About The Center on Aging at The University of Utah

Article Submitted by The Center on Aging. They can be reached at 810-581-8198 or visit their website at aging.utah.edu

The Center on Aging has an established thirty-two year history of providing educational and research programs in gerontology at the University of Utah. It has sponsored undergraduate and graduate gerontology certificate programs as well as a Masters degree program in Gerontology. In addition to its strengths in gerontology education programs, it is recognized for a well-established research program focused on bereavement, coping with loss of a spouse and caregiving. In June 2004 its name was changed from the Gerontology Center to reflect a desire to become more comprehensive and expand the scope of its service and research activities.

A strategic planning process was completed in 2005 resulting in a change in its organizational structure to position the center to have a broad institutional impact and allow it to become more comprehensive and interdisciplinary. As a free standing center it is now optimally situated to serve its interdisciplinary mission and objectives. Dr. Supiano was appointed as its Executive Director in October 2005.
The Center on Aging will function as the umbrella linking together a host of affiliated programs with interests in aging research.

The Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program administers educational offerings leading to the undergraduate and graduate certificates in gerontology and a Master's degree in gerontology. Certificates are fully available online. Federal grants have made the program a regional resource for those in the aging network. The primary areas of research are family caregiving, intergenerational relationships, public policy, sustainable communities, safety and medication errors, and grief and bereavement.