| |
Honoring Past Pioneers
Linda Kaeser, PhD, RN, ACSW, FAA
Dr. Kaeser established the Graduate Nursing Program in Gerontology at the UT School of Nursing. She chaired the Council on Aging at UT Health Sciences, which established the Center on Aging at the UT School of Nursing. Dr. Kaeser assisted in the creation of the Gerontological Social Work program at the University of Houston and was awarded the Isla Carroll Turner Chair in Gerontological Nursing. |
Robert J. Luchi, MD
Dr. Luchi established the first geriatric medicine fellowship training program in Houston and was the founding Director of the Huffington Center on Aging, providing leadership of HCOA from 1988-1998. Dr. Luchi also established the Geriatrics Program at The Methodist Hospital and the first specialized geriatric clinic within the public system (Veterans Administration) and the private sector. |
George T. Niederehe, PhD
Dr. Niederehe began his career at the Texas Research Institute of Mental Sciences (TRIMS) in the Gerontology Center where he initiated groundbreaking research relevant toassessment of cognitive impairment, behavior problems and dementia, and family caregiving dynamics. Dr. Neiderehe has been recognized nationally for his leadership in training and research by the American Psychological Association and the Society of Clinical Geropsychology. |
Cheves M. Smythe, MD
Dr. Smythe established the original Council on Aging with representation from all schools at the University of Texas Health Science Center. Through his leadership and determination,
the UT Health Science Center established the Consortium on Aging. His current efforts are to participate in and strengthen the medical teaching at Lyndon Baines Johnson Hospital as well as to assist in the development of a program in geriatric medicine. |
Current Leaders Bridging the Future
Carmel B. Dyer, MD
Dr. Dyer developed the geriatrics program for the Harris County Hospital District. She also developed a program in conjuction with Adult Protective Services focusing on elder abuse and neglect. Dr. Dyer developed an assesment tool used to triage the elderly displaced from New Orleans to the Astrodome after Hurricane Rita. This tool is now used throughout the country in response to disaster situations. |
Vaunette P. Fay, PhD, RNC, FNP, GNP
Dr. Fay teaches gerontological nursing at the undergraduate and graduate levels. A focus of Dr. Fay's academic career has been development of nurse practitioner programs and interdisciplinary education and has been intregal in developing new electronic media for disseminating gerontological nursing content to nursing students across the nation. |
Mark E. Kunik, MD, MPH
Dr. Kunik has produced signifcant research in examining the determinants of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia and how these behavioral disturbances affect health care. Dr. Kunik is also interested in researching developing cost-effective interventions to treat anxiety and depression in older patients with chronic medical illnesses. |
Lawrence G. Root, MD
Dr. Root was instrumental in establishing a free-standing clinic for the elderly within the MHMRA Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County). With his leadership, the R.J. DeBottis Endowment at the University of Houston was created. As an early board member of HGS, Dr. Root fostered the connections between the organization, universities and professionals. |
Robert Roush, EdD, MPH
Dr. Roush secured the funding to create the Texas Consortium of Geriatric Education Centers, which brought together representatives from all major Texas colleges and universites. Through this consortium, Dr. Rouch has lead groundbreaking research projects in both geriatrics and gerontology studies. |
Nancy L. Wilson, MA, LMSW
Ms. Wilson has directed the Community Services Program, which included one of the ten sites involved in the National Long-Term Care Channeling Demonstration Project. Ms. Wilson also helped establish the gerontology concentration within the University of Houston School of Social Work and was instrumental in the development of the Baylor Program in Aging and later the Huffngton Center on Aging. |
|
| | © 2012, Houston Gerontological Society. All rights reserved. |
|
|
