Achievements in Aging at BUSSW: Honoring the late Professor Emeritus Louis Lowy, PhD
Honoring a legacy that began over sixty years ago, Boston University School of Social Work hosted “Achievements in Aging,” a reception celebrating the life of social work pioneer and beloved Professor Emeritus Dr. Louis Lowy, and the School’s leading research and scholarship in the field of gerontological social work. The April 29 event was held at the Castle at Boston University. View photos.
Dean Gail Steketee welcomed over 80 invited guests to the event, and shared that the tradition of gerontological social work begun by Dr. Lowy, still thrives at the School. Honored speakers remembered Dr. Lowy’s work, including his widow Edith Ditta Lowy, SSW ‘88; and former students Barry Shrage, SSW ’70, and Frances Frank, SSW ’79.
From his start at BUSSW in 1947 until he retired in 1985, Dr. Lowy was a groundbreaking social worker who forged partnerships between unlikely groups, and encouraged students to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about aging populations. In addition to teaching thousands of students, Dr. Lowy served as an associate dean at BUSSW, and was a founder of the Boston University Gerontology Center. He authored several books, including Social Policy and Programs on Aging, and Education and the Later Years (with Darlene O’Connor). Dr. Lowy was awarded the Metcalf Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1979.
Testaments to the continuing tradition of Dr. Lowy’s work included brief highlights from faculty:
Professor Scott Miyake Geron, director of the Institute for Geriatric Social Work, who gave brief remarks on how the legacy of Dr. Lowy lives on through technologies never before dreamed, including workforce development training modules offered through IGSW’s nationally recognized online learning programs. IGSW received a five-year, $3.1 million grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies (AP) to continue IGSW’s path-breaking efforts in preparing the social services workforce for an aging society. Since it was established with initial funding from AP in 2002, IGSW has become a national leader in provision of post-professional training in aging, improving the practice of social workers and others who care for older people and their families.
Reeve Goldhaber, director of the Lowy-GEM Program in Aging, who reminded participants that the need for direct, face-to-face training of qualified masters’ level students has far from diminished. Discussing the launch of the Lowy-GEM Program in Aging in September, 2009, Goldhaber, who also organized the event, outlined the unique points of the Lowy-GEM program, including concurrent primary and enrichment field placements in two different agencies serving older adults and a monthly seminar focused on topics related to gerontological social work. Named in honor of Dr. Lowy, the new Lowy-GEM Program in Aging will recruit and prepare the best students to become leaders and skilled practitioners in the field of gerontological social work, in order to effectively meet the needs of the growing aging population, which will double over the next thirty years. Students in the program will receive stipends from the Louis Lowy Fund in Gerontology and Social Welfare Policy and will have the opportunity to earn the Louis Lowy Certificate in Gerontological Social Work.
Professor Robert Hudson, who gave the evening’s keynote address, “Challenges Facing Gerontological Social Work in a Time of Change,” which recognized that there is still work to be done to meet the coming demographic shift. Professor Hudson called for policy reform around long term care and Medicaid. Says Professor Hudson, “Louis Lowy had great foresight about the direction of gerontology, and I believe that he would be pleased by the work that we have done over the past 20 years. We have prepared students for work with the growing older population, undertaken analyses of important age-related social issues, and evaluated community-based programs and disseminated ‘best practice’ models. These are the kind of activities that Louis participated in and promoted.”
Learn more about the Lowy-GEM Program.
About BUSSW:
Distinguished by its urban mission and clinical and macro practice focus, the Boston University School of Social Work is committed to educating masters’ and doctoral level students who will become leaders in a multicultural environment. The School offers the MSW and PhD degrees, as well as continuing professional education, and its nationally recognized faculty has been ranked 8th among schools of social work with doctoral programs. Located in a diverse and academically rich community, the School offers almost unlimited opportunities for urban social work practice and research. Visit bu.edu/ssw for more information.
About Boston University:
Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 30,000 students, it is the fourth largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 colleges and schools along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes which are central to the school’s research and teaching mission.