

Congratulations to Chivon Mingo, a School of Aging Studies PhD in Aging Studies student. Ms. Mingo is the first author of a recent article published in Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis Care & Research), one of the top journals in Rheumatology. The article is entitled, “Impact of the Diagnostic Label of Osteoarthritis on Perceptions of Disability and Willingness to Help a Parent in African Americans and Whites.” Ms. Mingo conducted the study with Drs. McIlvane and Haley who are co-authors on the paper. The article can be found in the Volume 55, No. 6, December 2006 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism (Arthritis Care & Research) on pages 913–919.