New York (April 15, 2025) — The American Geriatrics Society announced that it will be honoring Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky with its David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award in recognition of her unwavering commitment to geriatrics and improving healthcare for older Americans. Throughout her distinguished career, Congresswoman Schakowsky has been a steadfast advocate for policies that strengthen the geriatrics workforce and enhance the quality of care for all Americans as they age.
“Congresswoman Schakowsky has played a pivotal role in shaping policies that support geriatrics education and workforce development,” said AGS President Mark A. Supiano, MD, AGSF. “Her leadership in advancing critical programs like the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and the Geriatrics Academic Career Award (GACA) epitomizes Dr. Solomon’s lifelong commitment to community service and the advancement of knowledge in caring for older adults. We are honored to recognize her with this award.”
A long-standing champion of the importance of health professionals having the knowledge and skills to care for older Americans, Congresswoman Schakowsky has spearheaded multiple legislative efforts to address the shortage of healthcare professionals with training in geriatrics and gerontology. In the 115th Congress (2017-2018), she introduced the Geriatrics Workforce and Caregiver Enhancement Act (H.R. 3713) to reauthorize key workforce training programs under Title VII of the Public Health Service Act. In the 116th Congress, she introduced the Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness (EMPOWER) for Health Act of 2019 (H.R. 2781) and then successfully advocated for its inclusion in the COVID-19 stimulus package that was passed in 2020. That legislation extended authorization of the GWEP and GACA programs through 2025. Due to her efforts, these critical programs, offered through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), continue to provide essential support for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and clinician-educators who are dedicated to ensuring the health care workforce is prepared to care for older Americans.
“It is such an honor to be awarded the 2025 David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award. Thank you to the American Geriatrics Society for this great recognition and for your dedication to our nation’s seniors. Even long before I was a senior myself, I fought for older Americans. I previously served as the Executive Director of the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens and now, in the House of Representatives, I am proud to be the co-founder and co-chair of the Democratic Task Force on Aging and Families. Older Americans have worked hard for their families and communities and deserve to retire with dignity and high-quality health care. That is why I vow to continue doing everything in my power to expand access to care for our aging population and strengthen the health care workforce. When we fight, we win,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.
“We are immensely grateful for Congresswoman Schakowsky’s dedication to ensuring we all receive the quality care we deserve as we age,” said AGS CEO Nancy Lundebjerg, MPA. “Her tireless advocacy has strengthened the geriatrics workforce and advanced policies that improve the lives of millions of older Americans and their caregivers daily.”
The David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award celebrates the legacy of David H. Solomon, MD, AGSF, a renowned geriatrician committed to community service and advancing knowledge about the care of older individuals. It is one of several honors conferred by the AGS at its Annual Scientific Meeting—held this year in Chicago, Illinois from May 8 – 10 (pre-conference day: Wednesday, May 7). The 2025 award recipients include more than 20 healthcare leaders representing the depth and breadth of disciplines championing care for older adults. The AGS will be presenting the Solomon Award to Congresswoman Schakowsky during the Public Policy plenary session on Friday, May 9th. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org.
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About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Our 6,000+ members include geriatricians, geriatrics nurse practitioners, social workers, family practitioners, physician associates, pharmacists, and internists who are pioneers in serious illness care for older individuals, with a focus on championing interprofessional teams, eliciting personal care goals, and treating older people as whole persons. AGS is an anti-discriminatory organization. We believe in a society where we all are supported by and able to contribute to communities where ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other forms of bias and discrimination no longer impact healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for older adults and their caregivers. AGS advocates for policies and programs that support the health, independence, and quality of life of all of us as we age.
About the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award
The AGS created the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award in 2002 to honor David H. Solomon, MD, AGSF, for his commitment to community service and the advancement of knowledge in caring for older adults. Dr. Solomon was the founding Director of the Center on Aging at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He will forever be remembered for his excellence in research, teaching, patient care, and administration.
About the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting
The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting is the premier educational event in geriatrics, providing the latest information on clinical care, research on aging, and innovative models of care delivery. More than 2,600 nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, healthcare administrators, and others will convene May 8 – 10 (pre-conference day: Wednesday, May 7) in Chicago, IL to advance geriatrics knowledge and skills through state-of-the-art educational sessions and research presentations. For more information, visit https://meeting.americangeriatrics.org/.