One of Dr. Valentine Villa's most recent projects was the Purposeful Aging Los Angeles Project, for which her work was recognized by Mayor Eric Garcetti.
ALHAMBRA, CA, November 26, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Valentine Villa has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Inspired by her mother, a caregiver to her own parents, Dr. Villa was encouraged to pursue a career working with and advocating for the elderly. After working as a senior research scientist for the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, she began her career as a professor with UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and as a professor of social work for California State University, Los Angeles. As the first in the country to receive a PhD in gerontology, Dr. Villa primarily teaches Aging and Social Policy, advanced research methods, and has chaired more than 200 master's degree theses in social work and public health.
Over the years, Dr. Villa has also gained valuable experience as the co-chair of research for the Los Angeles Partnership for Evidence-Based Solutions in Elder Health. Her work on this initiative was recognized by the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Likewise, she has had the honor of being appointed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for five years. One of Dr. Villa's most recent projects was the Purposeful Aging Los Angeles Project, for which her work was recognized by Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Prior to embarking upon her professional path, Dr. Villa earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree at the University of Southern California. In 1993, she graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in gerontology at her alma mater as well. She has the distinction of being the first person in the nation to receive this degree. She retains her professional alignment with the Gerontological Society of America, the American Society on Aging, the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education and the Los Angeles County Healthy Aging Initiative. Dedicated to the elderly and veteran populations in her community, Dr. Villa contributed to these populations through the AARP Latino Caregiver Initiative, the Veteran Identity Program of the Veterans Administration and the Los Angeles City Department of Aging.
With a plethora of knowledge at her disposal, Dr. Villa has authored and co-authored 60 peer-reviewed publications, including "Hispanic Baby Boomers: Health Inequities Likely to Persist in Old Age," "Racial/Ethnic Variations in Veterans' Ambulatory Care Use," "Equitable Health Systems: Structural and Cultural Issues for Latino Elders" and "The Health and Functional Status of U.S. Veterans Age 65+: Implications for Health and Long Term Care Planning for an Elderly Diverse Veteran Population." Along with other scholars in the field, she has been published in such journals as The Gerontologist, Home Health Quarterly, the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy, the American Journal of Law and Medicine, the Journal of Health and Social Policy and the American Journal of Medical Quality, to name a few. She has also received millions of dollars in grants to pursue her research. Looking toward the future, Dr. Villa intends to develop a gerontology degree in the state system at California State University, Los Angeles while continuing to assist the elderly and veteran populations in the greater Los Angeles area.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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