Jill and michael kafrissen in support of research on aging Aging is a universal reality that will benefit from our best thinking. The Gillings School is and will be an important source of these benefits. — jill
kafrissen
and highlight the need for more study in the area. Aging is a universal reality that will benefit from our best thinking, now and in the future, and the Gillings School is and will be an important source of these benefits. Our conversations with Dean Rimer and Michael and Jill Kafrissen
other School leaders have confirmed for us the School’s commitment to
As the population of older adults grows
Organization Collaboration Center,
innovative solutions and a sustainable
globally, Jill and Michael Kafrissen
based in the Gillings School’s maternal
and valuable program.”
want to bring more resources to
and child health department, and a
meet the many challenges that come
researcher at Massachusetts Institute
member of the Gillings School’s advi-
with aging.
of Technology’s AgeLab. The AgeLab
sory council and adjunct professor in
Their concern is evidenced in their
invents and translates technologies to
maternal and child health. He was a
professional lives. Jill Kafrissen, LCSW,
address the practical issues of aging.
has broad experience in social work,
In 2010, the Kafrissens arranged for
Michael Kafrissen also serves as a
key player, through the MIT Agelab and in partnership with Cambridge
legislative advocacy and philanthropic
a generous legacy gift from their estate.
University, in the Gillings School’s first
activities. Michael Kafrissen, MD,
Now, they have provided a new gift to
international summit on aging issues,
MSPH, who has had a long career in
fund scholarships for students with
held in February 2014. (See tinyurl.
public health and pharmaceuticals,
leadership potential who are commit-
com/uncgillings-aging-summit-2014.)
is currently chief executive officer
ted to addressing issues of aging.
He earned his master’s degree from the
of STE Health International LLC,
“While there are many areas of need
director of research and innovation
in public health,” Jill says, “this gift
for UNC–Chapel Hill’s World Health
is an effort to support aging research
92 | c a r o l i n a p u b l i c h e a l t h
School in 1981. —Elizabeth Witherspoon
donor honor roll