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The GSA 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting hosted by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is excited to offer a series of workshops designed to provide attendees with intensive, in-depth educational experiences. Engage with leading experts in the field, network with peers, and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in aging and gerontology.

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Workshops will be offered each morning of the 4 day meeting from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM. GSA 2024 attendees will have the opportunity to engage with these interactive, "hands-on" learning sessions. Pricing this year is $45 per Workshop.

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Wednesday, November 13

This interactive workshop will help you advance and integrate age-friendly ecosystems (communities, health systems, public health, and universities) in your work. Although a growing number of institutions adopt age-friendly awareness and principles into the experience they offer students, the work is still done in silos. Leaders in age-friendly universities and age-friendly health systems will provide examples of multi-sector approaches at the university, organizational, and community levels. Participants will learn how their work aligns with research in the age-friendly ecosystem; and leave with a vast array of age-friendly resources to foster your efforts in age-friendly research, policy, and practice.

Presenters Guest and Montepare overview the age-friendly university model, principles, and activities; Phillips and Carmody discuss ways to engage with age-friendly health systems and public health; Gugliucci and Sheldon describe innovative practices to incorporate age-friendly in the curriculum; and Armbruster and Binette discuss AARP resources to bolster age-friendly research and curriculum development.

Speakers

  • Bill Armbruster, MS | AARP Livable Communities
  • Jane Carmody, DNP | John A. Hartford Foundation
  • M. Aaron Guest, PhD, MPH, MSW | Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging, Arizona State University
  • Marilyn Gugliucci, MD | University of New England
  • Joanne Montepare, PhD | Lasell University
  • Karon Phillips, PhD | Trust for America's Health
  • Marisa Sheldon, MSW | Ohio State University

The 13th Annual Teaching Institute will focus on aging advocacy and how to make an impact on policy through teaching efforts. Advocacy can be impacted by aging research and encouraged in classrooms (in line with AGHE competencies), without a firm grasp of what steps are necessary and needed to help advocacy efforts and to make a direct impact on aging policy. This year’s teaching institute will explore how research and various teaching strategies can be leveraged to impact advocacy, social policy efforts, and legislative initiatives. This interactive and hands-on workshop will provide information on the steps and processes needed to create a solid advocacy plan that is doable and how to disseminate research (by faculty and/or students) in a way that is understandable and actionable. A panel will share teaching and learning strategies to expand participants’ repertoire of advocacy resources to help students understand advocacy and policy implications.

Speakers

  • Lisa Borrero, PhD, FAGHE | University of Indianapolis
  • Laura Donorfio, PhD, FAGHE | University of Connecticut
  • Janelle Fassi, MS | UMass Boston
  • Tina Newsham, PhD, FAGHE | University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Abigail Stephan, PhD, CFLE | Clemson University

Effectively including patients’ family caregivers in clinical and health services research is a skill that will be essential for the gerontologists of tomorrow, whether they are providing high value, patient-centered care or conducting rigorous research. In this workshop, presenters will draw on their experiences across multiple populations and study designs to share strategies to engage family caregivers in research, and provide consultation to attendees on their own projects.

Speakers

  • Stuti Dang, MD | University of Miami / Miami, VA
  • Andrea Kalvesmaki, PhD | University of Utah / Salt Lake City, VA
  • Luci Leykum, MD, MPH, MBA | South Texas, VA
  • Ranak Trivedi, PhD, FSBM | Stanford University / VA Palo Alto Health Care System
  • Mary Wyman, PhD | University of Wisconsin / Madison / Middleton, VA

Climate change is literally a “hot topic”, which represents a critical threat for older persons. Although research in the field of climate change has developed over the past three decades research on the intersection of climate change and aging is a recent, but rapidly growing field. The workshop will provide a highly interactive overview of current research, theory, methods, and datasets in the field to ensure the development and enrichment of research in the field. To ensure the translational nature of research, the link with policy will be explored.

Speakers

  • Liat Ayalon, PhD, |Bar Ilan University
  • Deborah Carr, PhD | Boston University
  • Carina Gronlund, PhD, MPH | University of Michigan
  • Jacklyn Kohon, PhD | Portland State University
  • Karl Pillemer, PhD | Cornell University
  • Matthew Prina, PhD | Newcastle University
  • Noah Webster, PhD | University of Michigan
  • Tamar Wyte-Lake, DPT, MPH | Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Paola Zaninotto, PhD | University College London

The demand for geriatric care has never been greater. However, there exists a critical shortage of individuals trained in this specialized field. This workshop with panel discussion will address this pressing need by inspiring healthcare professionals, educators, and students to explore the rewarding realm of geriatric education. Our course objectives underscore the urgency of addressing the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals in geriatric care and to empower participants to take action in shaping the future of healthcare to older adults. The second half of our workshop will describe a successful model for an Interprofessional Geriatric Case Competition at a health science university. logistics for how to develop a local geriatric case competition to pique the interest of learners in the complex care of older adults.

Speakers

  • Sam Cotton, PhD | University of Louisville
  • Teresa Schicker, MPA | University of Minnesota
  • Kristine Talley | University of Minnesota
  • Rhiannon Williams, PhD | University of Minnesota

Thursday, November 14

The AGHE Program of Merit (POM) review process advances gerontology and health professions programs. The Program of Merit has expanded its review to include any health professions program applications with specific guidelines and competencies dedicated to Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Pharmacy programs. Broad guidelines and competencies are published for all other health professions programs. For successful POM applicants, the AGHE POM provides gerontology programs and those health disciplines that integrate geriatrics/gerontology content into the curriculum with an AGHE distinguished program designation. This designation verifies program quality to administrators to assist with lobbying additional resources, maintaining program quality, marketing the program, and recruiting prospective students. This workshop will begin with the “Why,” “What” and “How” of applying for the AGHE POM. Time is allocated for POM application and program development FREE consultation. Institutions need not be an AGHE member to apply!

Speakers

  • Katarina Friberg-Felsted, PhD, MS, FAGHE | University of Utah
  • Marilyn Gugliucci, MA, PhD, FAGHE, FGSA | UNE COM

The High School and Beyond (HS&B) cohort and the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS72) both began as nationally representative, longitudinal studies of education and have been repurposed as studies of aging, health, mortality, and cognition by reviving them at midlife and following sample members forward. The Education Studies for Healthy Aging Research (EdSHARe) project is conducting these two cohort studies. Details available at https://edshareproject.org/


This year, survey blood- and saliva-based biomarkers, and administrative data from the 2021-22 (age ~60) follow-up of the HS&B cohort—about 25,500 high school students first observed in 1980—will be released to research. Additionally, we will also field a new round of data collection from the ~14,500 members of NLS72 (aged ~70).



At the workshop, we will explain the design and contents of HSB and NLS72 and demonstrate the potential for innovative research in demography, epidemiology, neuropsychology, sociology, and other disciplines.

Speakers

  • Eric Grodsky, PhD, MS | Sociology, University of Wisconsin
  • Chandra Muller, PhD, MA | Sociology, University of Texas
  • Rob Warren, PhD, MA | Sociology, University of Minnesota

Followed by a brief presentation from the Generativity Special Interest Group on generativity through mentorship, a panel of winners of GSA Mentorship Awards (James Jackson Outstanding Mentorship, Hiram J. Friedsam Mentorship, Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology, Joseph T. Freeman, and Barbara J. Berkman) will share their mentorship approaches, motivations, successes, and challenges through a panel discussion led by the Generativity SIG. Panelists will each host a table on a topic of their choice (ex. mentoring and diversity, navigating challenging relationships) where participants can pose questions, share challenges , and receive feedback. Participants will have time to attend two tables. After discussions, participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with one another through an activity. This mentorship workshop is for mentors at all stages of their careers. While the intention is not to pair participants with mentors, participants will have the opportunity to interact in an environment supportive to mentorship.

Speakers

  • Steffi Kim, PhD | University of Alaska Anchorage
  • Jordan Lewis, PhD, MSW | University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • Sarah Neller, PhD | University of Kentucky, Knoxville
  • Lena Thompson, PHD | University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus

Early detection of dementia symptoms benefits the individual with dementia and their care partners. Yet most people with dementia are diagnosed in later stages. Further, most healthcare systems lack well-established early detection programs and provider teams often feel unprepared in diagnosing dementia.
During this interactive, case-based workshop, participants will learn how to apply two complimentary resources to facilitate practice change and equip teams with tools and resources to implement programs built on the foundation of early detection of cognitive changes. We will share real-world experiences using the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Healthcare System Preparedness Early Detection Blueprint and The GSA KAER Toolkit for Brain Health in primary care. These two resources can help care teams detect signs of cognitive decline earlier and improve well-being and positive health-related outcomes for people living with dementia and their families. Participants will develop actionable steps to build their program for early detection of cognitive impairment.

Speakers

  • Carolyn K. Clevenger | DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA, FAAN, Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, Founder/Director, Emory Integrated Memory Care
  • Mike Hornbecker, MD | Lead of US Fellowship Program, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Healthcare System Preparedness
  • Laura Medders, LCSW | Administrative Director, Emory Integrated Memory Care
  • Jennifer L. Pettis | MS, RN, CNE, Director, Strategic Alliances
  • Katie Selzler, PhD,| Medical Affairs Lead, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Healthcare System Preparedness
  • Karen K. Tracy, VP | Strategic Alliances and Integrated Communications

Home- and community-based services (HCBS) now account for more than half of Medicaid long-term care spending. Multi-state, harmonized data on HCBS use and outcomes have been hampered by inconsistent reporting across states and years, challenges with data quality, lack of uniform definitions/eligibility for services, and lack of beneficiary-level data on demographic, economic, and health outcomes. The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) has recently been linked with Transformed Medicaid Statistical Information System Analytic Files (TAF), providing detailed HCBS expenditure and utilization data within the largest prospective aging cohort. These data will become available in Summer/Fall 2024. In this workshop hosted by the NIA-funded Community Care Network for Dementia, participants will learn how to access the HRS-TAF linked data, the structure and content of the files, considerations for longitudinal data analysis, and research questions related to dementia, aging, and/or Medicaid HCBS that can be addressed using the linked data.

Speakers

  • Rachel Butler, MHA, MPH | University of Pittsburgh
  • Howard Degenholtz, PhD | University of Pittsburgh
  • Jessica Faul, PhD | University of Michigan
  • Elena Fazio, PhD | National Institute on Aging
  • Jordan Harrison, PhD | RAND
  • Katherine Miller, PhD | Johns Hopkins University
  • Joy Rooney, MS | Mathematica
  • Flora Sheng, MBBS, MPH | RAND
  • Regina Shih, PhD | Emory
  • Susan Siford, PharmD, MBA | Acumen/LINKAGE
  • Sijiu Wang, PhD | Tsinghua University

Friday, November 15

The Cognition in Primary Care team from the University of Washington will share the training and process used to implement the Gerontological Society of America’s K.A.E.R. Toolkit in a large health system. Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to experience the Cognition in Primary Care continuing education training, as well as work in small, guided groups to think through the steps of implementation of the program into their own or other healthcare systems.

Speakers

  • Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA | School of Nursing and School of Public Health, University of Washington
  • Annette Fitzpatrick, PhD | Department of Family Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Washington
  • Barak Gaster, MD | Department of Medicine, University of Washington
  • Sarah McKiddy, BSN, PhD in Nursing Science Candidate | School of Nursing, University of Washington
  • Jaqueline Raetz, MD | Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington
  • Monica Zigman Suchsland, PhD, MPH | Departments of Epidemiology and Family Medicine, University of Washington

This workshop provides didactics and experiential learning to support the design of mechanism-focused interventions for persons with ADRD and their care partners (CPs). ADRDs are debilitating and terminal illnesses associated with progressive decline in cognitive, emotional, and physical function. Dementia drastically alters the lives of both the person diagnosed and their informal CP (e.g., spouses, children), disrupting established roles, relationships, and future plans, but few interventions exist for ADRD/CP dyads. Those that do often 1) lack dyadic theoretical/conceptual frameworks, which is reflected in study methodology; 2) do not account for unique challenges and complexity of dyadic research in ADRD; 2) are not mapped onto the NIH Stage Model; 3) do not use principles of the SOBC to inform dyadic mechanisms of change; 4) are not developed across the spectrum of primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention; and 5) are not contextualized within the NIA Health Disparities Framework.

Speakers

  • Talea Cornelius (co-chair), PhD | Columbia University
  • Kathi Heffner, PhD | University of Rochester
  • Karen Lyons, PhD | Boston College
  • Joan Monin, PhD | Yale University
  • Ana-Maria Vranceanu, PhD | MGH/Harvard Medical School

Researchers are important creators of evidence-based insights that can improve policy and practice. However, journal articles, book chapters, and traditional academic publications are generally insufficient to influence key decision makers and stakeholders and create change. Most scientific and clinical preparation doesn’t include content related to public communications and research translation.


This workshop responds to these gaps by helping participants develop a “hands-on, minds-on” communications approach and equipping them with tools to translate their research for key policy and practice audiences. In this session, participants will learn the basics of strategic communications, how to develop and implement communications and outreach plans, and the different strategies required when engaging with policy or practice audiences. Participants will have the opportunity to develop a customized workplan and begin applying new learnings through guided activities and group discussions. Participants will leave this workshop with skills needed to transform research and evidence-based insights into real-world impact.

Speakers

  • John Beilenson, MA | SCP (Strategic Communications and Planning) (Chair)
  • Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN | UT Health San Antonio
  • G. Adriana Perez, PhD, CRNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, FGSA | UPenn College of Nursing
  • Andrew Suggs | Reckon Branding
  • Nancy Whitelaw, PhD | Formerly Gerontological Society of America; Practice Change Leaders program
  • Nancy Wilson, MA | Baylor College of Medicine 
  • Robert Yanks | Reckon Branding

The workshop consists of a broad set of didactics on the distinction between the two constructs, definitions, and evidence-based predictors and correlates, as well as an overview of measurement and the need for measurement consensus. Additionally, interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness in various populations, including older adults, will be presented. Our team will prepare an interactive exercise in which attendees highlight the ways in which social isolation and loneliness may be relevant for the populations they treat clinically or encounter in research. Our course will combine experience and expertise from a social/health psychologist researcher, a geriatrician, and a health services researcher, and features a unique and valuable contribution on social isolation and loneliness in the current federal landscape from colleagues from the Foundation for Social Connection and the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness.

Speakers

  • Abigail Barth, MPH | Foundations for Social Connection
  • Carla Perissinotto, MD | University of California, San Francisco
  • Mary Louise Pomeroy, PhD, MPH | Johns Hopkins
  • Morgan Marler
  • Allison Marziliano, PhD | Northwell Health
  • Jillian Racoosin, MPH | Foundations for Social Connection
  • Christina Victor, PhD, MPhil | Brunel University

IPUMS disseminates U.S. full count census enumerations for 1850-1950. These data cover almost 800 million individual records and have opened the possibility of automated record linkages across census years to construct millions of individual life histories and trace millions of families across generations. Longitudinally linked records are freely available via the IPUMS USA data access system (usa.ipums.org). This workshop will review full count IPUMS census data and discuss the challenges and opportunities census data linkage, then provide participants with guidance on accessing and analyzing these data via IPUMS, as well as time to discuss research ideas with data experts.


The workshop is co-hosted by the IPUMS Big Microdata Network and the University of Minnesota Life Course Center NDIRA initiative. These research networks seek to build and support a diverse community of scholars by increasing accessibility of valuable population data sources that are relevant for aging and life course research.

Speakers

  • Catherine Fitch, PhD | University of Minnesota - IPUMS & Minnesota Research Data Center
  • Sarah Flood, PhD | IPUMS & University of Minnesota Life Course Center
  • John Robert Warren ("Rob") Warren, PhD | University of Minnesota - Institute for Social Research and Data Innovation & Sociology

Saturday, November 16

The workshop will emphasize a social marketing approach to recruitment of potential students, and community partners to collaborate on the practicum for the program. A step-by-step description of how the program was conceptualized, and the input gather from various stakeholders will be discussed as tools to augment the interest of the community for the program. Strengths of the program such as incorporating high impact practices (i.e., undergraduate research, service learning, and project-based learning), are presented as opportunities made available to students enrolled in the program.

Speakers

  • Trinidad Arguelles, MS, EdD | Miami Dade College West Campus-STEM Legacy, Miami, FL
  • Eric Belokon, PhD, PsyD | Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus-STEM Legacy, Miami, FL

The past two decades have seen an increased appreciation of the impact of proactive approaches for supporting brain health, including the influence of lifestyle factors across the trajectory of cognitive aging. Older adults, ranging from those who are experiencing “typical” cognitive changes in aging to those with mild cognitive impairment and even dementia, can benefit substantially from lifestyle modification. This workshop will appeal to a broad audience, including clinicians from multiple disciplines, program managers (such as from continuous care and other 55+ communities) and age-friendly public services. Using a holistic approach, participants will be provided with tools and educational resources with which to support and motivate older adults looking to improve brain health through lifestyle modifications, such as increased physical activity, social connectedness, cognitive stimulation. Experts in the field with hands-on experience will lead participants through case-based examples and interactive applications to increase confidence and skills.

Speakers

  • Marigrace Becker, MSW | University of Washington Memory and Brain Wellness Center, and Director, The Memory Hub
  • Elizabeth Eckstrom, MD, MPH | Chief of Geriatrics, Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University
  • Lauren R. Moo, MD, New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Bedford Healthcare System, and Harvard Medical School
  • Maureen K. O'Connor, PsyD | New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Bedford Healthcare System, and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Emily H. Trittschuh, PhD | Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, and the University of Washington School of Medicine, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

The Long-Term Care Data Cooperative is funded by the National Institute of Aging and aims to improve the quality of care within skilled nursing facilities by compiling the most comprehensive electronic health records data on nursing home residents nationwide. These data can be linked to Medicare claims and currently include over 908 nursing homes, 793,133 residents, 20.8 million distinct patient diagnoses, 37.8 million medication prescriptions, 903 million medication administrations, 1.2 million vaccination records, and 982 million vital signs observations. Through a dynamic, interactive workshop, attendees will learn how the LTC Data Cooperative is generating real-world evidence on treatments and care practices; access and explore sample data; gain a comprehensive understanding of the core data model; and learn how to request access for research purposes.

Speakers

  • Vincent Mor, PhD | Brown University School of Public Health
  • Amy Recker, MPH | Brown University School of Public Health
  • Elizabeth White, APRN, PhD | Brown University School of Public Health

Take your family caregiving research to the next level with one of the most authoritative data sources on family caregiving in America, the Caregiving in the US (CGUS) survey. Join us for an interactive demo of the 2020 Public Use CGUS dataset covering accessing the data and survey topics followed by a panel discussion with researchers who have used CGUS data in their published work. Attendees will also get the first walk-through of the forthcoming 2025 CGUS study which will feature state-level data for the first time, improved survey items capturing the physical and mental health of family caregivers, and an interactive digital dashboard. Join AARP and NAC for an interactive workshop to help further your understanding of family caregivers and your research!

Speakers

  • Selena Caldera, MPP | AARP
  • Fawn Cothran, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, FGSA | National Alliance for Caregiving
  • Alessandra Raimondi, MS | AARP

Living with dementia is preventable and you can start reducing your risk today. Learn about an individualized, trauma-informed, novel, non-pharmacological approach to enhance dementia health. A yoga and ayurveda-based app will allow people to increase their agency, minimize grief symptoms and increase wellbeing.

Speakers

  • Ali Abdi | University of Washington Tacoma
  • Suweyda Ali Abdi | University of Washington Tacoma
  • Anuvir Dhaliwal | University of Washington Tacoma
  • Adrienne Ione, PsyD | Silver Linings Integrative Health, LLC
  • Rachel Skilton | University of Washington Tacoma
  • Paul Zuber-Fantulin | University of Washington Tacoma

Already registered for GSA 2024 but want to register for a Workshop?

  • Log into your GSA 2024 Account.
  • Click on "My Dashboard" in the top right corner.
  • Under “My Upcoming Events”, select "GSA 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting" and click "View Registration".
  • Select additional items to add to your registration (e.g., workshops, continuing education, or social events like pickleball), and follow the prompts to proceed to checkout.
  • Finalize your registration by selecting the "Update Registration" button.
 

 


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