Congratulations, Dr. Lindsey Smith!
What brought you to gerontological research?
My graduate assistantship with Dr. Carder was my introduction to gero research. Before my work with Paula, I had never connected my interests in aging to my work as an evaluator or researcher.
How did you celebrate after defending your dissertation?
I went to dinner with my family, close friends, and mentors the evening after my defense. After I turned in the final draft of the dissertation manuscript, I visited my grandparents and family in Roseburg, OR. I took my grandma, who lives in a memory care assisted living community, on a long walk for the first time since before COVID. Then I went to the spring fair with my grandpa, where my aunt had a booth selling aprons with pockets and other sewn crafts. Lots of fun!
What is on the horizon for Lindsey Smith, PhD?
On April 1st, I started as a postdoctoral research associate at the Brown University Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research. My first priority is finishing some papers I'm currently working on, including the papers from my dissertation. Then, I plan to continue investigating disparities of access to community-based residential long-term services and supports.
What do you want people to know about the field of aging?
So often, my peers in public health assume that studying aging is at odds with "upstream public health." I'd like them to realize that this perspective only makes sense if you think of individuals instead of families and communities. For instance, particularly for under-resourced families, access to community-based LTSS can be a support for the whole family. It enables older adults to be more active in the lives of their younger family members while also supporting paid and unpaid caregivers (who are also family and community members, and often even older adults themselves!).
