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Public Lectures
The Stein Institute for Research on Aging and Center for Healthy Aging offer free public lectures promoting physical and mental well-being and staying active throughout life. Join us for this popular series with renowned researchers and clinicians sharing their expertise with the community.
Our next Public Lecture: January 28th
Dr. Aladdin H. Shadyab is an Associate Professor at the University of California San Diego, where he holds joint appointments in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science and the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Care in the Department of Medicine. A leading expert in the science of aging and longevity, Dr. Shadyab's research spans the epidemiology of aging, exceptional longevity, women's health, geroscience, and multi-omics approaches to understanding human health and longevity across the lifespan. Dr. Shadyab is a prolific and internationally recognized researcher, with over 300 publications in top-tier scientific journals. Through his research, Dr. Shadyab is helping to unlock the secrets of healthy aging and translate cutting-edge science into insights that can extend healthspan among older adults.
Upcoming Public Lectures 2026
March 18th 2026
Dr. Annie Nguyen is an associate professor at the University of California, San Diego in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. She is also the Director of the School of Public Health’s Healthy Aging and Longevity Science Research Program. Prior to joining the faculty at UCSD, she spent nearly 10 years on the faculty at the University of Southern California, School of Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Nguyen received her PhD in Public and Community Health from the Medical College of Wisconsin and her MPH from Dartmouth College. Her federally-funded research portfolio focuses on promoting multiple aspects of healthy and resilient aging, with particular emphasis on priority populations facing structural disadvantage, including people living with HIV and people who have been incarcerated. Her work is grounded in community-based participatory research (CBPR) and she is committed to engaging communities as research partners and centering their voices in the research process.
May 20th 2026
Dr. Una Makris is a clinical investigator, staff physician and Chief of the Rheumatology section at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. At UC San Diego, she is a Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, Autoimmunity & Inflammation and holds a secondary appointment in the Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology & Palliative Care. As a clinically trained rheumatologist, with a research focus on aging, she is well positioned to investigate important questions that bridge the fields of rheumatology and geriatrics. Dr. Makris completed rheumatology fellowship and post-doctoral training (T32 in Geriatric Clinical Epidemiology and Aging-Related Research) at Yale University. She joined UT Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatic Diseases and the Dallas VA as Assistant Professor in 2011, and was promoted to Full Professor in 2025. She joined the faculty at UC San Diego and VA San Diego in September. 2025. Her current VA funded research focuses on developing and evaluating a novel health coach, telephone-delivered intervention that targets behavioral determinants for both pain and depressive symptoms in older adults. Her goal is to ultimately improve outcomes in this medically complex older population by developing safe, effective, and accessible interventions that shift the focus from pharmacological therapies to behavioral (physical activity) interventions. Her research has been funded continuously since 2010 by NIA (GEMSSTAR R03 and Roybal P30 pilot), VA (HSR CDA2 and IIR), PCORI, and Rheumatology Research Foundation. Dr. Makris is passionate about career development and mentorship for specialists and collaborators focused on integrating aging principles to improve care for older adults.
Past Public Lectures are available to watch on UCTV here.
Please see our other upcoming events.
Recent Videos
2025
Danielle K. Glorioso, LCSW, explores the complex nature of grief, emphasizing that it is a lifelong, evolving response to loss rather than something to "get over." She explains the differences between acute grief, integrated grief, and prolonged grief disorder, highlighting how factors like attachment, personal history, and circumstances of death can influence the grieving process. Glorioso outlines how prolonged grief can impair daily functioning and discusses effective treatments, including a structured therapy program that facilitates adaptation. She also examines resilience as a skill that can be strengthened through emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, social support, and meaning-making. Drawing on both professional expertise and personal loss, Glorioso offers practical strategies for coping, supporting others, and finding hope while honoring the memory of loved ones.
Michael J. Wilkinson, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.N.L.A., explores the science and clinical evidence behind intermittent fasting and its role in promoting cardiometabolic health. He explains how aligning eating patterns with the body's natural circadian rhythms can improve weight, blood pressure, glucose regulation, and other risk factors, especially in individuals with metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. Wilkinson highlights promising results from time-restricted eating studies conducted in collaboration with UC San Diego and the Salk Institute, where narrowing the daily eating window led to improved metabolic markers and potential benefits beyond weight loss. He also outlines practical tips for safely adopting this lifestyle approach and stresses the importance of ongoing research.
Stein Public Lecture: Mindfulness-Based Mental Training to Enhance Well-Being and Healthy Aging
Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., discusses the science of mindfulness and how meditation can change the brain. He explains what happens in the brain during stress, how mindfulness helps us become more self-aware, and why it's important to pay attention on purpose. Zeidan shares easy ways to bring mindfulness into daily life, even in small moments. The video includes guided meditations led by Zeidan. Viewers can follow along as he teaches simple breathing techniques and short practices designed to build focus and calm the nervous system. Whether you're new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this program offers useful tools backed by science.
Stein Public Lecture: Decoding the Dark Side of the Human Genome: How Ancient Viruses Shape Aging
Michael J. Corley, Ph.D., explores groundbreaking research on aging, the role of ancient viruses in our DNA, and the impact of the gut microbiome on longevity. Corley discusses how stress, diet, and exercise influence our genetic health, highlighting the complex interplay between environmental factors and our biological systems. The conversation also touches on individualized treatment strategies and the exciting potential of microbiome science in aging research.
2024
Stein Public Lecture: Social Connection and Healthy Aging
Colin Depp delves into the critical role of social connections in our well-being, particularly in the context of aging. Depp explores the impacts of digital versus in-person interactions, the influence of cultural differences on social needs, and the potential health benefits of both deep and superficial connections. Depp also discusses the challenges of loneliness, the effects of grief, and offers practical daily practices to strengthen social ties.
Maria Rosario (Happy) G. Araneta, Ph.D., M.P.H., highlights the significant impact of prenatal and childhood malnutrition on later health outcomes, including coronary heart disease and diabetes. She emphasizes the importance of physical activity, strength training, and the need for inclusive research to address health disparities. Future research directions include understanding cognitive impairment related to diabetes and developing effective interventions for diverse populations.
Stein Public Lecture: Can We Avoid Cognitive Decline with Age?
What can you do today to improve or maintain your brain health? Join Sarah Banks, Ph.D., a leading expert in healthy aging, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease, for an in-depth exploration of the latest research on cognitive decline. This comprehensive program delves into the science behind brain health, covering key factors such as exercise, diet, sleep, social engagement, vascular health, hearing loss, and inflammation. Learn how each of these elements contributes to cognitive function and discover actionable steps you can take to protect your brain health. Stay informed and proactive about maintaining cognitive function as you age with insights from cutting-edge research.
Stein Public Lecture: Daily Changes in Skin Temperature, Finding Risk Factors in the Data
Benjamin Smarr Ph.D. discusses wearable tech in health research, stressing community engagement in data sharing. He explores sensors tracking temperature, heart rate, and more, noting the importance of naps for health. Smarr addresses reliability, access, and the link between sleep and conditions like dementia.
2023
Explore aging's impact on well-being with Barton Palmer, Ph.D. Learn how resilience, optimism, and social connections shape happiness in later life. Discover practical interventions like mindfulness and value-driven actions. Understand the role of positive psychology and spirituality. Delve into adapting interventions for cognitive changes. Gain valuable insights into navigating challenges and fostering well-being as we age.
Stein Public Lecture: What Can Geroscience Teach Us About Health Longevity by Dr. Anthony Molina
Aging research has come a long way in the past few decades, and scientists are now starting to understand the biology of aging. Anthony J.A. Molina, Ph.D. shares the latest findings in the field of geroscience, or the study of how to delay the onset of age-related diseases and extend healthy lifespan.
The world's population is aging. How can we improve the lives of older people, their families, and their communities? Alison A. Moore, M.D., UC San Diego, shares the impacts of studying healthy aging globally. From the World Health Organization (WHO) to the UN and locally in San Diego, learn how the world community is studying aging to improve health, equity, longevity and more.