American Geriatrics Society

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS): a professional society founded on June 11, 1942 for doctors practicing geriatric medicine. Among the founding physicians were Dr. Ignatz Leo Nascher, who coined the term "geriatrics," Dr. Malford W. Thewlis, who was named the first executive secretary of the Society, and Dr. Lucien Stark who was appointed the first AGS president.

The Society’s peer-reviewed journal, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is one of the top journals on aging. Its other journals include the Annals of Long-term Care and Clinical Geriatrics. The Society also publishes the Geriatrics Review Syllabus (now in its 6th edition). The Society has published clinical practice guidelines on persistent pain, diabetes mellitus, and falls. Its pocket tool, Geriatrics at Your Fingertips, is one of the most widely used geriatric clinical tools with average annual sales of over 15,000 copies.

Eligible members included any physician with an interest in geriatrics who had graduated from a recognized medical school and was a member in good standing of a state medical society. In 1997, membership was opened to other professional members of the geriatrics interdisciplinary team.

The AGS annual scientific meeting has occurred every year since 1946.