2027 Free Professional Development and Workshops

Rethinking Healthy Aging: A Public Health Approach to Healthy Longevity

Webinar Overview

Throughout history, extending human life has been a fundamental goal, with global life expectancy increasing by approximately 30 years over the past century, largely due to public health interventions. Although life expectancy has increased substantially, these gains have not been matched by equivalent improvements in healthspan. Americans spend, on average, the final 12 years of their lives in poor health. Addressing this disparity requires a paradigm shift in public health, moving beyond healthy aging toward a broader focus on healthy longevity.

This presentation will explore the conceptual foundations of healthy longevity, including its key challenges, needs, and values, and examine how these principles translate into practice for health behavior researchers and professionals. National initiatives spanning research, education and training, professional practice, and policy will be highlighted to illustrate efforts to advance this evolving field.

Speaker

Whitney Garney, PhD, MPH, FAHA
Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health

Whitney Garney, PhD, MPH, FAHA, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health where she is the Director of the Center for Community Health and Aging. She also serves as Research Director for the Texas A&M Telehealth Institute. Her research agenda explores how multi-level, systems-based approaches can be implemented in communities to solve problems. Her areas of expertise include improving patient access to and experience with healthcare systems, using telehealth strategies to provide care for vulnerable populations, and working with communities to address structural drivers of poor health. Through her work, she has led approximately $50 million in externally funded projects supported by national and state sources. However, her most meaningful contribution lies in partnering with communities to address their health priorities through sustainable, systems-based approaches that promote lasting improvements in health and well-being.