The University of Scranton Hosts Inaugural Conference on Aging Research

By the year 2020, America’s 65-plus-year-old population will swell to more than 80 million. Elderly Americans will account for more than 20 percent of our population and are anticipated to consume the greatest percentage of the health care economy of any age group. Much needs to be done to understand the biological, behavioral, social and economic influences on the aging elder.

In response to that need and to the fact that the population of Scranton is one of the oldest in the United States, The University of Scranton is hosting a first-of-its-kind Conference on Opportunities in Aging Research on Thursday, April 28. The primary goal of the regional conference is to present opportunities to, and share experiences with, a diverse group of professionals from the University; The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC); and local health care, social and business organizations.

An additional objective is to enable these stakeholders to find common ground for interdisciplinary and collaborative research efforts. Current research among faculty from the Departments of Physics, Psychology, Mathematics, Computer Sciences and Occupational Therapy at The University of Scranton was the catalyst to hosting this conference (See Interdisciplinary Research story here).

Scheduled for Thursday, April 28, in the Rose Room on the fifth floor of Brennan Hall on campus, the conference features presentations by State Senator John Blake, who is also a part-time faculty member at the Kania School of Management; Sharon Lynette, from the office of U.S. Senator Robert Casey; and keynote speaker Brian Duke, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging and a University of Scranton alumnus.

“In an era of shrinking federal budgets, individual states will have more responsibility for programs that impact the elderly and their families,” said Herb Hauser, Ph.D., a faculty member of the Psychology Department at The University of Scranton. “The actions of these three policy-makers, among others, will influence programming and funding for this booming population.”

Dr. Hauser organized the conference with Tabbi Miller-Scandle, Ph.D., director of research and sponsored programs at the University, with support from Brian Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the University’s College of Arts and Sciences.

“This conference has struck a chord with the medical community of our region,” said Dr. Hauser. “The response to the inaugural conference has been great, and we expect it to expand each year.”

For additional information about the Conference on Opportunities in Aging Research, contact Herb Hauser, Ph.D., Psychology Department, The University of Scranton, at 941-6353 or hauserh2@scranton.edu.