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Patricia C. Heyn, PhD, FGA, FACRM (she/her/hers)

Professor & Founding Director
Center for Optimal Aging, Marymount University
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States

Patricia C. Heyn, PhD, FGSA, FACRM is a distinguished leader in gerontological research and rehabilitation medicine, currently serving as the founding director of the Center for Optimal Aging and holding a professorship at Marymount University in Arlington, VA. Her academic tenure extends to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus as the former deputy director of the Colorado Cochrane Affiliated Center and associate clinical professor of physical medicine with the school of medicine, a relationship she has cultivated since 2004. Dr. Heyn's contribution to the scientific community has accumulated more than 100 peer reviewed manuscripts including chapters, abstracts and proceedings. Her expertise shines in the realm of synthesis methodologies, where her pioneering meta-analysis on exercise training effects in individuals with dementia stands as a seminal and extensively referenced work. Her research acumen is equally matched by her commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusivity, demonstrated through her design of research projects, publications, and biomedical workforce training programs that are both culturally attuned, inclusive, and equitable. In her role as director of the R13 GSA Diversity and Mentoring Workshop, Dr. Heyn has been instrumental in shaping the careers of over 100 early-stage scholars from a breadth of backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the scientific community. Her academic proficiency is underpinned by a PhD in Applied Exercise Physiology and Gerontology, complemented by two federally funded Post-Doctoral Fellowships. Dr. Heyn's research explores the intricate interplay between cognitive function, physical activity, lifestyle choices, and functional interventions in aging populations, with or without cognitive impairments. Her insights into Alzheimer’s disease prevention and early detection are frequently spotlighted across various media platforms. As a Latina scientist breaking through cultural and educational barriers, Dr. Heyn not only stands as the first female in her family to acquire undergraduate education as well as the first in her family community to obtain graduate-level education. She has a lifetime commitment to mentoring and she continues to pave the way for future generations to succeed in the field of aging and clinical research.

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

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