Mark H. Dredze, PhD is the John C. Malone Professor of Computer Science and the Director of Research (Foundations of AI) for the Johns Hopkins University Data Science and AI Institute. Dr. Dredze work involves developing Artificial Intelligence Systems based on natural language processing and explores applications to public health and medicine. He will present “Large Language Models (LLMs) for Medicine challenges and opportunities” at the next scientific seminar being held on Monday, June 3 from 3:30pm – 5:00pm. The seminar will take place at 2024 E. Monument Street, Powe Room 1-500Q. We encourage you to attend in person but a zoom option s available by registering at https://bit.ly/49tlGLF. Light refreshments will be served.
This event is sponsored by: The Matthew Tayback, Sc.D., Memorial Lecture Fund; Center on Aging & Health; Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology; Johns Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center; Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Aging Training Program.
After 12 years with the Center, Dr. David L. Roth is retiring, having served as its director for more than 11 years and faithfully seeing through the transition of that Herculean job to Dr. Jennifer Schrack. Dr. Roth has served Johns Hopkins University as a Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology in the School of Medicine with joint appointments as a Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics with the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dr. Roth (center) with Mason F. Lord Staff Award recipients and COAH colleagues Talan Zhang (left) and Monique Lee (right), June 2022
Through these roles, Dr. Roth has cultivated a highly-collaborative environment for rigorous research, and he has mentored scores of pre- and postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members. His leadership style at COAH fostered powerful teamwork that allowed emerging leaders to grow, and he always championed COAH colleagues and staff and graciously recognized their successes with warmth and encouragement. Throughout his tenure with COAH, Dr. Roth has been a strong believer in this quote on leadership from Lao Tsu: “To lead people, walk beside them… As for the best leaders, people do not notice their existence. The next best, people honor and praise. The next, people fear; and the next, people hate…. When the best leader’s work is done, people say, ‘We did it ourselves!’” Dr. Roth truly has been one of COAH’s best leaders.
Dr. Roth’s contributions to applied gerontology are vast. Currently, ResearchGate documents 405 items associated with his name, including 18 papers on which he was part of the research team since 2023. Impressively, more than half of all works are original peer-reviewed articles. Additionally, Google Scholar shows Dr. Roth’s work has been cited
Dr. Roth surrounded by many of the COAH team at the Center’s Spring Award Luncheon, May 2022
This record illustrates the wide breadth of his research accomplishments and the extensive reach of his numerous collaborations. His work has been funded consistently at very high levels by grants from the National Institutes of Health, particularly from the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. In 2021, the Gerontological Society of America recognized Dr. Roth’s research prowess with the M. Powell Lawton Award, presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions from applied research that has benefited older people and their care.
Jackson and Dr. Roth on the Magothy River
Thus, it is with mixed feelings that we will be honoring Dr. Roth’s success and also saying goodbye to him as part of our team. A retirement celebration will be held on May 20th at 3pm in the atrium of the 2024 E. Monument St. Building on the East Baltimore Campus. We will miss him, yet we are very happy for him as he enjoys more time pursuing the great outdoors and spending more time with his family and loved ones—including his flat-coated retriever, Jackson—in the years ahead. Please join us! Refreshments will be served. RSVP by May 15 here.
By Anthony L. Teano, MLA Communications Specialist
Stephen Kritchevsky, PhD is the Toby R. Alligood Endowed Professor in Geroscience at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. He leads the Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention. He is an internationally known expert on nutrition that impacts the health and disability in older adults. Dr. Kritchevsky will present “The Hallmarks of Mobility” at the next scientific seminar being held on Monday, May 6 from 3:30pm – 5:00pm. The seminar will take place at 2024 E. Monument Street, Powe Room 1-500Q. We encourage you to attend in person but a zoom option is available by registering at https://bit.ly/49tIGLF. Light refreshments will be served.
This event is sponsored by: The Matthew Tayback, Sc.D., Memorial Lecture Fund; Center on Aging & Health; Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology; Johns Hopkins Older Americans Independence Center; Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Aging Training Program.
We at COAH want to offer our sincere thanks to everyone who attended and participated in the events of the 17th Annual Research on Aging Showcase on Friday, April 5th. Your presence made the day a huge success!
The day’s event started with an interactive student-led Epi of Aging journal club session. This was followed by an outstanding Keynote Address by Dr. Claudia Kawas, Professor of Neurology and Neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine, on “Dementia and Resilience in the Oldest Old: The 90+ Study.” Following the keynote presentation, we held a lively poster competition and networking session, featuring over 30 posters and concluding with awards in both student and professional categories. More information, including the poster winners’ names and poster titles, is available here.
Overall, this annual showcase highlighted the exciting aging research being led by students, fellows, and faculty at Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, the National Institute on Aging, and beyond.
A special thank you to the poster session judges, the poster presenters, and the showcase organizing committee. Please see above for the gallery of photos from the showcase events.
