- Congratulations to Dr. Christine Bradway on being awarded the 2025 Dennis W. Jahnigen Memorial Award for her work advancing geriatrics education. She will receive the award at #AGS25. https://ow.ly/wcPO50VyW9W
New York (April 11, 2025) — Today, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) announced that Christine K. Wanich Bradway, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, AGSF will be honored with the Dennis W. Jahnigen Memorial Award, recognizing her significant contributions to the education of health professionals in geriatrics care. A distinguished educator, clinician, and researcher, Dr. Bradway has dedicated over 30 years to improving care for individuals with urinary incontinence, severe obesity, chronic conditions, dementia through the education of students and health professionals. A nationally and internationally recognized leader in gerontological nursing, Dr. Bradway has shaped the field through her expertise in incontinence education and innovative geriatrics care models. This prestigious award recognizes her dedication and excellence in geriatrics education, reaffirming Dr. Bradway’s role in shaping the future of healthcare for all of us as we age.
Currently serving as a Professor Emerita of Gerontological Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Dr. Bradway continues to mentor nursing PhD students, teach in Penn’s International Master of Public Administration Program, and volunteer with several community organizations focused on improving care for older people. Driven by a deep commitment to the well-being of older adults, her career has brought transformative advancements to medical education and geriatric care.
The AGS will present the award to Dr. Bradway, at the AGS 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting(#AGS25) May 8 – 10 (pre-conference day: Wednesday, May 7) in Chicago, Il.
"Dr. Bradway’s passion for geriatrics was sparked early in life, growing up in a multigenerational household and gaining hands-on experience in a community hospital as a teenager,” said AGS President Mark A. Supiano, MD, AGSF. “Although her early nursing career was in high-level trauma and intensive care, she found her true calling in primary care geriatrics as a nurse practitioner. Over the years, she has brought her expertise to a wide range of clinical settings, from long-term care to community-based primary and specialty care, all while shaping the next generation of geriatric clinicians through her leadership in education and research. As faculty at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, she directed the Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program as well as critical courses for adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner and PhD students and provided leadership for the LIFE (PACE model) program. Her work as Co-PI for the Geriatric Education Center of Greater Philadelphia reflected her deep commitment to advancing interprofessional geriatric education and improving care for older adults. Dr. Bradway’s career is a testament to the power of early experiences shaping a lifelong dedication to the field, and her impact on geriatrics education and clinical practice is truly remarkable."
She receives the prestigious Dennis W. Jahnigen Award for her dedication to advancing geriatrics education and unwavering commitment to mentoring students, exemplifying the legacy of the award’s namesake, Dr. Dennis W. Jahnigen, a compassionate geriatrician and devoted educator.
An active AGS member since 1985, Dr. Bradway has played an important role in advancing the Society’s mission through her leadership in committees, mentorship programs, and scholarly contributions. Over the course of four decades, Dr. Bradway has served on various AGS committees and workgroups, including the Health Systems Committee, Membership Workgroup and the Education Committee, where she currently collaborates with AGS colleagues on the Student Chapters subcommittee. She also served as the Chair of the AGS Annual Meeting in 2022, has contributed as a reviewer for AGS publications, including JAGS and the Geriatric Nursing Review Syllabus, is an Associate Editor for JAGS, and has been an active participant in the Care Transitions, Women in Geriatrics, and Nurses’ Special Interest Groups.
Her commitment to education and scholarship is evident through her extensive involvement in AGS Annual Scientific Meetings, where she has presented research, chaired symposia, and reviewed abstracts and proposals. Her research and clinical expertise—particularly in urologic health, obesity, and care transitions—have informed numerous publications in JAGS and the Annals of Long-Term Care, directly impacting the care of vulnerable older adults. As a mentor in the AGS Mentoring Program since 2011, Dr. Bradway has guided countless students and early-career professionals, furthering AGS’s mission to support the next generation of geriatrics experts.
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About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Our 6,000+ members include geriatricians, geriatrics nurse practitioners, social workers, family practitioners, physician associates, pharmacists, and internists who are pioneers in serious illness care for older individuals, with a focus on championing interprofessional teams, eliciting personal care goals, and treating older people as whole persons. AGS is an anti-discriminatory organization. We believe in a society where we all are supported by and able to contribute to communities where ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other forms of bias and discrimination no longer impact healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for older adults and their caregivers. AGS advocates for policies and programs that support the health, independence, and quality of life of all of us as we age.
About the Dennis W. Jahnigen Award
The late Dennis W. Jahnigen, MD, was a compassionate geriatrician and acclaimed educator who dedicated his life to training future leaders. Today, his namesake award recognizes an AGS member committed to working with students and advancing geriatrics education in schools of health and medicine.
About the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting
The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting is the premier educational event in geriatrics, providing the latest information on clinical care, research on aging, and innovative models of care delivery. More than 2,600 nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, healthcare administrators, and others will convene May 8 – 10 (pre-conference day: Wednesday, May 7) in Chicago, IL to advance geriatrics knowledge and skills through state-of-the-art educational sessions and research presentations. For more information, visit https://meeting.americangeriatrics.org/.