Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics

About the Thewlis Lecture:

Malford W. Thewlis, MD, a former resident of Wakefield, RI, was a pioneer in the field of geriatric medicine most widely known for co-founding the American Geriatrics Society in 1942 and his manuscript, The Care of the Aged: Geriatrics, which was first published in 1919 under the title, “Geriatrics: A Treatise on the Prevention and Treatment of Diseases of Old Age and the Care of the Aged.”

In honor of Dr. Thewlis, URI established the Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics in 2006 to help raise awareness, enhance knowledge, and stimulate discussion about issues related to aging, longevity, and health care for older adults.

The event is held annually in the spring and is open to the public.

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2024: Mind Matters: Exploring the Impact of Mindfulness on the Aging Brain

Dr. Ruchika Prakash, Director of the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging, The Ohio State University

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2019: A film Celebrating the Secrets, Wit, and Wisdom of Age

Sky Bergman, Photographer and Filmaker

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2018: The Encore Opportunity: Making the Most of the Longevity Revolution

Marc Freedman, MBA, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, encore.org

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2017: The Fine Art of Aging: Connecting Creativity and Neuroscience

Nina Kraus, PhD, Hugh Knowles Professor, Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, and Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University

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2016: Innovative Thinking: Application of Technology to Aging

Stephen Johnston, MBA, Co-founder, Aging 2.0, founder of Fordcastle, an innovation consultancy, board member of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), and Music and Memory, 501c3 nonprofits focused on improving the quality of life for older people, He is co-author of Growth Champions (Wiley, 2012), a book about sustainable corporate growth.

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2015: Advice from the Oldest and Wisest Americans on Love, Relationships and Marriage

Karl Pillemer, PhD, Director Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, Hazel E. Reed Professor in the Department of Human Development, Professor of Gerontology in Medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College

Lecture Not Available

2014: Alzheimer’s Disease: Risk Factors and Prevention from Infancy to Old Age

Nasser Zawia, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Dean of the Graduate School, URI and John Stoukides, MD, RPh, Chief, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Roger Williams Medical Center

Lecture Not Available

2013: Transforming Community: The Art of Active Aging

Tim Carpenter, founder, EngAGE; host/producer, EXPERIENCE TALKS radio show.

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2012: Growing Older: What Can We Learn from Norway and the Norwegians?

Kolbein Lyng, Professor of Health Sciences, Molde University College, Norway

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2011: Coming of Age – Negotiating Health and Health Care as We Age

Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, Professor Emerita, Senior Research Associate & Directorm The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, NYU

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2010: Alzheimer’s Disease: What Have We Learned and Where Are We Going

Rudolph E. Tanzi, PhD, Director, Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases; Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School

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2009: What Can Centenarians Teach Us About Healthy Aging?

Thomas Perls, MD, MPH, Director of the New England Centenarian Study and Associate Professor and Researcher at Boston University School of Medicine

Lecture Not Available

2008: Environment, Aging, and Disability: Current Research and Prospects for the Future

Geoff Fernie, PhD, PEng, Vice President of Research at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto

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2007: Healthy Aging: New Directions for Nutrition

Nancy Fey-Yensan, PhD, RD, Associate Dean and Professor in the Department Of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University Of Rhode Island

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2006: Aging in America: A Success and a Challenge

Kenneth Minaker, MD, Chief of the Geriatric Medicine Unit and Director of the Senior Health Practice at Massachusetts General Hospital. Contact RIGEC for lecture.

Lecture Available on CD