Miriam Watts

I've been working in the geriatric field for about 20 years, and I've been in my current role as a gerontologist for 12 years. I've been a professor for over 15 years because I really love teaching, and I love gerontology, so teaching gerontology just seemed natural. Before that, I worked in skilled nursing and assisted living right out of college, on and off for about 20 years. My main area of expertise today is dementia care. On a typical day, the first thing I do is check emails, check in with clients, answer emails from students, and then teach. At the end of the day, I check in with clients again. I think my biggest professional achievement so far is opening up my LLC and presenting the most recent research to older adults. This is the biggest win because they're battling information from doctors and other people that may not be helpful. I hold two bachelor's degrees, two master's degrees (one in organizational communication and one in geriatrics), and a PhD in adult cognition. Along the way, I've earned a bunch of certifications in areas like functional medicine and college teaching. I think it's all played a big role in my approach and my research in general.