The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) has selected Duke Anesthesiology’s Michael Devinney, MD, PhD, as the 2024 recipient of the Jeffrey H. Silverstein Memorial Award for Emerging Investigators in the Surgical and Related Medical Specialties. This award recognizes Devinney’s cross-cutting work in geriatrics, anesthesiology and neuroscience, particularly his dedication to improving the care of patients through aging-related mechanisms of delirium, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as his commitment to a career in research on aging.
“During my early clinical experiences, I was struck by the many older hospitalized patients who experienced severe confusion and disorientation which often worsened an already stressful illness for older patients and their families,” says Devinney, assistant professor of anesthesiology. “As a result, I became interested in the underlying causes of delirium and my research has focused on uncovering mechanisms of delirium and its sequelae, including long-term cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD).”
Devinney’s work uses translational neuroscience approaches, such as cerebrospinal fluid molecular assays, sleep EEG, cognitive testing, and delirium assessment to identify mechanisms of delirium. His long-term goal is to discover specific underlying mechanisms (ie, aging-related mechanisms) that contribute to delirium and its sequelae, such as long-term cognitive impairment and ADRD.
"Dr. Devinney is a passionate advocate for improving the care of older patients,” says AGS president, Dr. Donna Fick. “Driven by a desire to understand the underlying mechanisms causing delirium, Dr. Devinney’s work showcases a commitment to enhancing postoperative care and prevention of cognitive impairment. His commitment to improving perioperative care of older adults perfectly embodies the spirit of the Jeffrey H. Silverstein Memorial Award, which recognizes emerging researchers making a significant impact on aging-focused care within their specialty."
The Jeffrey H. Silverstein Award was established in 2016 to honor Silverstein’s dedication to improving the care of older adults as exemplified by his longstanding work with the Geriatrics-for-Specialists Initiative and within the field of anesthesiology.
Devinney will be presented his award during the AGS 2024 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting in May, where he will also present his research during the Clin-STAR Paper Session and discuss his study, “A Role for Intraoperative Hypotension in Postoperative Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Older Non-Cardiac Surgery Patients.”
Source: American Geriatrics Society news release, April 17, 2024