“To make healthy aging a reality through research, education and clinical care.” 

This vision is synergistic with the UC Davis Health System Strategic Plan-2004 that emphasizes four areas of excellence – cancer, infectious disease, neuroscience and vascular medicine.  Aging is relevant to all of these disease pathways.

The elderly segment (ages 55+) of our population is experiencing exponential growth.  The need to understand the biology of aging and how to provide effective care to these individuals as they age is paramount in our society.  The Aging Center at UC Davis is directed to 1) unify faculty and research programs across the basic sciences, translational, epidemiologic and aging related medical disciplines; 2) further understanding of the epidemiology and biology of aging related diseases and; 3) improve clinical care through education and outreach initiatives.  The overall objective is to prevent, and/or reverse and/or ameliorate the diseases of aging in our population.  This mission supports the UC Davis Health System Strategic Plan, which highlights research development in specific target areas.  A brief review of our background and an outline of our plans for how we will make healthy aging a reality through research, education and clinical care are listed below.

Within two years after his arrival at UC Davis in 1981 Dr. Philip Weiler started the first Geriatric Clinic at UC Davis Medical Center with the help of Dr. John Tupper. He led a successful effort to secure legislation that has funded Academic Geriatric Resource Centers (AGRC) at each UC Health Science Campus continuously since 1984.  He then became the Director of the UC Davis Center for Aging and Health (CAH).  In 1987 UC Davis became affiliated as a subcontractor for the then newly funded, UCLA-based, California Geriatric Education Center (CGEC).  Four years later and prior to his untimely death, Dr. Weiler selected Mary Haan, DrPH, to succeed him as CAH Director.  Dr. Haan shepherded the Geriatric education grants from 1991 to 2000 before turning them over to George Xakellis, Jr., MD, MBA, in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

Starting in 2000, geriatrics began to receive significant institutional attention.  First came the passage of Assembly Bill 1820 Medical Training Act, by Rodrick Wright.  AB 1820 required geriatric content in the UC Schools of Medicine (SOM’s) and geriatric Continuing Medical Education (CME) for MD’s in Family and Community Medicine (FCM) and Internal Medicine (IM).  A legislative proposal to fund endowed chairs in Aging at each health science campus was also initiated.  Key activists’ members of the current External Advisory Committee (EAC) were instrumental in securing this funding and has been in existence for 20 years.  Since the 1980s, the EAC has run non-stop supporting the Center in reviewing research and clinical activities under Mary Haan and Geriatrics.  In the 1990s thru present, the EAC was increasing involved with public education, events, and interest in both professional and academic geriatric education.  Currently, the EAC is comprised of 35 representatives from various organizations
(Appendix I). 

A one-time augmentation of AGRC funding provided the momentum that was used effectively to advance the Geriatric curricular effort at UC Davis.  A “Future of Geriatrics” group comprised of key Department Chairs, the Dean, and Chief Operating Officer of the UC Davis Health System convened regularly and Dr. Xakellis was named Interim Director of the UC Davis Center for Healthy Aging (CHA).  Health Systems funds were directed to the Center to expand our visibility and presence in anticipation of recruiting an Endowed Chair and permanent Center Director.  In 2003 an RFA to fund a new Geriatric Education Center at UC San Francisco was approved and both UC Davis and UC Berkeley became subcontractors to that grant.

In January of 2005, Dr. Nancy Lane was appointed Endowed Chair and Center Director.  This document provides an initial vision and plan for the growth and diversification in the four core efforts (Basic Research, Clinical Research, Education and Outreach) over the next three years.