Friday Keynote:

Dr. Arthur C. Bartner

The Golden Legacy: 50 Years Leading The Spirit of Troy

Dr. Arthur C. Bartner earned his B.A., M.A. and Ed.D. in music education from the University of Michigan. In 1970, Dr. Bartner accepted an invitation from USC to direct the Trojan Marching Band. It was Dr. Bartner who introduced the band’s distinctive “drive-it” style of marching and revolutionized its sound by incorporating modern hits into its repertoire. Under Dr. Bartner’s direction, the band became known as “The Spirit of Troy,” and has earned the nickname, “Hollywood’s Band” with appearances at the Academy Awards, the Grammys, TV shows and films. Dr. Bartner retired in 2020 after completing his 51st season as director of the Trojan Marching Band. To learn more, visit uscband.usc.edu/dr-arthur-c-bartner.

Saturday Keynote:

Arnold Whitman

A Fireside Chat with Dean Pinchas Cohen and Arnold Whitman

Arnold Whitman is the founder and Executive Chairman of Formation Capital, a private investment firm focused on senior living and care. He is also the founder and managing partner of Generator Ventures, the first venture capital firm focused on the intersection of aging, healthcare, and technology. Mr. Whitman was a partner in Aging 2.0, which recently merged with CEOc (Louisville Healthcare CEO Council), and remains a member of their Chairman’s Circle. He is a board member at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and is leading the effort to establish a Technology and Aging Innovation Center on its campus. He is also is a board member of Genesis Healthcare, Chairman Emeritus of NIC (National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care) and on the board of ASHA (American Seniors Housing Association). In addition, he serves on the board of several digital health and age tech care companies.

Saturday Theme – Great Achievements in Longevity Research

• • Aging Research: Then and Now
    Pinchas Cohen, MD – Dean; William and Sylvia Kugel Dean’s Chair in Gerontology
    Edward Schneider, MD – Dean Emeritus; Professor of Gerontology, Medicine and Biology
  • Where the Rubber Hits the Road: 45 Years of Leadership in Policy, Practice, and Services Research  
    Kate Wilber, PhD – Mary Pickford Foundation Professor of Gerontology; Professor of Health Services Administration
  • Eat, Fast, Stay Younger
    Valter Longo, PhD – Edna M. Jones Professor of Gerontology; Professor of Biological Sciences
  • Aging into the Future: Tech-Enabled Care
    Katy Fike, PhD – Aging 2.0 Co-Founder; Generator Ventures Partner and Co- Founder

Sunday Theme – Future Directions in Cognition, Aging and Healthspan Sciences

• • Neuroimaging and Informatics in Alzheimer’s Disease Research
    Arthur Toga, PhD – Provost Professor of Ophthalmology, Neurology, Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Radiology and Engineering; Ghada Irani Chair in Neuroscience
  • American Health and Longevity: The Future
    Eileen Crimmins, PhD  – University Professor; AARP Professor of Gerontology
  • Sex Differences in Aging: Are We Missing Half of the Picture?  
    Bérénice Benayoun, PhD  – Assistant Professor of Gerontology, Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
  • U.S. Health Care Spending in International Perspective  
    Mireille Jacobson, PhD  – Associate Professor of Gerontology; Assistant Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs

Saturday Afternoon Longevity Activities

In conjunction with the Ojai Valley Inn and others, we have orchestrated afternoon activities on Saturday to complement the healthy aging knowledge we will gain at the retreat. Come relax, enjoy and savor a different side of healthy aging through yoga and a faculty-led session by Dr. Leah Buturain Schneider titled “Identifying Your Meaning, Value, and Purpose: Strategies for Gratitude and Resilience.”

Special thanks to the retreat planning committee:
Bonnie Cook, Marilou Hamill, Paul Irving, Merle Mullin, Mei-Lee Ney, and Shari Thorell
for building a personalized retreat to benefit attendees.