Dr. Alyssa Gamaldo is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clemson University and affiliated with the Institute for Engaged Aging. Her current research concentrates on social determinants of health and well-being in older adult populations, particularly within populations at risk for dementia. Her research has also focused on identifying sensitive measures for detecting health risks. Dr. Gamaldo serves as the Deputy Editor of The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences.

Rodlescia Sneed is a social gerontologist whose work focuses on how social environments shape adult development and aging among historically marginalized midlife and older adult populations. Their research uses a multilevel approach to examine how individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and public policy factors influence health outcomes. They also collaborate with community and institutional stakeholders to address gaps that contribute to inequities in health and well-being.

Dr. Regina Wright is a psychologist and professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Delaware. Her program of research is focused on cardiovascular, psychosocial, and environmental predictors of cognitive function and decline, with a specific focus on patterns of association in African Americans. Most recently, Dr. Wright has examined neighborhood disadvantage and cognitive function among older adults, including potential mediating and moderating influences on this relationship.

Dr. Samuele Zilioli is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences at Wayne State University. He completed his B.A. and M.A. in Psychology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Italy and earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive and Neural Sciences from Simon Fraser University in Canada, where he received the Governor General’s Gold Medal for highest academic standing. He later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in health psychology at Wayne State. Dr. Zilioli’s research examines how psychosocial stressors, especially those tied to socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity, interact with psychosocial resources to influence glucocorticoid-related processes and, in turn, immune, cardiovascular, metabolic, and other health outcomes across the lifespan. His work has been funded by the National Institute of Justice and is currently supported by the National Institutes of Health. He has received several honors recognizing his contributions to biobehavioral health research.

Jordana Breton is a fourth-year doctoral candidate studying Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Neuropsychology at the University of Texas at Austin (UTA). She graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She worked at the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program (HNRP) as a bilingual research psychometrist before attending UTA. She is interested in examining the role socioeconomic and sociocultural factors may have on stress, stress-related diseases, and cognition. She hopes to create valuable research and tools geared towards minimizing cognitive health disparities in underserved/underprivileged communities.

Jinshil Hyun, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her research focuses on identifying modifiable determinants of cognitive aging and dementia, with an emphasis on how neighborhood and contextual factors interact with psychosocial and behavioral processes to shape cognitive health across multiple time scales (e.g., momentary, daily, and longitudinal). She is the Principal Investigator of two funded projects: a National Institute on Aging K99/R00 award (K99/R00AG080126), “Neighborhood Characteristics, GPS-Based Activity Space, and Cognitive Health,” and an Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship (23AARF-1020416), “Pathways Linking Neighborhood and Behavioral Factors to the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD).” Her work leverages digital technologies, including smartphone-based ambulatory cognitive assessments, to capture real-world experiences and environmental exposures that influence cognitive health in later life.

Dr. Kamis is an Assistant Professor in Sociology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research explores early life predictors of life course mental health, with recent publications focusing on the long-term impacts of childhood adversity. A separate but related stream of research examines how contexts (e.g., neighborhoods, counties, states) influence health and mental health disparities more broadly.

Dr. Ye is an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and the Department of Sociology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her research focuses on how social, structural, and environmental contexts shape health outcomes in vulnerable aging populations, with a particular interest in sleep disturbance and dementia care. Dr. Ye’s work integrates interdisciplinary approaches from sociology, health services research, and data science to identify modifiable determinants of health and inform evidence-based interventions for older adults living in community and long-term care settings.

Tamar Shovali is an Associate Professor of Human Development at Eckerd College whose work centers on lifespan developmental psychology and gerontology. She earned her PhD and MS in Lifespan Developmental Psychology from the University of Georgia, along with a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. Dr. Shovali’s research focuses on intergenerational learning, age-friendly higher education, and the experiences of grandparents raising grandchildren. She has contributed scholarly work on reducing ageism, strengthening intergenerational relationships, and preparing future professionals for careers in aging and gerontology. Her recent presentations and publications have explored innovative topics such as dementia-inclusive campus practices, virtual reality sensitivity training, and community-engaged gerontology education. At Eckerd College, Dr. Shovali teaches courses including Introduction to Human Development, Aspects of Aging, Death and Dying, Cultural Diversity, Research Methods, and the Senior Seminar in Human Development. Known for combining academic rigor with real-world application, she is committed to helping students better understand the aging process and the value of intergenerational connections.

Dr. Sarah Canham is a Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah, where she also serves as the Associate Director of the Health Interprofessional Education program. She earned her master's in applied sociology and doctorate in gerontology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her community-based research focuses on homelessness, access to health and social services, and aging, collaborating with providers, clinicians, and individuals with lived experience.

Sarah Dys, PhD, MPA, is a senior research associate at the Institute on Aging at Portland State University with expertise in assisted living, residential care, and memory care communities and resident population health and outcomes. She is an early career member of the Gerontology Society of America, where she has served in leadership roles within the Social Research, Policy, and Practice member section. Dr. Dys earned her doctorate in Community Health from the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health with a specialization in gerontology. Her professional vision is to center aging in public health discourse, particularly at the intersection of housing, health, and social services provision. She specializes in weaving together quantitative and qualitative methods to tell stories that highlight the voices of those who live and work in long-term services and support (LTSS).

Prof. Dr. Yasemin Afacan received her BArch and MS from Middle East Technical University and her PhD from Bilkent University in 2008. She worked at Queen's University Belfast before joining Bilkent in 2010, where she is dean of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, and faculty member of the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Her research focuses on neuro-architecture, indoor environmental quality and environmental gerontechnology. She has written over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles. Her research has received sponsorship from many organizations, including Driving Urban Transitions – Urban Europe (EU), The European Research Executive Agency (ERA), Centre for Aging and Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI), The DAIWA Anglo-Japanese Foundation, and TUBITAK (TUR). She received the Outstanding Young Scientist Awards; BAGEP (2017), GEBIP (2018). She teaches sustainable interior design and has served on the board of the International Society of Gerontechnology (ISG) since 2014. She is also Vice-President of ISG Turkey Chapter.

Dr. Rahul Malhotra is the Executive Director of the Centre for Ageing Research & Education (CARE) and Associate Professor of Health Services Research & Population Health at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. The primary area of his research is ageing, at the individual and population level. Key projects that he has led/is leading include (1) national longitudinal surveys of older Singaporeans, studying predictors and outcomes of change in physical, psychological and social health of older adults, (2) longitudinal quantitative and qualitative studies of older Singaporean-family caregiver dyads, assessing patterns, correlates and consequences of changes in caregiving-related outcomes over time, and (3) a health services research project on older person-centred prescription medication labels. He has published over 240 peer-reviewed papers in the medical, public health and social science literature. He received his basic and advanced medical training at the University of Delhi, India, and public health (MPH) training at Harvard University, USA.

Birgit Pianosi, PhD, CPG, is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences at Laurentian University, where her work focuses on gerontology, aging, and the well-being of older adults. A Credentialed Professional Gerontologist, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective to teaching, research, and community engagement in the field of aging. Dr. Pianosi’s scholarship and professional interests include dementia care, age-friendly communities, caregiving, and strategies that promote quality of life for older adults and their families. She is also recognized for her work in education and training that helps prepare future professionals to meet the evolving needs of aging populations. An experienced educator and advocate for aging-related issues, Dr. Pianosi is committed to advancing practical, person-centered approaches that support healthy aging, dignity, and inclusion across care and community settings. 

Dr. Innocent Tesha is a Medical Officer at Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania, currently a master’s candidate in Geriatrics Medicine at Jinzhou Medical University, leading AI-driven research on cardiovascular aging. He holds an MD from Hubert Kariuki Memorial University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Cardiology from the University of Buckingham. His work merges machine learning, clinical epidemiology, Chronic diseases in aging to develop equitable cardiovascular risk-prediction tools for frail older adults in low-resource settings. His research has been published in The Gerontologist, The Lancet Regional Health – Africa, and Frontiers in Aging. Recognized with the 2nd Best Innovator Award at a national digital health forum, Dr. Tesha is An active member of the Gerontology Society of America, his vision is to advance gerontology through scalable, data-driven solutions that improve cardiovascular care and population health outcomes across Africa and beyond.

Dr. Su-I Hou is a Professor of the School of Global Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida whose research spans mixed-methods research, program evaluation, and healthy aging. As the 2024–2026 Fulbright–Saastamoinen Distinguished Chair in Health Sciences (Finland), she collaborates with the World-Wide FINGERS (WW-FINGERS) network on brain health and dementia prevention. The FINGER Study pioneered multi-domain lifestyle interventions across nutrition, exercise, cognitive training, vascular risk monitoring, and social engagement. Dr. Hou contributes to the WW-FINGERS International Working Group, bringing expertise in digital health technology adoption to advance global dementia risk reduction.

Seong Hye Choi, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Neurology at Inha University College of Medicine in South Korea. She is a leading researcher in the prevention and delay of dementia, with a focus on advancing strategies that support cognitive health across aging populations. Dr. Choi currently serves as President of the Korean Dementia Association. Her research interests include Alzheimer's disease, dementia, mild cognitive impairment, cognitive training, multidomain interventions, lifestyle interventions, and digital therapeutics (DTx). Through her clinical and academic leadership, she contributes to the development of innovative approaches for dementia care, prevention, and brain health promotion.

Francesca Mangialasche is a medical doctor specializing in geriatrics with a PhD in Medical Science. She earned her MD and geriatrics specialization from the University of Perugia in Italy and completed her PhD at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, where she now serves as Principal Researcher in the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society. Her research focuses on the early detection and prevention of late-life cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia through multidomain interventions. She studies biomarkers of neurodegeneration, inflammation, metabolism, and other factors that influence cognitive aging. Dr. Mangialasche is the Executive Director of the World-Wide FINGERS Global Scientific Coordinating Center at the FINGERS Brain Health Institute, which supports international trials on dementia risk reduction and prevention.

Alina Solomon, MD, PhD is Professor of Neuroepidemiology at the University of Eastern Finland, Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and Visiting Professor at Imperial College London, UK. Primary research area: late-life cognitive impairment and dementia. Prof. Solomon is one of the founding members and Scientific Coordinator for the World-Wide FINGERS network of multimodal intervention trials for dementia risk reduction.

Dr. Raya Kheirbek is a Professor of Medicine and the inaugural Division Head of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Her work centers on improving the quality of care for older adults living with serious and advanced illnesses—an approach that aligns perfectly with the growing need for integrated geriatric and palliative care in our aging population. Dr. Kheirbek’s research includes large-scale studies on the oldest old, notably the world’s largest cohort of male centenarians, which has provided valuable insights into longevity and end-of-life care needs. Beyond research, she is deeply committed to education as Program Director of the Geriatric Fellowship at UMD, where she trains the next generation in person-centered, compassionate care. She is also a strong advocate for vulnerable populations, advancing social justice through policy, writing, and public engagement.

Markus Schafer is currently Professor of Sociology and Graduate Program Director at Baylor University. He earned his PhD in Sociology and Gerontology from Purdue University in 2011. His research investigates the intersections of health and aging, specifically the long-term consequences of childhood adversity and how social networks evolve to shape physical, mental, and cognitive health in later life. Schafer’s work has been supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Canada) and the Ontario Early Researcher Award program. He currently serves as Deputy Editor of the Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences and is a co-editor of the forthcoming Handbook of the Sociology of Aging, 2nd Ed. (Springer).

Yaeji Kim-Knauss received a master’s degree in social welfare from Seoul National University, South Korea, and a PhD in psychogerontology from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. She is currently working as a senior researcher at the Institute of Psychogerontology at the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. Her research focuses on aging preparation, decision making, and end-of-life.

Aija Logren is a social psychologist specializing in interaction research, discursive psychology and conversation analysis. Her work examines how participation, morality, emotion, knowledge and power are negotiated in social and health care encounters. Logren has contributed to research on group counselling, health communication, shared decision making and professional–client interaction, with publications spanning topics such as hope work, group discussions, and the management of stance. She teaches interaction skills particularly for social work and medical students. She is recognized for her expertise in qualitative methods and the analysis of social interaction. Logren earned her doctorate in social sciences in 2019, and has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Tampere University and the University of Helsinki in projects exploring information literacy, affect and decision making in health care encounters. She is now university lecturer at the University of Eastern Finland, and currently studies negotiations considering transition from curative to palliative care.

Yaolin Pei, PhD is a gerontologist who used both qualitative and quantitative methods to study how social psychological factors affect end-of-life decision-making and end-of-life outcomes. She develops culturally adapted educational tools and interventions that facilitate end-of-life decision making and aims to improve end-of-life care outcomes.

Professor Jacqueline Yuen is a geriatrician, palliative care physician, and Clinical Assistant Professor at the School of Clinical Medicine and School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Her research focuses on improving end-of-life care for people with advanced dementia and enhancing serious illness communication with older adults with life-limiting conditions. Prof. Yuen was an Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York from 2012-2016. She served as a Clinical Lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong from 2017 to 2018, during which she received the University Education Award in recognition of her contributions to medical education. In 2025, she received the HKU Faculty Teaching Medal. She currently serves on the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Professionalism and Ethics Committee, and the Councils of the Hong Kong Geriatrics Society and the Hong Kong Association of Gerontology.

Dr. Tara C. Klinedinst is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and an occupational therapist. Her research focuses on improving participation, reducing disability, and supporting health self-management among adults with chronic conditions.

Dr. Perepezko earned her PhD in Public Health (Mental Health) and her MSPH in Social and Behavioral Interventions from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and holds a B.A. in Psychology from New York University. Her recent scholarship has explored caregiver well-being, sleep disturbances, relationship quality, successful aging and family caregiving, and innovative approaches to supporting older adults and their families. Through her research, Dr. Perepezko is committed to creating sustainable systems of care that strengthen the well-being of both older adults and those who care for them. 

Joyce Siette, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Healthy Aging at the MARCS Institute for Brain, Behavior and Development at Western Sydney University. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on understanding the behavioral and social factors that support healthy brain aging across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on dementia prevention, cognitive health, and improving quality of life for older adults. Dr. Siette’s work explores how digital health, data analytics, and innovative technologies can promote healthy aging and enhance care for older adults in community and residential settings. She is also recognized for translating research into practical solutions, including public health initiatives that increase awareness of modifiable dementia risk factors. With a background in psychology and public health, Dr. Siette has led and collaborated on numerous projects related to dementia literacy, social connectedness, culturally inclusive care, and preventive brain health programs. Her research is grounded in improving real-world outcomes for individuals, families, and communities navigating aging and cognitive change. 

Michelle Putnam, PhD, MGS, FGSA is Director of the Gerontology Institute and Professor in the Gerontology Department at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She holds a BA in History from the University of Michigan, a Master's in Gerontological Studies from Miami University in Ohio, and a PhD in Social Welfare from the University of California, Los Angeles, and served as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Public Health in Disabilities at Oregon Health & Sciences University. Dr. Putnam's scholarship focuses on the intersections of aging and disability including how growing older with lifelong and long-term disability is different than aging into disability for the first time in later life and how to build bridges across aging and disability research, policy and practice. She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Innovation in Aging, a journal of the Gerontological Society of America.

John A. Batsis, MD, FACP, AGSF, FGSA, FTOS, is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in Geriatric Medicine and Nutrition. Dr. Batsis is a geriatrician and clinician researcher who is board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Obesity Medicine. He provides care in the outpatient and nursing home setting to older adults with obesity, multimorbidity, and frailty. His research focuses on the interplay between fat and muscle in older adults mongst older adults with a goal of improving physical function during weight loss. He also focuses on methods relevant to understanding the heterogeneity of aging. Dr. Batsis is funded by the National Institutes of Health having published over 240 papers. He is co-Chair of the Obesity Section of the Gerontological Society of America and a member of international consortiums including the Global Leadership Initiative for Sarcopenia and the Sarcopenic Obesity Global Leadership Initiative.

Lorenzo Donini is a physician and internationally recognized expert in food science and human nutrition. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery and specialized in Food Science. He previously served as Full Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at Sapienza University of Rome, where he conducted teaching and research within the Department of Medical Pathophysiology. Dr. Donini has authored more than 300 scientific publications and has been included in the Stanford University ranking since 2019. His research has focused on nutritional status assessment, eating disorders, malnutrition, obesity, sarcopenic obesity, food services, front-of-pack nutrition labeling, and the Mediterranean diet. He has received research funding from both Italian and international institutions and has led working groups for scientific societies, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations across Italy and Europe.

Keith Kleszynski, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Section of Geriatric Medicine in the OUHSC Department of Medicine. Keith is also the Associate Director of the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative. Keith holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma. He has 15 years of research experience, including conducting research with older Oklahoman adults, American Indian tribes, undocumented Latino immigrants in the U.S., drug court enrollees, and former undocumented Latino immigrants who have returned to Mexico and Latin America. His specialties and research interests involve qualitative research methodologies, population health disparities, geriatric health issues, aging issues, active living, identity, and migration.

Madison Enos is a first-year osteopathic medical student at the University of New England and President of her GSA Student Chapter, with a strong interest in advocating for older adults in healthcare.

Grace Savard is a dual-degree Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Health student at the University of Minnesota.  She is focused on advancing healthy aging through policy, research, and population health.

Layla Katharine Santana is a PhD student in Aging Studies at the University of South Florida and an occupational therapist whose research explores digital engagement, cognition, and innovative approaches to healthy aging.

Elana Kieffer Blass is the Director of Strategic Alliances at the Gerontological Society of America. Most recently, she served as the Director of the Center for Healthy Aging at The New York Academy of Medicine, and has nearly 20 years of experience working in a wide range of older adult services, with a focus on project management, program development, and sales and marketing. Elana has an MBA in nonprofit management with a concentration in aging services from the Heller School at Brandeis University.

Dr. Robert Popovian is the Founder of the strategic consulting firm Conquest Advisors. He also serves as Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation. One of the country’s foremost experts on every significant facet of biopharmaceuticals and the healthcare industry, he is a recognized authority on health economics, policy, government relations, and medical affairs. Dr. Popovian has published extensively and has been cited in the most prominent medical sources and media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Popovian is Chairman of the Board of Councilors at the Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at USC, and an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Rutgers School of Pharmacy. Dr. Popovian completed his Doctorate in Pharmacy and Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy degrees with honors at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Wayne Winegarden is a Sr. Fellow in Business and Economics with the Pacific Research Institute, Director of the Center for Medical Economics and Innovation at PRI, and the Principal of Capitol Economic Advisors. Dr. Winegarden’s consulting practice advises clients on the impacts of fiscal and economic policies on business outcomes. His economic research focuses on regulatory, fiscal, macroeconomic, health, and energy policies. In addition to his Southern California News Group column, Dr. Winegarden’s editorials have been published in outlets such as the Orange County Register, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and the Hill. Dr. Winegarden has testified before the U.S. Congress; was previously an economics faculty member at Marymount University; worked as a business economist in Hong Kong and New York City; and worked as a policy economist for policy and trade associations in Washington, D.C. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University.