The Gerontological Society of America has unanimously awarded Fellow status in the Behavioral and Social Sciences Section to Julie L. Locher, Ph.D., associate director for enrichment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Nutrition Obesity Research Center; director of the Translational Nutrition and Aging Research Program at the Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging; and associate professor of medicine and public health in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care.

Fellowship is the highest class of membership within GSA, which strives to promote multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research in aging and disseminate gerontological knowledge, as well as support and advocate for aging education. This honor acknowledges significant contributions to or performance in the field of gerontology, as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals, funded research projects, directorship of nationally recognized aging-related policy programs and/or participation within the GSA.

Locher’s research interests are in the areas of nutrition and aging. Specifically, her work addresses the heightened nutritional risk that occurs during home health encounters – particularly following hospitalization – which may contribute to downward spirals in health status, leading to frailty and poor health outcomes that include increased health services utilization and mortality.