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April 2014

Gerontology Honors Student Elaine Roh wins 1st Prize in the University’s Undergraduate Symposium

By Featured, Honors and Awards, Mitochondria, Student Profile

With guidance from Dr. Sean Curran and Dr. ShanShan Pang of the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, gerontology honors student, Elaine Roh made a lasting impression on the judges with her study entitled: Adaptive Capacity to Bacterial Diet Modulates Aging in C. elegans. [ Read a Summary of her Research]

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USC Leonard Davis MSG Student, Alexander Woodman, receives Academic Support Peer Achievement Award

By Diversity, Featured, Honors and Awards, Student Profile

Alex Woodman's Picture

Alexander Woodman, a student in the Master of Science in Gerontology program was recently awarded an Academic Support Peer Achievement Award for significant contributions advising and tutoring students who craved the opportunity to transfer to USC from other colleges and universities around the world. As a former Bruin who has flourished at USC, Alexander enjoys opening the door of opportunity for ambitious people who want to join the Trojan family.

Prior to coming to USC, Alexander built his career developing and facilitating culturally and socially-diverse intercultural discussions among academics studying social justices and cultural diversity. He worked closely with scholars from Thailand, Cambodia, France, and the United Arab Emirates to develop research papers studying public health and social issues facing local populations and migrants to these countries now facing minority status. He gained a passion for Autopathography, an experience where older adults explore how their health issues affect their daily lives. This experience opened his eyes to the reality of aging, and inspired his interest in research on aging.

Alexander is writing a research paper now, in collaboration with Dr. Aaron Hagedorn, analyzing data he collected in Thailand using surveys that investigate the health and social needs of migrants in Thailand accessing local health care resources. He plans to eventually become a scholar focused on issues of gerontology, global health, and life –span development. Alexander will spend his summer at Harvard University working collaboratively with faculty at Harvard School of Public Health on a research project. He enjoys mentoring and advising students as part of their and his professional development and interest in academic leadership.

Alexander is grateful to the scholarship donors who have made his dream of learning from the best and brightest in the field of Aging possible.

The Vibrant Living Retreat: Optimizing Our Capacity

By Featured, Giving

IMG_8934The Rancho Valencia Resort in Rancho Santa Fe proved to be the perfect setting for the 2014 USC Leonard Davis School Vibrant Living Retreat. Amid 45 acres of lush gardens and olive groves, retreat attendees were inspired to renew their commitment to a healthy lifestyle. “This is terrific experience,” said Mary Lou Dauray, an attendee and patron of the Davis School, “the ambience was perfect; talks enlightening; food choices could not have been better; our experience will always be remembered.”

Over a dozen experts in the field of health and longevity shared the latest science and practice related to maintaining health and well-being throughout the life course.

Fitness experts Kathy Smith and Wayne Lehrer pictured above, were instructive as well as inspirational. Smith, a fitness icon and legend, led a group power walk through the botanical gardens and later joined Lehrer, the School’s go to yogi, in the resort’s new yoga pavilion where participants learned about leading a more balanced life through Hatha yoga. “Hatha yoga is a powerful tool for self-transformation,” said Lehrer, as he oversaw his students stretched out in a cobra pose.

Carin Kreutzer, Ed.D., MPH, RD, the Davis School’s resident dietitian, provided attendees with personalized nutritional advice. Dr. Kreutzer also oversaw the selection of the sumptuous and healthy meals served throughout the weekend.IMG_8937

A series of special lectures were provided by some of the most prestigious names in academia including Eileen Crimmins, PhD, AARP Chair and University Professor, Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD, the Rita and Edward Polusky Chair in Education and Aging, as well as Dean Pinchas Cohen, MD, the William and Sylvia Kugel Dean’s Chair in Gerontology who spoke about personalized aging and what the revolution in genomics means for the future of the science of aging.

Special guest lectures were given by Nir Barzilai, MD, from Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York, William Aronson, MD Chief of Urology at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, and John Rowe, MD Professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

If you are interested in attending the USC Leonard Davis School’s 2015 Vibrant Living Retreat, contact Whitney Fountas at fountas@usc.edu for more information.

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