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 will open soon. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date.
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. It is presented annually at the Friedman Lecture & Awards event on behalf of the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging.
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 Washington University 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. It is presented annually 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 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, to be organized and announced 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, winners will make their 3MT presentation at the next Annual Friedman Lecture and receive a plaque at the award ceremony.
This award is supported by The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital from the Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Fund.
2023 Friedman Lecture & Awards
Mental health and older adults: New ways to provide high-quality care
The Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging presented it’s 22nd Annual Friedman Lecture and Awards on April 21, 2023 — Mental health and older adults: New ways to provide high-quality care. The keynote presentation was given by Eric Lenze, MD, the Wallace and Lucille K. Renard Professor in Psychiatry and head of the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine. Following his presentation a panel of geriatric mental health experts discussed innovations in mental health care for older adults.
- 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
2023 Awardee:
Beth Prusaszcyk, PhD, MSW
WashU School of Medicine
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
2023 Awardee:
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
2023 Awardees:
Winner: Jung Uk Kang, PhD candidate, School of Medicine
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