The Gerontological Society of America has chosen Kyriakos S. Markides of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to receive its 2006 Award for the Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology. This honor is given to individuals who have not only fostered excellence in the field, but have made a major impact by virtue of their mentoring, and whose inspiration is sought by students and colleagues.
The award presentation will take place at GSA's 59th Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 16th-20th, 2006 in Dallas, TX. The actual conferral will occur on Saturday the 18th at 12:15 p.m. at the Adam's Mark Dallas Hotel. The meeting is organized to foster interdisciplinary interactions among clinical, administrative, and research professionals in the field of gerontology.
In his academic courses, Markides frequently describes health disparities in the U.S. population and then challenges students to hypothesize how social and behavioral factors might contribute to these patterns over the life course. Such exercises help the students to identify the challenges of epidemiologic research in older adults and motivate them to develop testable hypotheses and their own research projects. Outside the classroom, Markides continues to work closely with trainees on every stage of their projects - including the publication of a final report. Through this mentoring process, it is not surprising that his students publish multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts on aging and health by the time they complete their training.
To be eligible for the prize, the mentor must have had influence on graduate, undergraduate, and professional students as evidenced by the number and accomplishments of their mentees. Membership in GSA's Behavioral and Social Sciences section is required for the award.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA), founded in 1945, is the oldest and largest national multidisciplinary scientific organization devoted to the advancement of gerontological research. Its membership includes some 5,000+ researchers, educators, practitioners, and other professionals in the field of aging. The Society's principal missions are to promote research and education in aging and to encourage the dissemination of research results to other scientists, decision makers, and practitioners.