UMass Boston

Presented by the Department of Gerontology and the Gerontology Institute in the Donna M. and Robert J. Manning College of Nursing & Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston & the Department of Population Health and Quantitative Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Medical School

To Attend an Upcoming Speaker Series Event Listed Below,

Please Email Charles G. Ruberto or Sung S. Park

2024-25 Academic Year

Monday, September 16, 2024

Nekehia T. Quashie, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Studies
University of Rhode Island

“Paths Less Travelled: Family Ties and Later Life Health in Latin America and the Caribbean”

Monday, October 28, 2024

Hui (Cathy) Liu, PhD
Professor, Department of Sociology
Purdue University

“Same-Sex Couples and Cognitive Function in Later Life”

Monday, November 4, 2024

Huijing Wu, PhD
Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of European and American Studies
Academia Sinica, Taiwan

“Living apart together (LAT) relationships and psychological well-being: Does partnership status matter for older adults?”

Monday, February 3, 2025

Ariane Bertogg, PhD
Department of Sociology & Zukunftskolleg
University of Konstanz

“TBA”

March 2025 (details TBA in early Feb. 2025)

Panel on Non-Academic Careers in Aging
Featuring Alumni from UMass Boston’s Gerontology PhD Program

Monday, April 7, 2025

Deke Cateau
Chief Executive Officer
A.G. Rhodes

“Innovations in Nursing Home Care”

Our nation’s nursing homes are drastically unprepared to meet the needs - and expectations - of today’s elder population. Are we at a watershed moment? How can we imagine a new type of nursing home and model of care for our rapidly growing aging society? And what is the lasting impact from the public scrutiny and vilification of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Brush Fire: COVID 19 and Our Nursing Homes, by Deke Cateau, CEO of A.G. Rhodes, explores the reality of care and life in our nursing homes. In this session, you will get an open and honest look into skilled nursing facilities during the most difficult time in our sector’s history. You will learn how we go here, but more importantly, you will learn how we are leading a path to change and innovation and improving the quality of life for those most entrusted to our care.

Monday, May 5, 2025

Dave Knapp, PhD
Senior Economist, Center for Economic and Social Research
University of Southern California

“HRS International Network of Studies & the Gateway to Global Aging Data"

2023-2024 Academic Year

Monday, October 2, 2023

Brian Downer, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Public & Population Health
University of Texas Medical Branch

“Building a Career in Gerontology: My Path to a Career in Academic Research”

Monday, October 16, 2023

Joseph Saenz, PhD
Assistant Professor, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging
Arizona State University

“Disparities in Cognitive Aging in Mexican Older Adults: Exploring the Role of the Physical and Social Environment”

Monday, October 23, 2023

Maira A. Castañeda-Avila, MS, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

“Career Journey in Cancer Epidemiology: Focusing on the Colorectal Cancer Care Continuum Among Older Hispanic Adults”

Monday, November 20, 2023

Jaqueline Contrera Avila, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Gerontology
University of Massachusetts Boston

“Tobacco Use Among Older Adults: Health Impact and Opportunities for Interventions”

Monday, November 27, 2023            

Debby Dodds, MS
Gerontologist and Head of Caregiver Engagement
Generation Connect

“From Capstone to Commercialization: A Journey in Gerontology, Dementia, and Tech Innovation”

Monday, February 5, 2024

Emma Zang, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology
Yale University

“A Novel Time Use Approach to Successful Aging: Examining Racial and Gender Disparities in Daily Productive Engagement”

Monday, April 1, 2024

Manu Thakral, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing
University of Massachusetts Boston

“Chronic Geriatric Pain and Its Impacts on Health and Quality of Life”

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Sarah Forrester, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
UMass Chan Medical School

“Stress, Depression, and Age Acceleration: Why Time Matters in Black Health”

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Chantel Pheiffer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Public Health
University of Massachusetts Boston

“Migration and Population Health: Insights from South Africa”