At the 1974 Annual Meeting of
the American Public Health
Association, of all the hundreds of program sessions,
there was only one relating to aging. That session was
sponsored by the Public
Health Nursing Section. Maggie Kuhn, head of the
Gray Panthers,
was the Speaker who evoked enthusiasm in the audience.
Anne Zimmer spoke from the audience
and asked those present to sign up if they felt that
they would support an effort to add public health issues
of the elderly to the agenda of APHA. Anne took those
names and the issue to the APHA Action Board who designated
an Action Board Task
Force on Aging. Anne Zimmer was named Chairperson
of the group for 1974 and again in 1975. In 1976 &
1977, the Executive Board approved the Task Force on
Aging, again with Anne Zimmer as the Chair. The Executive
Board action brought more visibility and funds. During
those years the Task Force was very active. Participation
by seniors was actively sought. Support was also obtained
from:The National Institute on Aging; The Maryland Office
on Aging; The Gerontological
Society of America; The National
Council on Aging; Staff from Congressional committees
on Aging; and Geoff Gordon and Alana Davidson from APHA.
There was no one more influential
in these efforts than Philip Weiler, MD, MPH, MA. He
contributed essential inside knowledge of the workings
and advocacy within APHA, and he contributed on the
Governing Council and the Executive Board. He gave of
his knowledge, his wisdom and most of all, his energy.
He was always there with unflagging counsel, problem
solving and influence. Without his efforts, it is likely
that the Gerontological Health Section would not exist.
During those years the Task Force
persevered in focusing attention on the public health
issues related to aging, not only the elderly. Priorities
included providing a visible resource on issues related
to aging within APHA and interacting with other APHA
sections to bring attention to the multi-disciplinary
nature of aging and public health. We
also: contributed to The
Nation's Health; developed 3 to 5 scientific sessions
at APHA annual meetings; set-up a booth in the Exhibit
area; made additional efforts to increase the understanding
and visibility of issues of aging within APHA; organized
year round efforts to increase membership; and pushed
for Section status.
Philip created a network of knowledgeable
individuals able to analyze legislation and help prepare
testimony. Our move toward Section status meant overcoming
the opposition of some of the professional leadership
of APHA who expressed concern that aging was lacking
widespread interest, and professed that section status
was not a good idea because they were protecting us
from the embarrassment of not being able to develop
and maintain the required 500 members.
In 1978, through advocacy by
Philip Weiler, Anne Zimmer, as Task Force Chair, was
invited to present a report to the Program Development
Board. It was at that time that the issue of creating
the Gerontological Health Section was allowed to proceed
to the Governing Council, although the Executive Board
did not endorse the proposal. It was with great glee
that we witnessed a very supportive Governing Council
vote establishing the Section.
