Skip to main content
search
Monthly Archives

November 2013

Founding dean of USC Davis School of Gerontology receives COAD award

By Featured, Honors and Awards

birrenJames Birren honored as a Lifetime Associate by the Center for Optimal Adult Development (COAD) for his service to the field of Adult Development. Considered one of the founders of gerontology, he was the founding dean of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and founding director of the Andrus Gerontology Center.  He continues his work in the field and remains engaged in teaching guided autobiography for older adults. Fellow COAD honorees include Laura Carstensen, Director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, and John R. Nesselroade of University of Virginia’s Department of Psychology.

Click here to see a list of previous honored COAD recipients.

USC and Buck Institute Launch Nation’s First PhD Program in Biology of Aging

By Featured

To tackle the rising prevalence of age-related diseases and the challenges and opportunities presented by a growing elderly population, the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging today announced a joint PhD program in the Biology of Aging, the first in the nation. The interdisciplinary doctoral program will draw on the two institutions’ long-established leadership and expertise in understanding the connection between aging and chronic disease through biomedical research..

USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology Launches Creativity and Aging Initiative

By Featured

Trojan Family Weekend marked the launch of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology’s new Creativity and Aging Initiative.  Engaging USC faculty, staff, students, and community members, the Creativity and Aging Initiative will host events to celebrate and explore the achievements of older artists, musicians, writers, actors, and dancers, as well as link to research and academics.

The opening event, The Ageless Artist: Art Fair and Exhibit, filled the Leonard Davis courtyard and lobby with work from 10 seasoned artists ranging from quilts, jewelry, furniture, prints, paintings, and fabric arts.

“I am delighted that we are able to showcase the creativity of artists of all ages,” said Leonard Davis School dean, Pinchas Cohen.  “In gerontology, we examine the concepts of lifespan and healthspan, and through this initiative, we will explore our creativity span.”

Highlighting the notion that artists are not restricted by age, and in turn often enriched by it, The Ageless Artist also included the inaugural exhibit of the Sophie Davis Art Gallery, established by a generous donation from Alan Davis, son of the School’s namesake.  The first of many rotating exhibits, it includes the expressive and thought-provoking work of Mary Lou Dauray and Orna Makleff.

The event concluded with the presentation, Creativity and Aging: Unlocking the Artist Within at Any Age.  It included a discussion by USC Leonard Davis Assistant Professor Tara Gruenewald on the importance to older adults of generativity – or their ability to make positive contributions to their communities. Dauray and Makleff shared words of wisdom to encourage Trojan parents, grandparents, and students that it is never too late to explore their creative side.  Highlighting how easy it is to dive into art making, USC Architecture professor, artist, and furniture designer Miller Fong demonstrated an app for iPhones and iPads. Called Artrage, the app can help unleash the inner artist in all of us – allowing users to draw and paint with their finger or stylus.  Writer and artist Dr. Francine Toder ended the presentation with inspiring recommendations from her book, The Vintage Years – Finding Your Inner Artist.

In the New Year, the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology’s Creativity and Aging Initiative will sponsor additional events and develop new endeavors in its research and academics. The Sophie Davis Art Gallery is open to the public during the School’s operating hours.

 

Electronic Consultations Break Down Barriers for Medicaid Patients in L.A. County

By Featured

Susan Enguídanos, MPH, PhD, assistant professor in the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, evaluates a program that wants to change and improve the referral process. With the eConsult study, she and her research colleagues – Alex Li, MD, Sajid Ahmed, and Sandy Atkins – looked at three specialist referrals in their study population: dermatology, nephrology, and endocrinology.

Close Menu