Marymount University’s Center for Optimal Aging is celebrating another major milestone as it was named a Healthy People 2030 Champion by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. This honor recognizes the research center for its exceptional efforts to enhance the well-being of older adults and further solidifies its leadership in aging and public health.
The Center for Optimal Aging, established in 2021, is one of only six organizations in Virginia and the D.C. metropolitan area to receive the designation. Over the last three-plus years, it has created numerous partnerships and spotlighted key research areas critical to the health of older adults.
“Being named a Healthy People 2030 Champion validates our dedication to improving the health and well-being of aging populations,” said Dr. Patricia Heyn, founding director of the Center for Optimal Aging. “It was a proud and exciting moment for our entire team as it recognizes the impact of our collective efforts.”
Launched in 1979 with the Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the Healthy People program has evolved through multiple phases as it sets national health objectives for specific target years. At the end of each decade, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services evaluates progress towards achieving those data-driven goals to improve key national public health priorities.
The current phase, Healthy People 2030, continues this mission by focusing on preventive health promotion strategies to enhance the well-being of all Americans. These include emerging challenges such as COVID-19, the opioid crisis and e-cigarette use, as well as persistent issues like heart disease, cancer and obesity.
The Center for Optimal Aging’s Healthy People 2030 Champion application highlighted its signature public health programs like falls prevention and the Arlington Longitudinal Optimal Health Aging study [ALOHA]. The Center also provided data from annual reports, newsletters and various outreach efforts to showcase its significant impact on community health through recent research grants and stellar faculty achievements.
With the Healthy People 2030 designation, the Center for Optimal Aging is poised to continue its vital work in further contributing to the national conversation on healthy aging.
“This designation reaffirms our commitment to improving the health and wellness of older adults and strengthens our ability to expand our impact on aging research, community outreach and health promotion services,” Dr. Heyn stated. “We look forward to collaborating with other Healthy People 2030 Champions to achieve our shared goals.”
