Influential Woman · Aging Population

Judith Thermidor

Professor of Education, Tufts University School of Medicine

Boston, MA

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Medical School Member Innovation Women

Her Story

About Judith

I grew up with my grandparents, my granddad and my grandmom, which inspired my path. When I went to medical school, I wanted to be a surgeon or OBGYN - it kept changing all the time - but when I went to geriatric services as a patient, I really fell in love working with older adults. That's when I knew this was my field. I've been working with older adults for over 12 years, doing medical research, medical prevention, and social programs for older adults living in affordable housing, senior centers, nursing homes, and churches in Mexico, France, and the United States. I did a lot of volunteer services and civic engagement because I truly believe in prevention. We're going to have a lot of aging population day by day, year by year, so I think this is a really good field - sustainable and very inspiring. I'm very proud that this is the first time we are living longer, healthier, and with a good quality of life. I just opened a business last year called Centennial Longevity, where I provide services to keep people active and socialized. I love parties and I don't want to only offer seniors talks about falls prevention or Alzheimer's - I bring bands, music, tango, cello, and good food so people can forget about all the negative things about older adults. I don't want to talk medical stuff with them all the time, so I bring a little joy. I offer sessions on how to play guitar or piano, just things to keep them really alive.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Judith

01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I ever got is that helping co-workers or people you supervise is very, very important - helping them grow. Growth is very important for human beings, so we need to create space helping people grow spiritually, intellectually, and economically. Economic is very important, too. People need to go, to find a better opportunity without staying stuck in the same space forever.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

As a young woman, I would say don't feel you are alone. Don't feel people don't want to help you. I think if you ask, you will always see how many people are willing to help you.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The opportunities are huge because all of us are getting older day by day since we were born, so it's a good field socially and economically. We keep traditions alive. This is an achievement for the modern world, for science, for medicine, for everything. Older adults have economic empowerment right now - they are number one in economic power. We have better medicine and very modern interventions that keep people alive for longer and with good quality of life. We see more older adults have power and good quality of life. As for challenges, I think we still need to invest more in older adults to keep them active and strong. The biggest challenge I'm encountering is that people think older adults are always fragile, always vulnerable. I think they are just human beings at any age who want to live and have a good life like anyone, without putting them in a special box.

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