[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN 
               FRANCISCO'S INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND AGING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 29, 2026

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the 
UCSF Institute for Health & Aging (IHA) on the occasion of its 40th 
anniversary. Since its founding in 1985, IHA has stood as one of the 
most consequential health research institutions in our Nation--a beacon 
of scientific rigor, social justice, and community-centered inquiry 
rooted in the heart of San Francisco.
  Forty years ago, visionary sociologist Dr. Carroll Estes established 
IHA as the first campus-wide organized research unit in the entire 
University of California system focused on health and aging. What began 
as a pioneering effort to understand the intersection of aging, health 
policy, and social equity has grown into a globally recognized research 
enterprise housed within the UCSF School of Nursing--and the health of 
all Americans has been improved because of Dr. Estes' research, 
advocacy, and the institution she founded.
  Over four decades, IHA has been led by exceptional scholars who 
deepened and expanded its mission. Dr. Patrick Fox broadened IHA's 
focus to encompass the social determinants of health and 
interdisciplinary policy collaboration. Dr. Wendy Max established IHA 
as a national leader in health economics, shaping landmark policies on 
tobacco control and Alzheimer's care costs. Today, under Director Dr. 
Jenny Liu, IHA brings a global perspective to its mission--emphasizing 
behavioral economics, innovative delivery channels, and equitable 
access to healthcare across the full lifespan.
  IHA's work is organized around seven vital focus areas: Women's 
Health; Aging and Life Course Health; Health and the Arts; Equity 
Sciences; Health Economics and Health Policy; Mental Health and 
Substance Use; and Health Workforce. This breadth reflects IHA's 
foundational commitment to addressing health not as an isolated 
biological phenomenon, but as a condition shaped by complex social, 
economic, and environmental forces.
  IHA's current research portfolio exemplifies that commitment across 
multiple fronts. Under Dr. Elena Portacolone's leadership, IHA 
researchers have qualitatively coded more than 780 interviews in a 
landmark study on older adults living alone with cognitive impairment--
uncovering barriers to services, patterns of social isolation, and the 
unique vulnerabilities of the estimated 4.3 million Americans in this 
population, with findings being translated directly into public policy 
recommendations to enhance equity, accessibility, and quality of life 
for some of our most vulnerable seniors.
  Internationally, Dr. Erica Sedlander's research identified that the 
belief that contraceptives cause infertility is a primary barrier to 
contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa--and her advocacy successfully 
added a question on this specific belief to the global Demographic 
Health Survey, influencing data collection and intervention strategies 
across multiple nations.
  IHA is also investing in the next generation of researchers through 
the Future of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research (FOR) Kenya 
program, equipping young Kenyan women with qualitative research skills, 
mentorship, and pathways into health research careers. Across all of 
these domains, IHA's research has influenced policies ranging from 
Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security protections to tobacco 
regulations, nursing home care standards, and cancer screening 
improvements--with ripple effects felt not just in San Francisco and 
California. but in communities across the United States and around the 
world.
  Mr. Speaker, as we face mounting challenges--rising costs, persistent 
disparities, an aging population, and the ongoing struggle to extend 
quality care to all--institutions like IHA are more essential than 
ever.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating IHA's faculty, 
researchers, staff, partners, and leadership on this extraordinary 
milestone, and in wishing them continued success in the decades ahead.

                          ____________________