Defining doctoral gerontologists: Who are they and how are they contributing to the field of gerontology?

ABSTRACT

More than 300 individuals have earned doctoral degrees in gerontology since 1993, yet little is known about their training, professional placement, and contributions to the field. Given this lack of information, the authors sought to define the emerging mass of doctoral gerontologists. In this study, the authors analyzed results from the 2014 Gerontology Education Longitudinal Study survey sample of 84 individuals who earned a doctoral degree in gerontology between 1993 and 2013. Results revealed doctoral gerontologists completed training requirements that were consistent across eight programs offering doctorates in gerontology. The authors also found doctoral gerontologists have been successful in securing jobs in academic and nonacademic organizations, creating gerontological knowledge, and translating their work into other fields. The authors concluded by considering how the successful integration of doctoral gerontologists might continue, and they propose directions for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Discipline
• doctoral gerontologist
• gerontology

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Maria Henke from the University of Southern California, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, and the University of Iowa, Center on Aging for supporting this work.