HISTORY of AGING RESEARCH and GERONTOLOGY at WSU
GERONTOLOGY
As a result of a growing emphasis, both nationally and locally, WSU recognized the importance of doing more for older adults and providing training in gerontology for students. Both the academic programs in gerontology and the Gerontology Center were created through the work of Dr. William Hays, a faculty member in the Department of Sociology. In 1975-76, a Gerontology program was begun in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with a Gerontology Interdisciplinary Field Major (BA) and an Associate of Arts degree in Gerontology. Dr. Hays then wrote the original grant and application to establish the WSU Gerontology Center which was approved and created in 1977. Board of Regents approval for the master’s degree in gerontology was received in the spring of 1978. From 1988 to 1994, a formal BA/BS in Gerontology was offered by the College of Health Professions. At the same time, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences continued its BA Field Major in Gerontology.
In the mid 1990s, the Gerontology Center was closed for lack of funding. The BS in Gerontology was offered through 2003, when the formal major was suspended. Since that time, the BA Field Major in Gerontology and the Bachelor of General Studies degree with a gerontology focus have been available. More recently, the Gerontology Program has launched a very successful on-line master’s degree program under the leadership of Dr. Mary Corrigan.
Dr. Nicole Rogers joined the Gerontology Program in the summer 2007.
LARKSFIELD PLACE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Larkfield Place Retirement Community opened in 1988, and has served as a training site for WSU students from the beginning. Larksfield Place leaders advocating for aging research included Drs. Cramer Reed and Ernest Crow. An important milestone was the opening of a research center in 1995 that was directed by Dr. Laszlo Stumpfhauser. In 1996, a fall prevention program was introduced in the Fitness Club, which was then expanded to provide more room for services and research in 1998. A computerized driving assessment was developed in 1999 in cooperation with Dr. Alex Chaparro, Wichita State University. In 2003, it was noted that some 18 WSU faculty members were involved in research, student projects, student internships and clinical training at Larksfield Place, mainly through its Cramer Reed Center for Successful Aging. In fact, Larksfield Place has partnered with WSU faculty members working on aging research since its doors opened. Under the leadership of President and CEO Valerie McGhee, the partnership with the university was finally formalized through the Regional Institute on Aging.
THE REGIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
The WSU has a rich history of research and service in the field of aging involving multiple academic departments and colleges. In 2003-04, a group of scholars and partners from the community explored the desirability of folding the activities into a more formal framework that would expand, coordinate and further develop these activities. Dr.James Rhatigan led this initiative, in partnership with Drs. Philip Gaunt and Charles Fox.
Faculty members involved in the early discussions of an institute on aging at WSU included: Drs. Mary Corrigan, Louis Medvene, Michael Jorgensen, Steven Peters, Ruth Bohlken, Alex Chaparro, Michael Rogers, Matthew Shepherd, Ray Hull, Barbara Chaparro, and Laszlo Stumpfhauser.
In a presentation on January 25, 2005 to the university administration, a dozen investigators (from gerontology, psychology, engineering, performing arts, exercise physiology, communicative sciences and disorders, communications and the Center for Physical Activity and Aging) spoke about their work in a broad range of areas related to prevention and lifestyle improvement for older adults. Also presenting was WSU-LINK, which seeks to facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between the university and the community it serves, in many areas including the field of aging.
While these activities were impressive, it was agreed that a new organizational model providing better coordination for aging research activities was required. As a result, both Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research, Dr. John Hutchinson, and President Donald Beggs, gave their authorization for the creation of the new Regional Institute on Aging.
In 2006, the newly appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research, Gary L. Miller, Ph.D., and Associate Vice President for Research, J. David McDonald, Ph.D., joined the efforts and provided the support, along with the Larksfield Place Retirement Community, to establish the Regional Institute on Aging. Teresa S. Radebaugh, Sc.D., was named the first Director, and the Institute was officially launched on April 4, 2007.