An Overview

GSA's Visiting Scholar and Executive Program is open to members able to make a full- or part-time commitment to conduct work on a GSA project related to their area of expertise. The program is ideally suited for individuals taking a sabbatical, or transitioning away from full time work or into retirement.

Goals

The Visiting Scholar and Executive Program is designed to provide members with the opportunity to:

Goal 1

Advance GSA initiatives related to their professional interests.

Goal 2

Combine their research projects with GSA's programmatic needs.

Goal 3

View the aging research enterprise through the lens of the larger Society.

Goal 4

Broaden their professional network.

Current Visiting Scholars and Executives

Robin A. Barr, DPhil

“I am looking forward very much to working closely with GSA members and its staff as I work on a project to integrate aging into the study of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.”

Prior to joining GSA, Barr was the director of the Division of Extramural Activities at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he retired in after 33 years. He focused on shaping NIH policies toward new and early stage investigators and managed NIA’s National Advisory Council on Aging. In 2014, Barr became the founding editor of the NIA blog for the extramural community (Inside NIA: A Blog for Researchers).
He also served on multiple NIH committees focused on research training and early career researchers and helped develop the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) and the Early Stage Investigator designation. He worked with multiple foundations to bring the Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging program to NIA. This provides awards to aspiring leaders among early-stage health scientists who have a focus on aging and geriatrics. Barr continued to shepherd the program through multiple transitions at NIH.
In recent years, as NIA received a substantial infusion of funds for Alzheimer’s disease research, he led new approaches aimed at expanding the field rapidly, including guiding the creation of an administrative supplement program across NIH to stimulate research in this area.

Richard Browdie, MBA, FGSA

"My whole career has always been involved with designing programs and services to meet the needs of low-income older people. I hope to work with GSA leaders to develop ways to increase the dialogue between program developers and system managers and researchers and policy analysts."

Browdie recently retired after 16 years as president/CEO of the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. Previously, he served as Pennsylvania’s secretary of aging and executive director of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Browdie’s work focuses on developing ways to increase the dialogue between program developers and system managers and researchers and policy analysts to improve services to older people.

Kevin Crain

“I am excited to partner with the GSA team on advancing their work on ageism and their effort to advance the cause of healthy and productive aging — as evidenced by their leading the national conversation about the positive impact of the longevity economy, countering ageism, and promoting age-friendly communities.”

Crain has worked with GSA over the last several years as he served in various leadership positions at Bank of America, from which he recently retired as head of retirement research & insights. He also is a former chairperson of the NYC Age Friendly Commission.

Terri Harvath, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA

“GSA has been my professional home since 1986. I am excited to work with GSA staff and my colleagues in GSA to develop resources that will help health care professionals work more effectively with family caregivers.”

Harvath, a past GSA president and board chair, recently retired from her position as a clinical professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, where she was also the associate director for clinical science and practice in the Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation. Previously, she was the director for the Family Caregiving Institute at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis. Her professional career is dedicated to improving the health and health care of older adults and their family caregivers through the integration of theory, practice, and research.

Suzanne Kunkel, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE

“The work that I am doing with GSA allows me to put my four-decades-long commitment to gerontology education to use. I have the privilege of working with an amazing group of creative, thoughtful, passionate and visionary people on the GSA Gerontological Education Experts Workgroup. We are working on a list of resources and activities to send clear messages to multiple audiences —including campus leaders, community partners, employers, GSA members, and potential students and their parents — about the value of gerontology education.”

Kunkel currently is a senior research scholar of the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University, where she also holds the honorary titles of university distinguished professor of gerontology emerita, and executive director of the Scrips Gerontology Center emerita. She brings extensive experience in planning for the healthcare needs for the older population, and the role of the aging network in health outcomes for older adults and for communities. She previously served as GSA treasurer and president of GSA’s Academy (then Association) for Gerontology in Higher Education.

Patricia W. Slattum, PharmD, PhD, FGSA

“I have been a member of GSA for more than 25 years since I was a postdoctoral trainee. I love the interdisciplinary nature of GSA and am looking forward to networking with scientists throughout the organization.”

Slattum is professor emeritus of pharmacotherapy and outcomes science at Virginia Commonwealth University. The focus of her research and teaching is reducing medication-related problems among older persons with a particular interest in drug induced cognitive and functional impairment. In her role as a visiting acholar, Slattum will continue to explore her interest in medication outcomes in later life and how drug development and use can be improved to maximize benefits and minimize risks. She will also work with GSA members and staff to strengthen career development opportunities available through GSA for trainees and gerontologists throughout their career trajectory.

Join the Program

Interested members can contact CEO James Appleby at any time to identify visiting scholar or visiting executive opportunities. 

James Appleby, BSPharm, MPH, ScD (Hon)
Chief Executive Officer

jappleby@geron.org | 202-587-2821

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