The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) -- the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging -- has chosen Richard Schulz, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh as the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology Award.
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. To be eligible, the mentor must have had influence on graduate, undergraduate, and professional students as evidenced by the number and accomplishments of these mentees. The winner's influence on the next generation of gerontologists also may be evident through training programs, written materials associated with pedagogy, research supervision, or clinical training. Membership in GSA's Behavioral and Social Sciences Section also is required.
The award presentation will take place at GSA's 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 16 to 20 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This conference is organized to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners who specialize in the study of the aging process. Visit http://www.geron.org/2016 for further details.
At the University of Pittsburgh, Schulz is the director of the University Center for Social and Urban Research; a distinguished service professor of psychiatry in the School of Medicine; director of the gerontology program; director of the Geriatric Education Center of Pennsylvania; director of the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Program; and the associate director of the Aging Institute. He also holds several adjunct positions.
Throughout his 32-year tenure at the university, Schulz has mentored dozens of students, pre- and post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty members from a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, psychiatry, sociology, psychology, social work, and health and rehabilitation.
Schulz's research career has focused on adult development and aging. His work encompasses social-psychological aspects of aging, including the impact of disabling late life disease on patients and their families. He has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than three decades to conduct descriptive longitudinal and intervention research on diverse older populations representing illnesses such as cancer, spinal cord injury, stroke, Alzheimer´s disease, heart disease, and arthritis.
Schulz also is a GSA fellow, which represents the Society's highest class of membership, and a previous recipient of GSA's Robert W. Kleemeier Award.
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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 5,500+ 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.