Professor Anne Newman, MD, MPH, former Clinical Director for the Aging Institute, was recently honored at a ceremony to recognize her conversion to emeritus status. Throughout her career, Dr. Newman has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of human aging. This includes her seminal contributions emanating from the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Cardiovascular Health Study. In this study, men and women older than age 65 were longitudinally assessed to better define the natural history of cardiovascular disease.  Over her illustrious career, she led multiple similar epidemiological studies that have, among other things, informed us about the role of obesity, physical function and genetics in regulating the rate of human aging.

While at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Newman served as chair of the Department of Epidemiology and director of the Center for Aging and Population Health. Her role at the Aging Institute was also multifaceted. One of her key contributions involved overseeing and directing the RIGHT Study, an ongoing interventional study testing whether reduction of IL-6 levels in elderly participants provides functional benefit. Dr. Newman will continue to oversee this study in her new emeritus status.

We’re all very grateful to Anne for her contributions to the university and to science and are delighted that she was recognized at this ceremony.  We know that she will continue to enrich the Aging Institute in her new capacity.

Congratulations, Dr. Newman!

Written by Dr. Toren Finkel, Director of the Aging Institute