A4M Co-Founder and President

A4M Co-Founder and President

The origins of the anti-aging medical specialty can be traced directly to its two founding physicians, Ronald Klatz, MD, DO and Robert Goldman, MD, PhD, DO, FAASP. In August 1992, a dozen physicians convened in Chicago to discuss scientific breakthroughs making major inroads in identifying the mechanisms of deterioration and vulnerability to age-related diseases. These medical pioneers, led by Dr. Klatz and Dr. Goldman, introduced a new definition of aging. In this new perspective, the frailties and physical and mental failures associated with normal aging are caused by physiological dysfunctions that, in many cases, can be altered by appropriate medical interventions. As an extension of this redefinition, Dr. Klatz proposed an innovative model for healthcare that focused on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases. "Anti-aging medicine" was born, and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) was established.

In the fourteen years that have since followed, anti-aging medicine has achieved international recognition. Anti-aging medicine is now practiced by thousands of physicians in private medical offices, as well as at some of the most prestigious teaching hospitals around the world. Universally, those involved in healthcare, or those whose fields of expertise intersect with healthcare issues, support anti-aging medicine as a healthcare model promoting innovative science and research to prolong the healthy human lifespan. Public policy organizations and government agencies are now embracing anti-aging medicine as a viable solution to alleviate the mounting social, economic, and medical woes otherwise anticipated to arrive with the aging of nearly every nation on the planet.

The A4M is the world's leading non-profit educational medical organization dedicated to the scientific premise that diseases and disabilities of human aging are largely preventable, treatable, and perhaps even reversible. A4M serves as an advocate for the new clinical specialty of anti-aging medical science and acts as a conduit to physicians, scientists, and the educated public who wish to benefit from the almost daily breakthroughs in biotechnology which promise both a greater quality as well as quantity of life. The A4M is the:

First to create the anti-aging medical movement.

Founder of the world's fastest-growing medical specialty.

Foremost academic leader in a $50 billion marketplace.

Dr. Klatz observes that: "Singlehandedly, A4M has been largely responsible for the shift in the very basic conceptions regarding human aging. Before A4M, notions of extending the healthy human lifespan were dismissed as unsupported and unscientific. Prior to A4M's founding in 1992, scientists who pursued approaches to reverse or halt the process of human aging risked loss of funding, while physicians doing the same risked forfeit of academic positions or censure." On the success of A4M and the anti-aging medical movement, Dr. Klatz refers us to a quote from Max Planck (1848-1947), German physicist and Nobel Laureate: "An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents … its opponents gradually die out and the growing generation is familiar with the idea from the beginning."

Dr. Klatz presents his expert insights on the impact of biomedical technologies for human longevity at the Annual International Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine

In 2005, membership in the A4M numbered 17,500, the majority of whom are physicians, scientists, researchers, and health practitioners.

The A4M's membership constituency, 80% of whom are Board Certified in a primary medical specialty, represent a vast array of medical subspecialties:

The Global Impact of the Anti-Aging Medical Movement

Fourteen years ago, the founding members of the A4M predicted the shift in the global demographics towards a worldwide greying trend, and the organization forged a model for clinical healthcare to advance preventive healthcare by applying cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. A host of life-enhancing, life-extending achievements for human longevity has since resulted.

In 2005, 86 nations were represented in the A4M. This is a direct result of the mainstreaming of anti-aging medicine. In February 2006, Dr. Shripad Tuljapurkar of Stanford University (USA) reported to the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science, that "…[W]e are on the brink of being able to extend human lifespan significantly, because we've got most of the technologies we need to do it." Dr. Tuljapurkar estimates that between 2010 and 2030, the modal, or most common, age of death will increase 20 years if anti-aging therapies come into widespread use. This projected increase consequently increases the modal age of death in industrialized countries from 80 years, to stand at 100."

As Director of Medical Education and Executive Publisher of the A4M, Drs. Klatz is responsible for overseeing the A4M supported/co-sponsored scientific programs in anti-aging medicine. Nearly 30 events across international venues take place in 2006:

These conferences train more than 30,000 physicians, health practitioners, and scientists annually:

Read coverage by "Nutrition Industry Executive" of the XIII Annual International Congress Winter 2005 Session, which drew 5,000+ delegates.

Thanks in large part to the tireless commitment of Dr. Klatz, there are now more than 50,000 anti-aging physicians practicing worldwide in nearly 100 nations.

The US $50 Billion Anti-Aging Marketplace

This year, the world's first Baby Boomers turn 60. Today, mature adults control more than $7 trillion in wealth in the United States [Harvard Business Review, March 2004], or 70% of all US wealth. Further, they bring in $2 trillion in annual income and account for 50% of all discretionary spending." [Associated Press, March 7, 2004]. Fully intent on maintaining physical fitness, mental acuity, and a productive, robust lifestyle for as long as possible, the Boomer generation is responsible for fueling a burgeoning marketplace for anti-aging products and services, which stands at $45.5 billion (2004), is growing at an annual growth rate of 9.5%, and projected to reach $72 billion by 2009. [Business Communications Company, Inc., February 2005]

The Anti-Aging Expositions co-located to A4M's Annual International Congress Sessions, are considered as the as the #1 networking opportunity worldwide that connects vendors directly with physician buyers:

In 2006, more than 1,600 exhibitors will showcase the latest anti-aging products and services at the co-located Anti-Aging Expositions:

Past exhibitors and sponsors include: