NYAM Designated as a Collaborating Center on Aging, Globalization and Urbanization

NEW YORK CITY- Mar. 10, The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has designated The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) as the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Aging, Globalization and Urbanization. Under the leadership of Dr. Finkelstein, Vice-president for Health Policy, the Center will provide the WHO and its partners with technical assistance and help implement WHO programs throughout the U. S.

"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for NYAM. In our work with older New Yorkers we’ve learned firsthand how the converging trends of

NYAM is now one of the 900 collaborating centers in 99 Member States working with WHO.

urbanization, globalization, and aging challenge the creation of Age-Friendly cities. We are proud to be a part of an international effort to ensure the great cities of the world not only support their residents as they age, but also tap the tremendous resources older adults can offer," said Dr. Finkelstein. "We are honored to formalize our relationship with the WHO and look forward to working with colleagues from around the world on the global Age-Friendly Cities project and other efforts to improve the lives of older urban residents."

NYAM was instrumental in to the development of the WHO Global Guide for Age-friendly Cities released in 2007. This appointment will allow Dr. Finkelstein and Dr. Alex Kalache, Senior Advisor to the NYAM President on aging issues, to build on that work as well as the success of the NYAM Age Friendly NYC initiative, launched in 2007. The Age Friendly NYC initiative, a collaboration with the New York City Council and the Mayor’s Office is based on the WHO protocol for cities to use in planning efforts around the needs of their seniors ??? present and future.

Thirty-five cities around the world comprise the WHO global age-friendly network including Mexico City, Moscow, London and New Delhi. New York City is one of only two participating U.S. cities. NYAM’s Collaborating Center of Aging, Globalization and Urbanization will continue to work closely with this network and to implement other initiatives to improve the health and well-being of older urban residents.

In September 2008, NYAM released the Age-Friendly NYC findings report—a culmination of roundtables and focus groups conducted across New York City with multiple stakeholders— that captures, for the first time, the voices of 1500+ older New Yorkers. Currently, with the use of the NYAM Age-Friendly NYC findings report, The City Council, and Mayor’s Office are working with leaders and community members from all facets of City life on how they intend to make their business, services, institutions, programs, and neighborhoods meet the needs of older citizens and all New Yorkers.

NYAM is very proud to be a part of this initiative, as part of our ongoing agenda, to help ensure a quality aging experience for people in cities.

NYAM has been advancing the health of people in cities since 1847. An independent organization, NYAM addresses the health challenges facing the world’s urban populations through interdisciplinary approaches to innovative research, education, community engagement and policy leadership. Drawing on the expertise of diverse partners worldwide and more than 2,000 elected Fellows from across the professions, our current priorities are to create environments in cities that support healthy aging; to strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public’s health; and to implement interventions that eliminate health disparities.

Posted on March 11, 2009

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Contact:
Andrew J. Martin
Director of Communications
The New York Academy of Medicine
1216 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10029
212-822-7285
amartin@nyam.org

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