New York (Aug. 14, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today announced that Joseph G. Ouslander, MD, AGSF—a leading figure in geriatrics with decades of experience helming organizations like the AGS, its Health in Aging Foundation, and some of the nation’s most prestigious health institutions—will succeed William B. Applegate, MD, MPH, MACP, AGSF, as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS). Having already served in editorial leadership for JAGS across nearly three decades, Dr. Ouslander now will pilot one of the leading and only academic journals dedicated to the care we all need as we age, with Dr. Applegate’s tenure closing at the end of 2020. Dr. Applegate will remain active with the journal, serving as editor emeritus.
“Dr. Ouslander was unanimously endorsed for this position by the AGS Board of Directors,” noted AGS President Annie Medina-Walpole, MD, AGSF. “That speaks volumes not only about his prowess, but also about how highly regarded he is among his peers. We’re very fortunate to have Dr. Ouslander leading JAGS as we look to showcase a new decade of innovative research, care models, and education.”
“Our journal has evolved tremendously since its inception, as has geriatrics. One constant across more than 25 years of that progress has been Joe Ouslander,” remarked Dr. Applegate. “Dr. Ouslander has an unmatched ability to keep us rooted in excellence even as we strive to remain restless in pursuit of innovation. I’m pleased to pass the journal into Joe’s capable hands at a time when high-quality, person-centered care needs to build continued momentum for us all.”
“It’s an honor to continue my work with JAGS,” noted Dr. Ouslander. “In the past few years we’ve taken significant strides toward expanding the journal’s impact with streamlined production and a keen eye towards new forums like social media. My vision is to continue that innovation while also expanding where, how, and why we reach our audiences—not just geriatricians, specialist physicians, surgeons with interest in the care of older adults and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, including nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers and others; but also the older adults and caregivers who benefit from our insights.”
Across his career, Dr. Ouslander has published more than 200 original articles and book chapters and is co-author or editor for many of geriatrics’ most influential textbooks. Having lectured extensively throughout the Asia, Australia, Europe, Israel, and the U.S., Dr. Ouslander is currently Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Senior Advisor to the Dean for Geriatrics, and former chair of the Integrated Medical Science Department at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Dr. Ouslander served as a geriatric medicine fellow and subsequently a professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he spent 15 years developing clinical, educational, and research programs serving the needs not only of older adults but also of the burgeoning workforce committed to their care. From 1996 to 2008, he served as a Professor and Director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the Emory University School of Medicine, where he also served as a Research Scientist at the Atlanta VA Medical Center and clinical consultant for the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization in Georgia.
From 1999 to 2001, Dr. Ouslander presided as president and then board chair of the AGS. In recognition of his efforts, Dr. Ouslander received the AGS’s prestigious Nascher/Manning Award in 2012 for a distinguished career and life-long achievement in clinical geriatrics, including research on urinary incontinence, falls, and other geriatric conditions. Dr. Ouslander remains an active member of the board for the AGS Health in Aging Foundation, committed to bringing the expertise of the AGS’s more than 6,000 members to older adults and caregivers through public education, public policy, and efforts to recruit and retain more experts in care for older adults.
As for his plans for JAGS, Dr. Ouslander has a clear vision for the road ahead: “We plan to continue to enhance current sections of the journal, including those dedicated to Education and Training, Models of Care, Quality and Dissemination, Public Policy, and Ethnogeriatrics, while also adding a section on Humanities and Aging. We’ll be working to improve the format and appearance of our articles, making notifications of online publications more timely and further disseminating JAGS through social media.”
About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals that has—for more than 75 years—worked to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Its nearly 6,000 members include geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org.
About the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS)
Included in more than 15,000 library collections around the world, JAGS is the go-to journal for clinical aging research. The journal serves a diverse, interprofessional community of healthcare professionals with the latest insights on geriatrics education, clinical practice, and public policy—all supporting the high-quality, person-centered care essential to our well-being as we age. Since the publication of its first edition in 1953, JAGS has remained one of the oldest and most impactful journals dedicated exclusively to gerontology and geriatrics. For more information, visit OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com/journal/15325415.