National Healthy Aging Symposium
The 2024 National Healthy Aging Symposium, held September 26, 2024, explored successful innovations in support of older adult health and well-being. Trust for America’s Health and the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services brought together speakers from sectors across all levels of government, philanthropy, academia, nonprofits, community-based organizations, tribal representatives, and more who shared their perspectives on important topics related to healthy aging. These included caregiving, brain health, workforce, transportation, housing, and social engagement.
The Symposium featured a welcome from the Assistant Secretary of Health, Admiral Rachel Levine, a keynote from Acting Director Alison Barkoff at the Administration for Community Living, and greetings from Dr. J. Nadine Gracia, President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, and Dr. Terry Fulmer, President of The John A. Hartford Foundation.
This event was built on the successful and ongoing collaborations between aging services and public health that began at the first National Healthy Aging Summit and Workshop in 2015 and has continued with additional Regional meetings and subsequent National events in 2018 and 2021.
Summary Report of the 2023-2024 Regional Calls
Summary of the 2024 Healthy Aging Symposium (coming soon)
Symposium Resources
| Sessions and Speakers | Materials | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Speakers: J. Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE President & CEO Trust for America’s Health Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, President, The John A. Harford Foundation | Recording (coming soon) | |
| Keynote Speakers: Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Alison Barkoff, Performing the duties of the ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Service | Recording (coming soon) | |
| Plenary Panel – Innovations in Aging and Health Equity Speakers: Kari Benson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging, Administration for Community Living Lindsay Goldman, LMSW, Chief Executive Officer, Grantmakers in Aging Steve Ewell, Executive Director, CTA Foundation Vijeth Iyengar, PhD, Director of Global Aging, AARP Moderator: J Nadine Gracia, MD, MSCE, President & CEO, Trust for America’s Health | Recording Resources | |
 | Concurrent Session: Maintaining Brain Health Speakers: Peter Holtgrave, Senior Director, Public Health Infrastructure and Systems, National Association of County and City Health Officials Michelle Moyers, Deputy Senior Director, Knox County Tennessee Health Department Marci Getz, MPH, Director, Healthy Aging Initiatives, Executive Office of Public Affairs & Equity, Washington State Department of Health Carrie Molke, Director, Bureau on Aging and Disability Resources, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Wisconsin Moderator: Renee Bouvion, Regional Health Administrator Region X, Office of Regional Health Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, HHS | Recording Slides Resources |
 | Concurrent Session: Making Connections and Boosting Social Engagement Speakers: Emily Greenfield, PhD, Professor and Director, Hub for Aging Collaboration, School of Social Work, Rutgers University Eddie Garcia, Founder and Board Chair, Foundation for Social Connection Rebecca Freeman, MPH, Section Chief, Service Operations, Division of Aging, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Deborah Lee, PhD, RN, NBC-HWC, Professor, NHC Chair of Excellence in Nursing and Director, Positive Aging Consortium, Middle Tennessee State University Moderator: Adrienne Smith, PhD, MS, CHES, Director Division of Policy and Performance Management, Office on Women’s Health | Recording Slides Resources |
 | Concurrent Session: Transforming Transportation for Older Adults Speakers: Virginia Dize, Co-Director, National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, and Director, Transportation, USAging Barbie McBee, Program Director, Rocky Mountain Rural Health Danielle Nelson, Senior Program Analyst, Federal Transit Administration, US Department of Transportation Moderator: Lori Gerhard, Director of the Office of Interagency Innovation, Administration for Community Living | Recording Slides Resources |
 | Concurrent Session: Ensuring a Skilled Workforce to Improve the Lives of Older Adults Speakers: Kezia Scales, Vice President of Research and Evaluation, PHI Adam Lustig, Director, Bridging Sectors to Create Health, National Network of Public Health Institutes Jackie Catron, Section Director Community Health Worker, Kansas Department of Health and Environment James Moorhead, Program Manager, Office of Aging and Disability Service, Maine Department of Health and Human Services Moderator: Juan Rodriguez, PhD, MPH, MS, Healthy Aging Branch Chief, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Recording Slides Resources |
 | Concurrent Session: Empowering Caregiving and Strengthening Support for Older Adults Speakers: Melinda Hogue, Associate Director, Training and Education, Caregiver Support Program, Department of Veterans Affairs Jennifer Olsen, CEO, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers Jean Brown, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Senior Services Melanie Two Eagle Black Bull, Title VI Director, Oglala Sioux Tribe Social Nutrition & Caregiver Program Moderator: Megan Wolfe, JD, Senior Policy Development Manager, Trust for America’s Health | Recording Slides Resources |
 | Concurrent Session: Supporting Health through Affordable, Safe, and Accessible Housing Speakers: Jennifer Goldberg, Deputy Director, Justice in Aging Juliana Bilowich, Director of Housing Operations and Policy, LeadingAge Todd Stubbendieck, State Director AARP Nebraska Moderator: Karon Phillips, PhD, MPH, Policy Development Manager, Trust for America’s Health | Recording Slides Resources |