Member Spotlight

Q&A with Toni Miles, MD, PhD from Louisville, KY.

		"The challenges presented by an aging society require a 360 degree approach."
Meet Toni.

Q: What GSA member benefit do you like best and why? 
A: I attended my first GSA meeting in 1986 as a post-doctoral fellow.  My daughter was born in 1988 (December) so I missed that one but I haven’t missed a meeting since. My favorite benefit is online access to current and archive journals. It makes searching by topics easy.

Q: How does GSA assist you with your professional development?
A: My GSA membership is fabulous! It provides a door to the best minds across a broad spectrum of research. My own studies require a working knowledge of biological issues in aging, evidence-basis of clinical therapy, and access to the research that shapes policy. When time is short, GSA membership is the most efficient route to expert opinion. 

Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: I was a medical student when I met Jacob Brody from the National Institute on Aging. I was interested in neuroscience at the time. He showed me that NIA approached problems in aging using a comprehensive approach including basic neuroscience research with Stanley Rappaport, clinical dementia care with Knight Steele, and his area - dementia epidemics. I was hooked!

Q: How do you feel GSA serves the field of gerontology and aging research?
A: I feel that it is really important for GSA maintain its comprehensive perspective.  The challenges presented by an aging society require a 360 degree approach. No other society puts demographers together with cell biologists. Anyone who wants to have an impact in the real world needs to join GSA.

Q: What are your key responsibilities at your job?
A: I like to say that I have a role in shaping the future. My key responsibilities are research and teaching. Both are forward looking activities. One involves developing new knowledge. The other develops new minds.

Q: What has been your most memorable experience in gerontology and aging research?
A: Here is one. Last year, I was a Health and Aging Policy Fellow. This fellowship was supported by Atlantic Philanthropies. I had the great opportunity to work on the Senate Finance Committee and work for Max Baucus on the Health Care Reform bill. That was exhausting, thrilling, frustrating, and awe inspiring.   I could tell many stories about being in aging research. I feel like there are more to come.

Q: Do you have any tips for emerging gerontologists?
A: Use the membership as a resource. All of us welcome your presence in the society. When I have a question usually someone in the society has THE answer or knows someone who does.

Q: Tell us a little about your most recent activities/accomplishments?
A: I have just completed a year of health reform policy training. I am now reframing my research to encompass the new tools that I have acquired. Exploring the potential of policy to both create and resolve health inequalities is an exciting new avenue for research.

Q: Have you had an important mentor in your career? If so, how did it make a difference?
A: In the beginning of my career as a gerontologist, there were two significant influences. Jacob Brody, former Dean of the University of Illinois, School of Public Health, showed me that epidemiologists asked the best questions and had a lot of fun doing it. Paul Levy, former Chair of the Division of Epidemiology, showed me that good samples could enhance the quality of even the best questions. Both guys are great human beings.