“Looking Forward to an Aging America: Myths and Realities” was the topic as John W. (Jack) Rowe MD, an expert on health care economics and healthy aging, delivered the inaugural Stanford Center on Longevity Distinguished Lecture. In an insightful lecture encompassing policy choices, predictors of disability and the significance of Whistler’s Mother’s age, Dr. Rowe discussed the importance of preparing for a society with more walkers than strollers.

The Center on Longevity created the lecture series to spotlight the changes, challenges and opportunities of a rapidly aging population. The inaugural lecture was April 13.

Rowe, who chairs the Center’s external advisory council, is professor of health policy and management at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and former CEO of Aetna Inc. He is co-author of Successful Aging, which describes the choices, programs and policies that enable older people to stay strong mentally and physically. He leads the MacArthur Foundation’s Research Network on An Aging Society, is a member of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received an MD from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and BS from Canisius College.

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