Each year, the Aging & Public Health Section highlights aging issues and recognizes those who have taken positive action in support of older adults at the APHA Annual Meeting.
For more information, contact Lola Adepoju or Reza Amini
View our 2015 Awards Program, 2016 Awards Program, 2017 Awards Program, and 2018 Awards Program for the list of winners!
2023 Award Winners
Phillip G. Weiler Award for Leadership in Aging and Public Health
Isis Mikhail, MD, MPH, DrPH, National Institute on Aging (retired)
Steven Wallace Emerging Advocate Award
Rebecca Payne, MPH, MURP, Health By Design
Cora Funk, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Honorable Mention)
Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation
“Heart to Heart”, accepted by Gary Lee, MD, Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care, Cupertino, CA
(Presented by Jasmine DeGuzman Lacsamana, MPH, of the Archstone Foundation)
Research Paper Awards
Aetna Award for Excellence in Research on Older Women and Public Health
Tanner B. Heaton, MD Student, School of Medicine, University of Utah
Amanda Emerson, PhD, School of Nursing, University of Kansas Medical Center (Honorable Mention)
Kia Skrine Jeffers, PhD, RN, PhN, UCLA School of Nursing (Honorable Mention)
Betty J. Cleckley Minority Issues Research Award
R. Turner Goins PhD, MS, College of Health and Human Sciences, Western Carolina University
Elham Mahmoudi, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Michigan Medical School (Honorable Mention)
Erickson Foundation Research Award in Positive Aging
Jennifer Lyn Shaw, PhD, Southcentral Foundation, Research Department, Anchorage, AK
Matthew Lee Smith, PhD, Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University and Sheryl Flynn, PhD/PT, Blue Marble Health (Honorable Mention)
Nabuo Maeda International Research Award
Preshit N. Ambade, DrPH, School of Public Health, Augusta University
Ning Sun, MPH, Robert Stempel College of Public Health, Florida International University (Honorable Mention)
Rural and Environment Research Award
(Co-Winners:)
Hoimonty Mzumder, PhD Student, School of Public Health, The University of Memphis
Nasim Ferdows, PhD, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University
New Investigator and Student Awards
James G. Zimmer New Investigator Research Award
Xiangjun Zhang, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy
Gabriel Schwartz, PhD, Assistant Professor, Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health (Honorable Mention)
Laurence G. Branch Doctoral Student Research Award
Lena Thompson, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Minnesota Duluth Medical School
Imani J. Canton, MS, PhD Candidate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Masters Student Research Award
Sherry Wu, MPH, University of Washington School of Public Health
Lydia Burton, MPH, Institute of Gerontology, University of Georgia (Honorable Mention)
Cumulative Achievement Awards
Steven Wallace Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an outstanding individual with a 20-year or longer career and who has made a significant contribution to public service, scholarship, or science in the areas of geriatrics and gerontology. This award is named after a longtime Section leader, Dr. Steve Wallace, who passed away in 2021.
Philip G. Weiler Award For Leadership in Aging and Public Health
The Philip G. Weiler Award for Leadership in Aging and Public Health is presented to an outstanding person or organization who has made significant contributions to the field through policy, research, education, or service and has contributed to the Section through leadership activities or funding and policy initiatives.
Best Scientific Papers at APHA Annual Meeting
Susan B. Anthony Aetna Award for Excellence in Research on Older Women and Public Health
Women are the majority of care recipients and caregivers and have longer life expectancies. As a result, long-term care and health care in general are top issues of concern for women today. An overriding goal of the award program is to recognize individuals who make a significant contribution to research on older women and public health.
Erickson Foundation Research Award in Positive Aging
This award recognizes high-caliber research that significantly advances our understanding of physical, social, psychological, financial, and/or civic dimensions of positive aging on either the individual or community level. This research should enhance the impact of such scientific advances on public policy.
Nobuo Maeda International Research Award
This award is for International research topics. The award is intended to recognize and further the career of leaders in international research and policy development.
Betty J. Cleckley Minority Issues Research Award
The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals in aging and public health research who have made a significant impact on the lives of older people who are members of minority groups. Minimizing health disparities and improving access to health and long-term care services are important issues for minority populations in the U.S.
Aging Public Health- Rural and Environment Research Award
The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals in public health research who have made a significant difference to understanding the impact that rural location and/or environment have on aging and public health. Research can focus on rural issues and environment issues separately or jointly on both areas.
James G. Zimmer New Investigator Research Award
This award is given to new investigators in recognition of past excellence and promise of future excellence in research. A “new investigator” is defined as someone who is within five years of completion of his or her terminal degree. The award is intended to recognize and further the careers of future leaders in research.
Laurence G. Branch Doctoral Student Research Award and the Masters Student Research Award
These two awards honor outstanding students for exceptional research during their training. Individuals honored by these awards have completed a research project as a student. Research projects are completed in the areas of gerontology, aging, chronic illness and disability in adults, long-term care, or geriatrics.