Marie Bernard

Marie Bernard to Speak at Women's Health Research Symposium at Temple March 26

Director of the National Institute on Aging is a leading expert on medical care for an aging population 

MEDIA CONTACT: Paul Statt, Paul Statt Communications, 413-244-7456, paulstatt@paulstatt.com

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9--Marie Bernard, the Deputy Director, National Institute on Aging (NIA), will deliver the keynote address on "Healthy Aging" at the fifth annual Women's Health Interdisciplinary Research Symposium at 8 a.m on Thursday, March 26 in Mitten Hall at Temple University, as part of week-long celebration of research at the university.

The daughter of two physicians, Bernard earned her medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed her residency at Temple University Hospital, where she was chief resident. She held several positions at Temple's School of Medicine, starting as an instructor in medicine, then serving as an associate professor in internal medicine, director of medical clinics and assistant admissions dean. In 1990, the University of Oklahoma recruited her to build its geriatrics education and research programs. Until her move to the NIA, she was the founding director of Oklahoma's Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine, which launched in 1997. At the time, it was only the third department of geriatrics in the nation. In addition to founding and directing the department, Bernard also served as Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Geriatrics and Extended Care at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Bernard's research, which she has pursued in addition to administrative and other roles, has focused on nutrition and functioning in older adults, with particular emphasis on ethnic minorities. She has published widely on geriatric care, nutrition, medication issues and health problems among minorities. She was a member of the NIA's National Advisory Council on Aging, and chaired its Minority Task Force. She has also been a member of the American Geriatrics Society's Board of Directors, President and Chair of the Board of the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs, and a member of the Institute of Medicine committee that wrote the groundbreaking "Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce," released in April. Among the committee's key findings: The nation's healthcare workforce is too small and unprepared to meet the needs of its rapidly growing population of older adults.

The annual Women's Health Interdisciplinary Research Symposium is taking place as a part of Research Week, from Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27, at Temple University. Sponsored by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Strategic Initiatives, Research Week offers five days of lecturers, colloquia, presentations and performances, culminating on Friday, March 27 with an address by 2008 Nobel Chemistry Laureate Martin Chalfie, who discovered green fluorescent proteins.   

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