Inspiring and Sustaining an Aging Research Career Through the Ups and Downs of Life

Sponsored by the Research Committee

Co-Moderators: Megan Huisingh-Scheetz, MD & Kah Poh (Melissa) Loh, MD, MS

Panelists: Alessandra Merino Gomez; Mfon Umoh, MD, PhD; Chelsea Wong, MD, PhD; Meghana Rajashekara Swamy, MD, MPH, MS; David Lynch, BMBS; Nikesha Gilmore, PhD; Jessica Lee, MD, MS; Peter Abadir, MD; Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH; Susan Zieman, MD, PhD

The AGS Research Committee and the Research Methods Subcommittee have coordinated this unique and timely session to facilitate an exchange of strategies among aging researchers for maintaining resilience throughout an aging research career lifespan. This session will feature representatives from pivotal stages of training: medical school, fellowship, junior faculty, mid-career faculty, senior faculty and retirement. These representatives were selected to highlight the unique challenges inherent at each juncture of an aging research career. We will harness their extensive and varied experience to delineate vital strategies for surmounting these challenges and sustaining resilience, including insights from special guest Susan Zieman, MD, PhD, a retired Medical Officer of the Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology at the NIA. In addition, we will explore avenues through which we can collectively bolster and fortify the broader community of aging researchers. Employing a panel-style format, the session will feature two moderators who will present questions, allowing each panelist ample opportunity to respond. It is our aspiration that the thoughtful questions and the informal setting will foster meaningful discussion, with a designated period for audience inquiries.