The Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging
April 6-15, 2021 | A Virtual Event

Cost: $290 for ASA members

Not a member of ASA? Join and register simultaneously for $540 

On Aging 2021 Keynote Sessions

Unless noted, all keynotes will be offered live at 8:30 am PT/11:30 am ET as well as offered on-demand after the event. Click here to download the On Aging 2021 schedule in your time zone.

Tuesday, April 6

The Future of Aging and Aging Services: Navigating Toward a New Era of Hope, Health, Purpose and Equity

Speakers:

Ken Dychtwald, PhD, Founder & CEO, Age Wave
Ai-jen Poo, Director, Caring Across Generations
Fernando Torres-Gil, PhD, first appointed U.S. Assistant Secretary on Aging
Kathy Greenlee, fourth appointed U.S. Assistant Secretary on Aging

During our opening plenary session, these leaders in aging will share their unique perspectives on the social, political and healthcare course corrections that are needed to avert potentially grave problems and promote hopeful solutions, including better matching health span to life span for everyone; safeguarding financial security for all generations; eliminating ageism in the media and the marketplace; and ushering in a spectrum of new roles and purpose for modern elders.

Sponsored by the Alliance for Lifetime Income

Sponsored by CDW

Wednesday, April 7

Technology: The ‘Great Equalizer’ of Society

Speakers:

Dr. David Rhew, Global Chief Medical Officer & Vice President of Healthcare, Microsoft 
Tom Kamber, Executive Director, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS)
Trinity Thorpe-Lubneuski, Senior Director, Internet Essentials, Comcast

This panel of experts will discuss, challenge and share best practices on how to bridge the technology gap during the pandemic and in post-pandemic times for older adults living at home, in affordable housing and in market-rate senior care communities.

Thursday, April 8

Panel of Pundits

Hosted by Bob Blancato, President, Matz Blancato & Associates

This staple of ASA conferences continues in 2021. How has the political landscape changed since last year? What top-line issues involving older adults will rise to the surface? How will issues affecting equity play out in the arena of aging services and programs? Who are the rising stars of 2021? What about the falling ones? How important was the older voter in the 2020 election and will that affect policy actions?

Sponsored by Phrma

Friday, April 9

Vaccines, Treatments and COVID-19: What the Biopharmaceutical Industry Is Doing to Help End the Pandemic

Host:

Dr. Mike Ybarra, Chief of Medical Affairs, PhRMA

Speakers:

Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron, Chief Patient Officer, Pfizer
Dr. Oliver Brooks, President, National Medical Association

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact patients worldwide, America’s biopharmaceutical companies are working around the clock with stakeholders across the research and development (R&D) ecosystem to advance safe and effective vaccines to help prevent infection and stop the spread of the virus. Join us for a discussion of the biopharmaceutical industry’s efforts to develop vaccines and treatments to help end the COVID-19 pandemic, while we also work together to ensure vaccine distribution is equitable and reaches all Americans. The discussion will cover steps that are presently being taken and others in which we need to invest.

Friday, April 9 | 2:30-4:00 pm PT / 5:30-7:00 pm ET

Aging Policy in a New Congress

Moderated by Peter Kaldes, CEO, American Society on Aging

Join us for a dialogue with national policymakers about the outlook for aging issues under the Biden Administration and the 117th Congress. There have been few moments in history when issues in aging have so clearly led the national discourse, and it is imperative that we continue to advocate together to ensure that the needs are met of all communities that are aging now and in the future.

Monday, April 12

Building Alzheimer’s-resistant Brains

Hosts:

Seth Rogen , Co-founder of HFC, actor, comedian, writer, director
Lauren Miller Rogen, Co-founder of HFC, actor, writer, director

Guests:

Dean Sherzai, MD, PhD, MPH, MAS, Co-director of the Brain Health and Alzheimer’s prevention program at Loma Linda University Health
Ayesha Sherzai, MD, MAS, Co-director of the Brain Health and Alzheimer’s prevention program at Loma Linda University Health

Join actors, writers, producers and co-founders of the nonprofit HFC, Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen in conversation with leading Alzheimer’s researchers and physicians, Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, to explore ways we can incorporate brain healthy habits into our daily lives. Emerging research tells us that 40 percent of Alzheimer’s cases may be preventable. This session will challenge the notion that Alzheimer’s and other related dementias are an inevitable part of aging and give us practical, applicable actions we can take .... and teach in order to build Alzheimer’s resistant brains.

Presented by HFC

Sponsored by Home Instead

Tuesday, April 13

Shaping the World We’re Growing Older In Today and Tomorrow—Are You Ready to Care?

Speakers:

Ian Hartman-O’Connell, Policy Integration Director, AARP
Helen Adeosun, CEO & Founder, CareAcademy
Natalie von Oldenburg, student, Champions of Aging
Dr. Jennifer Olsen, Executive Director, Rosalynn Carter Institute
Erin Albers, Vice President of Social Purpose, Home Instead

As longevity, racial and ethnic diversity, and the risk of needing long-term support increase, who will serve and care for those who need support? To meet the needs of a growing and diverse aging population, it will take innovators and collaborators to inspire people of all ages to engage in meaningful ways. Join this dynamic panel discussion to hear from experts and influencers on how we can inspire and engage people of all ages, particularly Millennials, to become “Ready to Care.”

Wednesday, April 14

Moving the Needle: Advancing Equity for All Across the Life Span

Hosted by Debra Whitman, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer, AARP

This panel will teach us lessons that we can apply to our own work across the field of aging.

Presented by AARP

Thursday, April 15

On Aging 2021 and Beyond

Host:

Peter Kaldes, CEO American Society on Aging

Panel Guests:

Najja Orr, MBA, CEO, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging
Mary O’Donnell, President, RRF Foundation for Aging
Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO, National Council on Aging
Lindsay Goldman, CEO, Grantmakers in Aging
Sarita Mohanty, President & CEO, The SCAN Foundation

Several new leaders of organizations in aging began their work during 2020. They rose to the challenge and led their organizations during an unprecedented global pandemic. Their ascension is part of the biggest shift in decades in leadership of organizations in aging. With change comes enormous responsibility and seismic opportunities for these organizations to drive real change in aging.