Gerontological Health

Submit Abstract

The Gerontological Health Section (GHS) will celebrate our 30th anniversary as an APHA section this year. GHS welcomes abstracts on all topics related to health and aging for the 136th annual APHA meeting in San Diego, CA. Abstract submissions related to the 2008 Annual Meeting theme of "Public Health Without Borders" are especially encouraged. Additional areas of interest for GHS sessions include:
  • Chronic Disease Self-Care
  • Clinical Outcomes and Quality of Life
  • Community-Based Long Term Care
  • End of Life Issues
  • Environment and Aging
  • Future of Public Health Policy and Aging
  • Health Promotion for Older Adults
  • Healthcare Practices and Utilization Among Older Adults
  • Immigrant and Minority Health and Aging
  • International Health and Aging
  • Issues Involving Residential Housing Models: CCRCs, Assisted Living, and Aging in Place
  • Nursing Home Care and Utilization
  • Physical Activity and Successful Aging
  • Rural Aging Issues
  • Social Support and Caregiving
  • Translating Aging Research into Practice
  • Women's Health Issues
We welcome empirical research or practice-related presentations, using either quantitative or qualitative methods. Individuals may submit up to two (2) abstracts as first author to the Gerontological Health Section. Submissions may be for poster, oral, or roundtable session formats; please note desired format on the abstract form. All presenters must become individual members of APHA and register for the Annual Meeting in order to give their presentation. The deadline for submitting abstracts to GHS is February 6th, 2008.

Symposium sessions
We also invite submissions for 90 minute symposium sessions. There will only be a few open time slots available for consideration as a session. Because of the volume of abstracts we receive and the limited number of oral sessions we are allotted, we cannot consider symposium sessions containing fewer than 4 presented papers. Symposium proposals must be submitted along with each individual presentation abstract. This complete package gives the reviewers more substance from which to judge the overall merits of the proposal. Symposium submissions should contain:

1. An overall session abstract, which includes a rationale for the session, the proposed paper titles, author(s), order of presentation, and the abstract numbers for the individual papers;
2. Clearly label the overall session abstract as SESSION ABSTRACT - "your proposed session title" (you fill in the italicized part) on the electronic submission page form when entering your proposal;
3. The proposed moderator and/or discussant;
4. Be sure that each individual proposed presentation submits a separate abstract under the same restricted "category" (session title), otherwise they may become lost in the shuffle; please include the session abstract #;
5. Put contact information (phone and e-mail) for person in charge of session directly on the overall session abstract so we can contact you easily; and
6. Indicate whether or not you would like to have the individual abstracts considered for presentation in other sessions, if your proposed session is not accepted. Please state, "YES, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ABSTRACTS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY" or "NO, I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE THESE ABSTRACTS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY".

Please be aware that each paper in the symposium is scored individually and the symposium is also scored as a group. The individual presentation abstracts must score reasonably well in order to be considered for a symposium session.

Abstracts are peer-reviewed and scored based on the following criteria:
1. Significance of the problem to public health and aging
2. Innovativeness of ideas, methods and or approach
3. Methodological rigor of methods and approach (analytical design for research, systematic approach for practice and or policy)
4. Presentation of findings
5. Implications identified for future research, practice, and or policy
6. Clarity of writing

GHS Awards
The Gerontological Health Section sponsors several awards related to various categories of aging and public health. If you would like to be considered for one of the following awards, please indicate which one on your abstract submission form by selecting the award from the drop-down box.
  • Aetna Susan B Anthony Award for Excellence in Research on Older Women and Public Health
  • Betty J. Cleckley Minority Issues Research Award
  • Nobuo Maeda International Aging & Public Health Research Award
  • Retirement Research Foundation Masters Student Research Award
  • Retirement Research Foundation Doctoral Student Research Award
  • Excellence in Aging and Rural Health Research Award
  • James G. Zimmer New Investigator Research Award
  • The Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation

    Each abstract can be considered only for one award. You may, however, submit different abstracts to be considered for different awards. The Archstone Foundation Award for Excellence in Program Innovation. This Award recognizes best practice models that have been in operation for ten years or less that have effectively linked academic theory with applied practice in the field of Public Health and Aging. This award requires a special nomination form. Contact Allan Goldman, MPH, at abgoldman@dhr.state.ga.us, or go to www.archstone.org for details.

    For more information about the individual awards, contact Caryn Etkin, PhD, GHS Awards Chair at Caryn_Etkin@rush.edu or view the GHS website.
  • Submit Abstract

    Program Planner Contact Information:
    Jan Warren-Findlow, PhD
    Department of Public Health Sciences
    University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    9201 University City Blvd.
    CHHS #427B
    Charlotte, NC 28223
    Phone: 704/687-7908
    jwarren1@uncc.edu

    and
    Ashley S. Love, DrPH, MPH, MS
    Department of Health and Kinesiology
    University of Texas at San Antonio
    6900 North Loop 1604 West
    San Antonio, TX 78249
    Phone: 210 458-6226
    ashley11love@yahoo.com

    and
    Rachel Seymour, PhD
    Institute for Health Research and Policy
    Center for Research on Health and Aging
    University of Illinois Chicago
    Chicago, IL Phone: (828) 478-2213
    rseymo1@uic.edu