Visiting Scholar Series

Each year, the IOA hosts their Visiting Scholar Series featuring lectures from experts in the area of aging and aging-related research from various local and national institutes and organizations. The topics and discussions address basic and clinical research, social services and issues, public policy, and more.

The Visiting Scholars Series is open to the Penn community, the public, and those who are interested in aging - unless otherwise noted - but registration is appreciated.

Registration Options

2023

Old Bones and Second Skeletons
Robert Pignolo, MD, PhD
September 19, 2023
Event Recap

Brain Aging Across Time and Space: Using Network Science to Chart Disparities in Brain Health and Assess Alzheimer's Disease Risk and Resilience 
Gagan Wig, PhD
April 14, 2023
Event Recap

Functional Genomics of Neuroimmune Interactions in Alzheimer's Disease and Aging
Michael Haney, PhD
March 27, 2023
Event Recap

2022

Multimodal investigation of the heterogeneity of Alzheimer's disease clinical presentations
Renaud La Joie, PhD
December 7, 2022
Event Recap

Clinical and Pathological Studies of the Oldest-Old
Claudia Kawas, MD
May 23, 2022
Event Recap

TREM2 in Neurodegeneration and Cancer
Marco Colonna, MD
March 21, 2022
Event Recap

Toward Precision Medicine in Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Panos Roussos, MD, MS, PhD
March 17, 2022


2021

The NIH Approach to Inclusive Excellence 
Marie Bernard, MD
October 18, 2021
Event Recap

The Dementia-capable Health System: Present Challenges and Future Opportunities
Zaldy S. Tan, MD, MPH
May 26, 2021
Event Recap

Jan van Deursen, PhD
April 6, 2021

"Pandemic and Prejudice: Lessons from COVID-19 about Aging in America" 
Louise Aronson, MD, MFA
February 3, 2021
Event Recap


2020

Supported Decision Making in Older Adults: What it is and Why it Matters for Pennsylvanians
Nina Kohn, JD
March 5, 2020


2019

The Path to Zero is One: Accelerating Innovation and Discovery through a Precision Brain Health Approach
Rhoda Au, PhD
November 20, 2019
Event Recap

Social Hallmarks of Aging: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study
Eileen Crimmins, PhD
October 9, 2019
Event Recap

Protein Seeds as Pathogens: Prion diseases and prion-like features of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related diseases
Byron Caughey, PhD
April 18, 2019
Event Recap

Aging, Inflammation, and Immunity
Bonnie Blomberg, PhD
January 24, 2019
Event Recap


2018

E-Prognosis: Prognostic Models Clinicians Can Use
Alexander Smith, MD, MPH, MS
December 12, 2018
Event Recap

Ubiquitin pathways in age-related neurodegeneration
Henry Paulson, MD, PhD
April 5, 2018

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Frontotemporal Dementia and Related Disorders
Edward Huey, MD
April 3, 2018
Event Recap

What does it take to live a long and healthy life?
Anne Newman, MD, MPH
January 24, 2018
Event Recap


2017

Cerebrovascular Contributions to Alzheimer's Disease
Richard Mayeux, MD, MSc
November 30, 2017
Event Recap

Synaptic Pathology in Brain Aging and Cognitive Decline
Tom Montine, MD, PhD
November 20, 2017

Race, Risk Factors, and Pathology in Aging
Lisa Barnes, PhD
May 10, 2017

Unlocking the Mysteries of Delirium
Edward Marcantonio, MD, MS
April 18, 2017
Event Recap
Full Lecture


2016

Rejuvenation Biotechnology: Postponing ill-health via Comprehensive Damage Repair
Aubrey de Grey, PhD
December 6, 2016
Event Recap
Full Lecture


Developing Breakthrough Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease
Stephen Salloway, MD, MS
November 15, 2016
Event Recap

The Epigenetic Clock and Biological Age
Steve Horvath, PhD, ScD
April 12, 2016

Innovative Approaches to Research on Alzheimer's Disease Prevention: Designing and Implementing Large-scale Studies
Fran Grostein, ScD
January 21, 2016
Event Recap
Full Lecture

Interventions Targeting Fundamental Aging Processes: The Path to Translation
James L. Kirkland, MD, PhD
January 5, 2016
Event Recap


2015

Activating and Remodeling Dysfunctional Brain Circuits using Deep Brain Stimulation in Alzheimer's Disease
Andres M. Lozano, MD, PhD
November 17, 2015
Event Recap

Comparative Effectiveness Research on Home-and-Community Based Care
Christopher M. Murtaugh, PhD
November 10, 2015
Event Recap

Behavioral Health in the Nursing Home: Building a Web One Thread at a Time
Ann Marie Kolanowski, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN
April 29, 2015
Event Recap
Full Lecture

Is Cardiovascular Disease a Human Inevitability? Insights from the Bolivian Amazon
Michael Gurven, PhD
March 31, 2015
Event Recap

Geriatrics: From Bedside to Bench to Policy - Singing a Single Song in Seperate Keys
Neil Resnick, MD
March 17, 2015
Event Recap

Stress, Weight, and Reproductive Function
Sarah Berga, MD
February 26, 2015
Full lecture

Drugs that Forestall Aging - Extending Healthspan
Brian K. Kennedy, PhD
January 15, 2015
Event Recap

Precision Medicine for the Molecular and Clinical Complexity of Dementia
Tom Montine, MD, PhD
January 8, 2015
Event Recap
Full Lecture


2014

Dementia Screening Methods and Modeling Cognitive Change
James E. Galvin, MD, PhD
June 18, 2014
Event Recap

Long Term Care Settings for People with Dementia
Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD
April 1, 2014

Improving Physician Prescribing Practices and Medication Policy
Jerome "Jerry" Avorn, MD
March 27, 2014
Event Recap

Promoting and Transforming Palliative Care
Diane E. Meier, MD, FACP
January 23, 2014


2013

Translational Research Efforts in Neurotherapeutics and Clinical Care
Jeffrey Cummings, MD
October 29, 2013

Aging, Redox Signaling, and the Development of Osteoarthritis
Richard Loeser, Jr. MD
March 12, 2013

The Surprising Heterogenetiy in the Hazards of Hospitalization: Diagnosis Matters
Theodore Iwashyna, MD, PhD
February 27, 2013

Physical Activity: The Trek to Healthy Brain Aging
Kirk Erickson, PhD
January 24, 2013


2012

Mobility and Aging
Stephanie Studenski, MD, MPH
October 9, 2012

Maintaining Mobility in Old Age: The Role of Physical Activity
Jack Guralnik, MD, PhD
March 20, 2012
Event recap

Tracking the Health & Economic Implications of the U.S. Population's 'Brain Health': Findings from the Health and Retirement Study
Kenneth M. Langa, MD, PhD
January 26, 2012

Function Focused Care: Optimizing Function and Activity Among Older Adults
Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP
January 12, 2012
Event recap


2011

Towards Novel Therapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease
Todd Golde, MD, PhD
November 29, 2011

Sex, Stress, and the Brain: Hormone Actions Above the Hypothalamus via Novel Mechanisms
Bruce S. McEwen, PhD
May 6, 2011

The Oldest Old: 95 is the new 65
Claudia Kawas, MD
March 22, 2011

Can Simple Cells Model Complex Disease?
Susan L. Lindquist, PhD
January 25, 2011


2010

PET Imaging of Amyloid Plaque in Alzheimer's Disease – Insights into Pathogenesis of Disease
Daniel M. Skovronsky, MD, PhD
September 16, 2010 

Central Role of Sarcopenia in Frailty
Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD
April 8, 2010

The Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) Study: An urban study of health, race, and socioeconomic status
Michele K. Evans, MD
March 3, 2008

Drug Treatments for Dementia: Using the Past to Make Sense of the Present
Jesse F. Ballenger, PhD
February 4, 2010

Clinical Trials for Parkinson's Disease
Karl D. Kieburtz, MD, MPH
January 14, 2010

A Conversation on Breaking the Treatment Barrier: Moving from Disease Modification to Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease
Russell Katz, MD, and Zaven Khachaturian, PhD
January 7, 2010


2009

Mixed Pathology and Neural Reserve: Implications for the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease
David A. Bennett, MD
May 7, 2009

Selective Autophagy and Aging: Regulated Cleaning and Refueling
Ana Maria Cuervo, MD, PhD
April 30, 2009

Genetic and Environmental Influences on HEalth and Mental Health in Older African Americans
Keith E. Whitifield, PhD
April 16, 2009

Parkinson's Disease: Looking Forward to Tomorrow's Therapies
Ted Dawson, MD, PhD
April 9, 2009

The Challenges and Opportunites of an Aging Society
John (Jack) W. Rowe, MD
April 1, 2009

The Presymptomatic Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease Using Imaging and CSF Biomarkers
Mony J. De Leon, PhD
February 26, 2009

The Path Toward a High Value Health Care System
L. Gregory Pawlson, MD, MPH
February 17, 2009

Toward Understanding and Treating Polyglutamine Neurodegeneration
Henry L. Paulson, MD, PhD
February 12, 2009


2008

Facing the End of Life as a Hospital Patient: Spiritual Care Needs and Opportunities
Christina M. Puchalski, MD
December 3, 2008

Dementia and Cognitive Impairment: New Complications of Diabetes?
Lenore J. Launer, PhD
October 30, 2008

Experimental Therapeutics in Pre-Manifest Huntington's Disease
Ira Shoulson, MD
October 18, 2008

We Need To Do Something: An Alzheimer's Action Plan to Help Families through Key Decision Making
Lisa P. Gwyther, MSW
July 22, 2008

What's New in Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Ronald C. Peterson, MD, PhD
June 12, 2008

Of Birds and MAn - Speculations on the Basal Ganglia
Anne B. Young, MD, PhD
May 1, 2008

Translational Reseach in Lewy Body Disorders Symposium
April 29, 2008

Funding Opportunities from the Ellison Medical Foundation
Richard L. Sprott, PhD
March 18, 2008


2007

Opportunities for Translational Research
Evan C. Hadley, MD
November 7, 2007

Measuring the Impact of State Policy Changes on Nursing Home Quality
Vincent Mor, MD, PhD
October 25, 2007

Helping the Most Vulnerable: Emergency Prepardness, Older Adults, and Health Disparities
Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA
June 7, 2007

A Critical Perspective on Social Security Privatization
Carroll L. Estes, PhD
April 18, 2007

Penn Panel #2: Convergence of Medicine and Nursing Research
C. William Schwab, MD; Therese Richmond, PhD, FAAN, CRNP; Mary Ann Forciea, MD; Douglas J. Weibe, PhD
April 12, 2007

Prevention of Cognitive Impairment: Promising Directions in 2007
Kristine Yaffe, MD
April 11, 2007

Leadership, Politics, and the New Aging: Implications for the Emerging Latino Majority
Fernando Torres-Gil, PhD
March 28, 2007

Penn Panel #1: Convergence o Medicine and Nursing Research
Jerry Johnson, MD; Neville Strumpf, PhD, RN, FAAN; Deanna Grey-Micelo, DNSc, FAANP
March 22, 2007

Converging Lines of Evidence in Comparative Models of Aging: Exploring Human Animal Intersection
March 8, 2007

Novel Body Composition and Biochemical Markers of Obesity-related Risk for Older Persons
Tamara B. Harris, MD, MS
February 21, 2007


2006

Funding mechanisms and opportunities at the NIA and NIH
Felipe Sierra, PhD
October 30, 2006

New Research Directions in Delirium
Sharon K. Inouye, MD, PhD
October 11, 2006

Older Adult Mortality and BMI
Gabriel M. Leung, MD, MPH
October 9, 2006

The Mature Mind: The Potential for Creative Expression and Psychological Growth with Aging
Gene Cohen, MD, PhD
October 9, 2006

Race, The Life-Course, & Health Disparities
James S. Jackson, PhD
April 20, 2006

T Cell Replicative Senescense and Bone Homeostatus: Lessons from Aging and HIV Disease
Rita Effors, PhD
March 27, 2006

Toward a New Paradigm for Gerontological Education, Practice, and Research: Multigenerational Health, Development and Equality
Nancy Hooymna, PhD
March 23, 2006

Creativity in Dementia: Portraits of Artists
Bruce L. Miller, MD
March 1, 2006

Windows of Opportunity for Improving Translational Care: Time for a Plan
Eric Coleman, MD, MPH
February 2, 2006

Deciphering Exceptional Longevity: What we've learned from the New England Centenarian Study
Thomas Perls, MD, MPH
January 12, 2006 


2005

Alzheimer's Disease: The Care Trajectory as Developmental Processes
Geri R. Hall, PhD, ARNP, CS, FAAN
October 6, 2005

Food for Thought: Dietary Modification of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders
Mark Mattson, PhD
September 7, 2005

Mild Cognitive Impairment: What is it and can we treat it?
Leon J. Thal, MD
May 23, 2005

The Brave New World of Healthcare
Governor Richard D. Kamm
May 3, 2005

Medicare Matters: Healthcare, Aging, and the Social Contract
Christine Cassel, MD
April 7, 2005

The Arts & Sciene of Anti-Aging Therapies: Convergence of Theory and Practice
March 18-19, 2005

When I get Older, Losing my hair: The Family as Provider of Last Resort
Patricia Archbold, RN, DNSc, FAAN
February 3, 2005


2004

The Mind in the Hand
Rober Storr, MFA
December 2, 2004

Translational Research in Nursing: Sleep, Body Temperature and Hemodialysis
Kathy P. Parker, RN, CS, PhD
September 30, 2004