Gerontology Dept. Honors Dallas Physician
In recognition of his leadership in the field of aging, the Baylor University Institute of Gerontological Studies dedicated its seminar room in honor of Dr. Wilson Weatherford, chief of the division of geriatric medicine at Baylor University Medical Center, during ceremonies held April 6 in Waco.
"There's no one in the state of Texas who has done more in the field of gerontology and geriatrics than Dr. Wilson Weatherford," said Dr. Ben Dickerson, director of the Institute of Gerontological Studies, as he presented Weatherford with a plaque marking the occasion. A permanent plaque and photograph will remain in the Weatherford Seminar Room.
"Ben has built a world class program in gerontology [at Baylor]," said Weatherford, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and an adjunct faculty member at Baylor. "The challenge presented to us is that you cannot divorce the medical issues from the sociological issues of aging. One of our jobs is to try to do what we can to facilitate the older person to age gracefully and remain healthy and cognitively intact so they're a productive member of society and feel such."
A native of Dallas, Weatherford is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. During his long and distinguished medical career at Baylor University Medical Center, he has established one of the nation's top geriatric assessment centers in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. He also serves as medical director of the Baylor Center for Restorative Care, another nationally recognized program noted by the Healthcare Advisory Board and Medicare as the best practice method for the development of the senior clinic concept.
"He is such a fine role model, and we're honored to have Baylor's name linked with his in perpetuity," said Baylor Chancellor Herbert H. Reynolds. "As we try to imbue in our students the kinds of characteristics we wish they would take away from Baylor, he's the kind of individual to whom we would like to introduce them."
Baylor University created the Institute of Gerontological Studies in 1978. Over the past 20 years, the program has expanded into the centerpiece of Baylor's response to individual, societal and global aging, providing graduate programs in gerontology and hosting several special projects, including the Foster Grandparents Conference, Herbert H. Reynolds Academy, Elderhostel, Women's Health Summit and Grandparents Weekend at Baylor.