{"id":13158,"date":"2021-05-12T12:02:47","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T16:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec-draft\/?page_id=13158"},"modified":"2026-02-27T12:10:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T17:10:04","slug":"thewlis-lecture","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/programs\/community\/thewlis-lecture\/","title":{"rendered":"Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
 <\/h6>\n

Celebrating 20 Years!<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics<\/h1>\n
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n

Optimism and Kindness: 
\nIngredients for a Long and Healthy life<\/b><\/h1>\n

Tuesday, April 7, 2026
\n5:30 p.m. Doors open, light refreshments
\n6\u20137 p.m. Lecture followed by Q&A 
\nEdwards Hall, Kingston Campus<\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
\n

The 2026 Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics will feature social psychologist Laura Kubzansky, PhD,<\/strong><\/a> professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She will share her perspective on aging and longevity, focusing on how personal attributes such as optimism, gratitude, kindness, and a positive outlook relate to living a long and fulfilling life.<\/p>\n

This event is free and open to the public.  Free parking available in Briar Lane Lot behind the Visitors Center. <\/p>\n

Registration is encouraged but not required.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nRegister<\/a><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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About the Speaker<\/h1>

Dr. Laura Kubansky is professor of social and behavioral sciences and director of the Society and Health Laboratory at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She is a sitting faculty member at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, and served as a founding director of both the JPB Environmental Health Fellowship Program and the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at Harvard Chan School.<\/p><\/div><\/section><\/p>\n

About the Thewlis Lecture:<\/h2>\n

\"\"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<\/em>, which was first published in 1919 under the title, \u201cGeriatrics: A Treatise on the Prevention and Treatment of Diseases of Old Age and the Care of the Aged.\u201d   <\/em><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The event is held annually in the spring and is open to the public.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

View Archives<\/h2>\n
\n
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2024: Mind Matters: Exploring the Impact of Mindfulness on the Aging Brain<\/h2>

Dr. Ruchika Prakash, Director of the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging, The Ohio State University<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
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2019: A film Celebrating the Secrets, Wit, and Wisdom of Age<\/h2>

Sky Bergman, Photographer and Filmaker<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2018: The Encore Opportunity: Making the Most of the Longevity Revolution<\/h2>

Marc Freedman, MBA, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, encore.org<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2017: The Fine Art of Aging: Connecting Creativity and Neuroscience<\/h2>

Nina Kraus, PhD, Hugh Knowles Professor, Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology, and Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
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2016: Innovative Thinking: Application of Technology to Aging<\/h2>

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.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
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2015: Advice from the Oldest and Wisest Americans on Love, Relationships and Marriage<\/h2>

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<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Lecture Not Available<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2014: Alzheimer\u2019s Disease: Risk Factors and Prevention from Infancy to Old Age<\/h2>

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<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Lecture Not Available<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2013: Transforming Community: The Art of Active Aging<\/h2>

Tim Carpenter, founder, EngAGE; host\/producer, EXPERIENCE TALKS radio show.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2012: Growing Older: What Can We Learn from Norway and the Norwegians? <\/h2>

Kolbein Lyng, Professor of Health Sciences, Molde University College, Norway<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2011: Coming of Age \u2013 Negotiating Health and Health Care as We Age<\/h2>

Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, Professor Emerita, Senior Research Associate & Directorm The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, NYU<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2010: Alzheimer\u2019s Disease: What Have We Learned and Where Are We Going<\/h2>

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<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
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2009: What Can Centenarians Teach Us About Healthy Aging?<\/h2>

Thomas Perls, MD, MPH, Director of the New England Centenarian Study and Associate Professor and Researcher at Boston University School of Medicine<\/p><\/div><\/div>

Lecture Not Available<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2008: Environment, Aging, and Disability: Current Research and Prospects for the Future<\/h2>

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<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
\n

2007: Healthy Aging: New Directions for Nutrition<\/h2>

Nancy Fey-Yensan, PhD, RD, Associate Dean and Professor in the Department Of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University Of Rhode Island<\/p><\/div><\/div>

View Lecture<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n
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2006: Aging in America: A Success and a Challenge<\/h2>

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

Lecture Available on CD<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Celebrating 20 Years! Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics Optimism and Kindness:  Ingredients for a Long and Healthy life Tuesday, April 7, 2026 5:30 p.m. Doors open, light refreshments 6\u20137 p.m. Lecture followed by Q&A  Edwards Hall, Kingston Campus The 2026 Malford Thewlis Lecture on Gerontology and Geriatrics will feature social psychologist Laura Kubzansky, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2097,"featured_media":0,"parent":13946,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-13158","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2097"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13158"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15462,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13158\/revisions\/15462"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13946"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/rigec\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}