UT Tyler School of Health Professions to Host Forum on Aging Well 

TYLER, Texas (August 5, 2025) – The University of Texas at Tyler School of Health Professions is  hosting Age Well: A Healthspan Forum 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at Oak Crossing Event  Center, located at 101 Glenda Street in Whitehouse. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness  around healthy aging and wellness. The event will feature free lunch, health care vendors and  speakers. 

“While increasing life span has long been a focus of medical progress, the true goal of healthy aging  is to extend health span—the period of life spent in good health, free from chronic disease and  disability,” said Dr. Theresa Byrd, founding dean of UT Tyler School of Health Professions.  “Prioritizing health span ensures that added years are not just longer, but more vibrant,  independent and fulfilling. By shifting our focus to maintaining physical, mental and social well being throughout the aging process, we can enhance quality of life and reduce the burden on  individuals, families and health care systems.” 

Dr. Jason Burnett, associate professor of geriatric and palliative medicine at McGovern Medical  School at UT Health Houston, will discuss the vital link between social connection and healthy aging.  Dr. Hirofumi Tanaka, professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at UT Austin,  will deliver a keynote speech highlighting the role of physical activity in promoting longevity and  quality of life as we age. 

Vendors include: 

• UT Tyler School of Health Professions Rehabilitation Sciences 
• UT Tyler School of Medicine Lifestyle Change Programs 
• Clinical and Translational Science Awards Network 
• Kourage Health 
• Tyler Area Senior Citizen Association 
• Rehabilitation Sciences Dementia Tour 
• Avir Health Group 
• Area Agency on Aging – East Texas Council of Governments 

Agenda

For more information, contact Shawnn Casagrande, shawnn.casagrande@uttyler.edu. 

With a mission to improve educational and health care outcomes for East Texas and beyond, UT  Tyler offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 10,000 students.  Through its alignment with UT Tyler Health Science Center and UT Health East Texas, UT Tyler has  unified these entities to serve Texas with quality education, cutting-edge research and excellent  patient care. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News & World  Report as a national university, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.