Amy Kind, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, has been given a prestigious award by the American Geriatrics Society.
She is the 2019 recipient of the American Geriatrics Society Thomas and Catherine Yoshikawa Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation. This award is given to an investigator who is involved in patient care and clinical research addressing the unique health care needs of older adults.
“This is a major honor in my professional society and I am so grateful,” said Kind. “This would not be possible without the support of my division, department and school. Science is a team sport, and I’ve been fortunate to have had great pillars of support throughout my career here at Wisconsin.”
Kind is a national leader looking at socioeconomic health disparities at the neighborhood level. Her expertise was on display when her first-of-its kind neighborhood map debuted last summer. The interactive map gives zip-code level details that could help assess health disparities and effective interventions across the country. The work was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Kind’s research program focuses on assessing and improving care for older, highly vulnerable or disadvantaged adults, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. She aims to develop approaches to eliminate health disparities through research in health policy and clinical programs.
Kind is also the director of the health services and care research program in the department of medicine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
The native of Niagara, Wisconsin received her medical degree and PhD from UW-Madison.
The award will be presented during the 2019 American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting Award Ceremony on Friday, May 3 in Portland, Oregon.
The American Geriatrics Society is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. They have nearly 6,000 members including geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists.