The Gerontological Society of America
Encyclopedia
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is a multidisciplinary
organization
devoted to research and education in all aspects of gerontology
: medical
, biological
, psychological
and social
. As of 2008 GSA had over 5,200 members.
in New York City
in 1945 as an outgrowth of a group of scientists and physician
s who had been calling themselves "the Club for Research on Ageing
" since the 1930s. GSA has been holding scientific conference
s since 1946.
In 1969 GSA moved its main office from St. Louis, Missouri
to Washington, D.C.
GSA along with the American Geriatrics Society
"lobbied" for the formation of a National Gerontological Institute. These efforts bore fruit in 1974 when President Richard Nixon
signed legislation to create the National Institute on Aging
(NIA). Several GSA members immediately became founding members of NIA's National Advisory Council.
In 1946 GSA began publishing Journal of Gerontology. In 1961 material in Journal of Gerontology dealing with GSA organization and activities was moved to a new journal called The Gerontologist. In 1988 Journal of Gerontology was renamed Journals of Gerontology to reflect the fact that it was a composite of four journals having four separate editors. In 1995 the four journals being published under one cover were split into two magazines ("two covers"): (1) the Journals of Gerontology: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences and (2) the Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.
Also in 1995 GSA began publishing The Public Policy and Aging Report to deal specifically with policy issues, and directed to those outside as well as within the academic community.
The current president of the GSA is Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, Ph.D..
Interdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinarity involves the combining of two or more academic fields into one single discipline. An interdisciplinary field crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions have emerged....
organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
devoted to research and education in all aspects of gerontology
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
: medical
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, biological
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, psychological
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
. As of 2008 GSA had over 5,200 members.
History and Organization
GSA was incorporatedCorporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1945 as an outgrowth of a group of scientists and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s who had been calling themselves "the Club for Research on Ageing
Ageing
Ageing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
" since the 1930s. GSA has been holding scientific conference
Academic conference
An academic conference or symposium is a conference for researchers to present and discuss their work. Together with academic or scientific journals, conferences provide an important channel for exchange of information between researchers.-Overview:Conferences are usually composed of various...
s since 1946.
In 1969 GSA moved its main office from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
GSA along with the American Geriatrics Society
American Geriatrics Society
The American Geriatrics Society : a professional society founded on June 11, 1942 for doctors practicing geriatric medicine. Among the founding physicians were Dr. Ignatz Leo Nascher, who coined the term "geriatrics," Dr. Malford W. Thewlis, who was named the first executive secretary of the...
"lobbied" for the formation of a National Gerontological Institute. These efforts bore fruit in 1974 when President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
signed legislation to create the National Institute on Aging
National Institute on Aging
The National Institute on Aging ' is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health , located in Baltimore, Maryland.The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life...
(NIA). Several GSA members immediately became founding members of NIA's National Advisory Council.
In 1946 GSA began publishing Journal of Gerontology. In 1961 material in Journal of Gerontology dealing with GSA organization and activities was moved to a new journal called The Gerontologist. In 1988 Journal of Gerontology was renamed Journals of Gerontology to reflect the fact that it was a composite of four journals having four separate editors. In 1995 the four journals being published under one cover were split into two magazines ("two covers"): (1) the Journals of Gerontology: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences and (2) the Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences.
Also in 1995 GSA began publishing The Public Policy and Aging Report to deal specifically with policy issues, and directed to those outside as well as within the academic community.
The current president of the GSA is Peggye Dilworth-Anderson, Ph.D..
Activities
The primary activities of GSA are to- publish refereed journals
- publish special books and papers
- organize congressional briefings
- promote gerontology in higher education
- promote gerontology in public policy
- organize a four-day Annual Scientific Meeting
- provide continuing education in gerontology
- recruit minority researchers into gerontology
See also
- AgeingAgeingAgeing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
- American Aging AssociationAmerican Aging AssociationThe American Aging Association is a non-profit, tax-exempt biogerontology organization of scientists and laypeople dedicated to biomedical aging studies intended to slow the aging process. The abbreviation AGE is intended to be representative of the organization, even though it is not an acronym...
- GeriatricsGeriatricsGeriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or...
- GerontologyGerontologyGerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
- SenescenceSenescenceSenescence or biological aging is the change in the biology of an organism as it ages after its maturity. Such changes range from those affecting its cells and their function to those affecting the whole organism...