The Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at the Institute for Public Health hosts this annual event to address topics related to older adults and aging society and present awards to individuals who have contributed to the field of aging.
2018 Friedman Lecture and Awards 
First Friedman Award Given to Mary Coats, RN, MSN; Pictured from left: Harvey Friedman, Dorismae Friedman, John Morris, Mary Coats, William Peck 
2012 Friedman Lecture & Awards; Pictured from left: James Williams, Eddie Lawlor, Nancy Morrow-Howell, John Morris, Mark Wrighton
The Friedman Lecture and Awards event is supported by the Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Endowment for Aging at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Lectures cover a wide range of topics that represent the diversity of experiences and needs of aging adults and communities.
Awards & Nominations
The nomination period for the 2024 awards has closed. Awards will be presented on April 5, 2024 at the Friedman Lecture and Awards event on behalf of the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging.
The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual who has made outstanding contributions in service to older adults. Individuals might have made this contribution through practice, education, advocacy, or research. Eligible nominees must be professionals currently involved in work that is related to older adults within the St. Louis Metro Region.
This award is supported by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital from the Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Fund.
The purpose of this award is to recognize stellar contributions to the care of older adults by a resident, post-residency fellow or junior faculty member in neurology, psychiatry, medicine or related disciplines. Eligible individuals may also have had experience in the geriatric service areas at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at WashU Medical Center or at associated outpatient facilities, including Barnes-Jewish Extended Care. The award is not restricted to individuals with a medical degree (MD or DO). Nominees should demonstrate achievement in at least one of the following areas of geriatrics: direct patient care; didactic learning exercises, rounds, conferences, or national/international meetings; and, patient-oriented or basic research that addresses aging issues.
Recipients receive a formal announcement of the award, a plaque and $3,000 toward aging-related educational endeavors including conference fees, travel expenses, books, journal subscriptions and field- or research-related software, hardware, etc.
This award is supported by the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital from the Alene and Meyer Kopolow Fund for Geriatrics, Psychiatry and Neurology.
The purpose of this award is to recognize doctoral candidates who show outstanding promise as researchers on topics relevant to older adults and aging society. To be considered for the award, students must apply to participate in a 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) competition, organized by the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging. The 3MT is an academic competition that challenges graduate students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. Following the competition, winner(s) will be honored at the next Annual Friedman Lecture and receive prizes.
This award is supported by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital from the Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Fund.
2024 Friedman Lecture & Awards
Climate Change in an Aging World
The Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging’s 23rd Annual Friedman Lecture & Awards took place on April 5, 2024. Our keynote presentation—Climate Change in an Aging World—was presented by Karl Pillemer, PhD, of Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medicine. In addition to the keynote presentation, this event included a presentation of awards, panel discussion, and audience Q&A.
- April 21, 2023 | Mental health and older adults: New ways to provide high-quality care
- April 13, 2022 | Serious Illness Care: Advances and Opportunities
- April 14, 2021 | Writing a New Story for Old Age in Today’s Longevity Economy
- April 24, 2019 | “Advancing Aging Research & Education at Washington University: Preparing for Longer, Productive Lives”
- April 20, 2018 | “Ageism in America: How Stereotypes Influence Our Health and Wellbeing”
- April 4, 2017 | “Future of Health Policy in an Aging America”
- April 28, 2016 | “Intersection of Aging and the Arts for Health and Wellbeing”
- April 22, 2015 | “Better Living Through Innovation: Responding to an Aging Society”
- May 8, 2014 | “Developing the Workforce for an Aging America”
- May 3, 2013 | “Creating Aging-Friendly Communities”
- April 30, 2012 | “The Aging Mind: Realities and Myths”
- May 24, 2011 | “Friedman Center for Aging Research: Selected Updates”
- May 25, 2010 | “Productive Aging: Cross-Cultural Perspectives from China and the U.S.”
- April 21, 2009 | “In the Words of the Artist: The Influence of Age on Creativity and Expression”
- May 13, 2008 | “Are we Licensed for Life?: Transportation and Driving Issues in an Aging Society”
Award Winners
The Alene and Meyer Kopolow Award for Geriatrics, Psychiatry and Neurology
2024 Awardee:
Kaori Sakurai, MD, FACP
Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, WashU
- 2023 | Beth Prusaczyk, PhD, MSW, General Medical Sciences
- 2022 | Andrea Denny, JD, MSSW, Neurology
- 2021 | Emily Somerville, OTD, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy and Neurology
- 2020 | Sarah Hartz, MD, PhD, Psychiatry
- 2019 | Lenise Cummings-Vaughn, MD, CMD, Geriatrics
- 2018 | Gregory S. Day, MD, Neurology
- 2017 | Ganesh Babulal, PhD, OTD, MSCI, MOT, OTR/L, Neurology
- 2016 | Scott Vouri, PharmD, MSCI, St. Louis College of Pharmacy
- 2015 | Brendan Lucey, MD, Neurology
- 2014 | Erik Musiek, MD, PhD, Neurology
- 2013 | Tammie L. S. Benziger, MD, Radiology and Neurological Surgery
- 2012 | Tanya Wildes, MD, Division of Medical Oncology
- 2011 | Beau M. Ances, MD, PhD, MSc, Department of Neurology
- 2010 | Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy and Neurology
- 2009 | Nupur Ghoshal, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology
- 2008 | Consuelo Hopkins Wilkins, MD, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science
- 2007 | Randall Bateman, MD, Department of Neurology
- 2006 | Christopher Carpenter, MD, Division of Emergency Medicine
- 2005 | Monique Williams, MD, Division of Geriatrics & Nutritional Science
- 2004 | Barbara Joy Snider, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology
- 2003 | Kellie L. Flood, MD, Division of Geriatrics & Nutritional Science
The Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Award for Excellence in Service to Older Adults
2024 Awardee:
Madeline Franklin, JD
Executive Director, STL Village
- 2023 | Jamie Opsal, St. Louis City Senior Fund
- 2022 | Pamela Merkle, Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities
- 2021 | David Sykora, Former Executive Director of the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging
- 2020 | Joan Denison, Covenant Place
- 2019 | Marla Berg-Weger, PhD, LCSW, Saint Louis University School of Social Work
- 2018 | Janis M. McGillick, MSW, MA, LNHA, Dolan Memory Care Homes and Nikki G. Goldstein, MSW, Crown Center for Senior Living
- 2017 | Cheryl Kinney, LCSW, MSW, Alzheimer’s Association-St. Louis Chapter
- 2016 | Virginia Buckles, PhD, Neurology
- 2015 | Karen Berry Elbert, MSW, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, St. Louis NORC and Sherrill Wayland, MSW, SAGE Metro St. Louis
- 2014 | Jennifer K. Phillips, MPA & Myrtis Smith Spencer, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
- 2013 | Rebecca I. Fierberg, MSW, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
- 2013 | Deborah Dalin Guyer, St. Louis Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association
- 2012 | James Williams, MA, Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
- 2011 | Terri L. Hosto, MSW, LCSW, Physical Therapy, Anatomy and Neurobiology
- 2011 | Nancy Tye-Murray, PhD, Otolaryngology
- 2010 | Gammon M. Earhart, PhD, PT, Physical Therapy, Anatomy and Neurobiology,
- 2010 Nigel Cairns, PhD, FRCPath , Neurology and Pathology and Immunology
- 2009 | Catherine M. Roe, PhD, Department of Neurology
- 2008 | Marie McGowan Meisel, Department of Neurology
- 2007 | Joanne Norton, Department of Psychiatry
- 2006 | Eileen Costantinou, MSN, RN, BC, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- 2005 | Tamara Hershey, PhD, Psychiatry, Radiology & Neurology
- 2005 | Maria Carroll, RN, BC, GCNS, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- 2004 | Elizabeth A. Grant, PhD, Division of Biostatistics
- 2003 | Mary A. Coats, RN, MSN
The Mark S. Wrighton Research Award on Aging
2024 Awardees:
Winner: Christi Lero, PhD candidate, Brown School
Runner-up: Joseph Lin, MD/PhD candidate, School of Medicine
- 2023 Winner | Jung Uk Kang, PhD candidate, School of Medicine
- 2023 Runner-up | Hannah Wilks, graduate student, Arts & Sciences
- 2022 Judge’s Choice | Hannah Maybrier, PhD candidate in clinical psychology
- 2022 People’s Choice | Lucia Capano, PhD candidate, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
- 2021 Judge’s Choice | Meghan McDarby, PhD candidate, psychological and brain sciences
- 2021 People’s Choice | Audrey Keleman, PhD candidate, rehabilitation and participation science program
- 2020 Judges’ Choice | Christopher Chermside-Scabbo, PhD-MD candidate, Orthopaedic Surgery
- 2020 People’s Choice | Monica Xiong, PhD candidate, Neuroscience