4-4-12
Media Advisory: MIT AgeLab Founder to Share Insights on Addressing the Needs of an Aging America
Dr. Joseph F. Coughlin available for interview April 26 in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD, Founder and Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, will present the keynote address for the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 92nd Annual Conference & Expo. The address is scheduled for 4-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, at the Indiana Conference Center in Indianapolis.
The MIT AgeLab is the first multi-disciplinary research program created to understand the behavior of the aging population, the role of technology in supporting this population, and the opportunity for innovations to improve the quality of life of older adults and their families. A world-renowned researcher, teacher, author, and advisor, Coughlin was named by The Wall Street Journal as one of “12 Pioneers Inventing the Future of Aging and How We Will All Live, Work, and Play Tomorrow.”
“The disruptive demographics of an aging America demands new technologies, new approaches, and new professionals to ensure that an older population is a happy and engaged population,” says Coughlin. “At the forefront of inventing how we will all live, work, and play tomorrow are occupational therapists and related professionals that will be critical to supporting our well-being across the lifespan.”
In his keynote address, Dr. Coughlin will share the remarkable research done by the MIT AgeLab, its outcomes and expectations for our future, and the translation of research into practical application for occupational therapy and aging clients.
Coughlin will be available between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 for media interviews, by appointment.
More information on Dr. Coughlin’s accomplishments, research, and links to previous speeches and publications is available on his Web site, http://www.josephcoughlin.com/.
More than 5,000 occupational therapy practitioners, educators, and students will gather in Indianapolis from April 26-29, 2012, to attend the American Occupational Therapy Association’s 92nd Annual Conference & Expo. In addition to the keynote address, journalists have access to occupational therapy experts providing innovative ways to help people live life to its fullest. For more information on the Conference & Expo, visit http://www.aota.org/.
To schedule an interview with Dr. Coughlin on how occupational therapy relates to his cutting-edge AgeLab research, call AOTA Media Relations Manager Katie Riley, 301-652-6611, ext. 2963 or e-mail, kriley@aota.org.
Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to http://www.aota.org/.
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