The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — has chosen David Chiriboga of the University of South Florida as the 2012 recipient of the Task Force on Minority Issues in Gerontology Outstanding Mentorship Award.
This distinguished honor is given annually to an individual who has exemplified outstanding commitment and dedication to mentoring minority researchers in the field of aging.
The award presentation will take place at GSA's 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 14 to 18 in San Diego. 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/annualmeeting for further details.
Chiriboga currently is a professor in the Department of Child & Family Studies within the Florida Mental Health Institute in the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences at the University of South Florida. His ongoing work includes a statewide study of mental and physical health disparities in Florida, disparities in service utilization among Medicaid beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease, as well as a state-contracted study of implementation issues surrounding initiation of reimbursement for telemental health by the Florida Medicaid agency.
He has a long history of producing outstanding researchers in the field of aging. During the past six years, he served as a mentor for more than ten graduate students and four postdoctoral fellows. He also was a mentor for the American Society on Aging's New Ventures in Leadership, which promotes the leadership potential of professionals of color and their involvement in the national aging arena.
He recently served as a member of the American Psychological Association's Working Group on Cultural Competency in Geropsychology within the Committee on Aging, and currently serves on the Florida Department of Health Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities advisory committee. In 2009, the University of South Florida Latin Community Advisory Committee presented him with the Hispanic Pathways Award, which recognizes outstanding research and/or outreach that creates pathways to the betterment of the lives of Latinos. In 2010, GSA's educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, presented him with the Hiram J. Friedsam Mentorship Award.
Chiriboga is a GSA fellow, which represents the Society's highest class of membership.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,400+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA's structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society, and an educational branch, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.