The American Geriatrics Society extends its warmest congratulations to ADGAP President George Kuchel, MD, CM, FRCP on his appointment as a member expert of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP develops recommendations on the safe use of vaccines in the United States.
Dr. Kuchel, who became President of the Association of Directors of Geriatrics Academic Programs in spring 2024, is Director of both the UConn Center on Aging and the Claude D Pepper Older Americans Independence Center at the University of Connecticut. He has significant expertise and knowledge in vaccines and immunology, particularly in older adults, including performing preclinical and clinical research involving influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. His work includes investigating the role of biological aging in immune responses to influenza, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccinations in older adults.
Work conducted by Dr. Kuchel, as well his collaborators at UConn, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, and elsewhere includes efforts to develop more effective vaccines for older patients while focusing on the impact of aging, chronic conditions, and frailty on immune responses to vaccination. Nationally, Dr. Kuchel has been an ardent advocate for the developing field of geroscience through his involvement in clinical trials for therapies or preventative approaches for chronic diseases and infections to slow their onset and progression, while also improving resilience.
“Dr. Kuchel’s in-depth knowledge of the aging process, immunosenescence, and the unique health challenges faced by older adults positions him as an invaluable asset to the ACIP. His ability to bridge clinical research and practical application ensures that vaccination strategies will be effectively tailored to meet the needs of everyone in our society including older adults,” said AGS President Mark A. Supiano, MD, AGSF. “We know that Dr. Kuchel, the first geriatrician voting member of ACIP, will make significant contributions to public health given his expertise and knowledge. We are grateful to Ken Schmader, MD, who has long served as the AGS representative to ACIP and delighted that Dr. Kuchel has been appointed as voting member of ACIP.”
In addition to serving as the President of ADGAP, Dr. Kuchel’s leadership within AGS includes serving as a Deputy Editor of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) and leadership of the Special Interest Group on Geroscience. Previously, Dr. Kuchel was a member of the AGS Research Committee and led a U13 Bench to Bedside conference series focused on delirium, sleep, and incontinence. He continues to contribute to the series which has been funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) since 2004. Dr. Kuchel is a tireless advocate for improving health, independence, and quality of life for all of us as we age.
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About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Our 6,000+ members include geriatricians, geriatrics nurse practitioners, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists who are pioneers in advanced illness care for older individuals, with a focus on championing interprofessional teams, eliciting personal care goals, and treating older people as whole persons. AGS believes in a just society, one where we all are supported by and able to contribute to communities where ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other forms of bias and discrimination no longer impact healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for older adults and their caregivers. AGS advocates for policies and programs that support the health, independence, and quality of life of all of us as we age. AGS works across patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org.