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The M. Powell Lawton Archive & Award

 

Sponsored by Polisher Research Institute of the Abramson Center for Jewish Life (formerly Philadelphia Geriatric Center)

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Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America

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The M. Powell Lawton Award, sponsored by the Polisher Research Institute of the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life (formerly Philadelphia Geriatric Center), honors contributions from applied research that have benefited older people and their care. The award is presented annually to a scientist, who presents a lecture at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America the following year and receives a cash award funded by the
Abramson Center for Jewish Life.

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The award, previously known as the Polisher Research Institute Award, was renamed in 2002

in memory of M. Powell Lawton, Ph.D., for his outstanding contributions to applied gerontological

research.

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For nomination information, visit .

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Dr. M. Powell Lawton:
A World-Renowned Leader in Gerontology Research

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M. Powell Lawton, Ph.D. (1923-2001), pictured above, was a senior research scientist and Director Emeritus of the Polisher Research Institute of Philadelphia Geriatric Center (PGC), now the Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center
for Jewish Life. He was one of the country's leading figures in aging research until his death in January 2001.

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A behavioral psychologist guided by Quaker ideals of humanitarian service, Dr. Lawton served for 39 years as the Center's first Director of Research. Dr. Lawton was a member of the Gerontological Society of America for over 35 years and served in numerous leadership capacities including President (1986), Vice President (1977-78), Secretary (1969-72), and Fellow.
 

​During his prolific career, Dr. Lawton probed areas of health and well-being in aging. In 1964, a year after Dr. Lawton assumed his new position, he led the nation's first symposium on Alzheimer's disease under the auspices of the Center's Home for the Jewish Aged. He was the first to recognize the importance of designing living environments for the elderly, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease. His groundbreaking studies continue to play major roles in enhancing the quality of life of the elderly.

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Lawton Award Winners

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2013	Patricia Parmelee, Ph.D.	Bio
2012	Cornelia Beck, Ph.D., RN, FAAN	Bio
2011	Robert Binstock, Ph.D.	Bio
2010	Karl Pillemer, Ph.D.	Bio
2009	Hans-Werner Wahl, Ph.D.	Bio
2008	Lou Burgio, Ph.D.	Bio
2007	Elaine Brody, MSW, DSc (Hon.)	Bio
2006	Linda Teri, Ph.D.	Bio
2005	Mary Tinetti, M.D.	Bio	Lawton Award Lecture
2004	Steven H. Zarit, Ph.D.	Bio	Lawton Award Lecture
2003	Barry Gurland, M.D.	Bio
2002	Barry D. Lebowitz, Ph.D.	Bio	Lawton Award Lecture
2001	Marcia G. Ory, Ph.D.
2000	Joseph G. Ouslander, M.D.
1999	Victor Regnier, M.Arch.
1998	Robert L. Kane, M.D.
1997	Eva Kahana, Ph.D.

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