Gene D Cohen, M.D., Ph.D Obituary
written by Alex Cohen
Dr. Gene D. Cohen, 65, geriatric psychiatrist and health care pioneer, died
peacefully at his Kensington, MD home surrounded by his loving family and
friends after a brave, 14 year fight against prostate cancer.
Dr. Cohen’s professional career was dedicated to the field of aging and
geriatrics long before the field even existed. After graduating from
Harvard College and Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Cohen
began shaping the field of geriatrics through his work at the National
Institute of Mental Health in the early 1970’s. Here he was the first
chief of the Center on Aging and Director of the Program on Aging. At that
time, this was the first federally supported national center on mental
health and aging established internationally. When Dr. Cohen arrived only
one specialty program in geriatric psychiatry existed and when he left there
were dozens. Also during these early years at NIMH, Dr. Cohen took interest
in minorities—encouraging and supporting research on the mental health of
the impoverished and homeless and led the charge to change Medicare to allow
for reimbursement of mental health services (beyond the original annual $250
limit). Dr. Cohen continued his commitment to biological, psychological and
social issues in geriatric medicine at the National Institute on Aging at
the National Institutes of Health where he served as Acting Director and
helped grow the institute budget into the $100’s of millions and catapult
the field of aging into the global spotlight. During Dr. Cohen’s tenure,
NIA grew at the greatest rate of all the Institutes at NIH.
Dr. Cohen’s contributions to geriatric medicine are limitless. He authored
over 150 publications in the field of aging including several edited text
books and individually authored books including, The Creative Age: Awakening
the Human Potential in the Second Half of Life published in 2000 and most
recently, The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain. The
former is widely considered the groundbreaking book on creativity and
aging—effectively launching this new field within geriatrics.
Additionally, Dr. Cohen was a founding member of both the American
Psychiatric Association Council on Aging as well as its Chair and the
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry in addition to being the
founding editor for both of the leading Journals in geriatric
psychiatry—International Psychogeriatrics and the American Journal of
Geriatric Psychiatry. Dr. Cohen’s research and work contributed
significantly to the AARP’s growing focus on mental health and aging and
their evolving policy direction in this regard.
Since 1994, Dr. Cohen has acted as the first director of the Center on
Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University where he held the
positions of Professor of Health Care Sciences and Professor of Psychiatry
and Behavioral Sciences. His recent work and research focused primarily on
creativity and the potential of older adults including a landmark
longitudinal study (principally funded by the National Endowment for the
Arts) proving that engagement in professionally conducted arts programs by
older adults led to significant health benefits. As he did in the 1970’s,
Dr. Cohen led this growing field and now, through a close partnership with
The National Center for Creative Aging which has newly affiliated with the
Center he founded at George Washington University, his work will continue to
flourish and evolve in this dynamic field of geriatrics--creativity and
aging.
Dr. Cohen’s professional interests were also reflected in his personal life
and hobbies. As a blossoming game inventor after age 50 and continuing
through to the end of his life, Dr. Cohen showed first hand that creativity
and untapped potential are possible for older adults. His most recent game,
Making Memories Together, is one that assists families and caregivers of
Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Throughout Dr. Cohen’s career he was highly respected for his vision,
generosity and absolute commitment to the field of aging and improving the
health of older persons. Dr. Cohen’s contribution as a scholar, physician,
educator and pioneer in the field of geriatric medicine will resonate for
many generations to come.
Dr. Cohen leaves behind a wife, Wendy Miller, and daughter, Eliana
Miller-Cohen, both of Kensington, MD, brother Joel Cohen of Hayward, CA,
son, Alex Cohen and daughter-in-law Kate Cohen, both of Lincolnville, ME and
four grandchildren, Ruby, Lucy, Ethan, and Bennett Cohen.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM, Monday November 9th at Temple
Emanuel, 10101 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895.
301-942-2000 301-942-2000. A private burial service will follow.
Shiva will be held at the family home November 9th from 8:00PM-9:30PM and
November 10th and 11th from 6:00PM-8:00PM.
Memorial donations can be made to the Gene D. Cohen M.D., Ph.D Research
Award at http://www.creativeaging.org/donate/.
Games invented exclusively by Gene's game company, GENCOÔ can be purchased
at http://www.genco-games.com/genco_order-new.html
Laura Greenstone, M.S., LPC
Board-Certified Art Therapist
Certified Professional Coach
