In advance of the fourth annual a2 National Symposium, the a2 Collective Coordinating Center is pleased to host a series of pre-symposium training workshops on March 18, 2026. These workshops are by invitation only and are currently only open to principal investigators (PIs) and co-PIs of projects funded in the fourth and fifth a2 Pilot Awards cohorts, up to a maximum of two PIs/co-PIs per project. These workshops and trainings are provided with support and collaboration from RRF Foundation for Aging and the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).
Workshops will be held at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. Registration details will be distributed to invitees by email; advance registration includes completion of a pre-workshop survey and is required to participate.
Following the workshops at the Bloomberg Center, all workshop participants are invited to attend an evening reception hosted by AgeTech Collaborative from AARP at the Hatchery, an AARP Innovation Lab.
Workshop Schedule
10–11 a.m. – Fundamentals to Reframe Aging: Applying What We’ve Learned
Leaders from the GSA's National Center to Reframe Aging will guide participants in hands-on practice applying principles and strategies for more effective framing and communication about aging. Note that this in-person training is the culminating session of a three-part series; thus, participation requires either attending or viewing archived recordings of the preceding two virtual sessions.
Featured Speakers:
Patricia D’Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP, Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs, Gerontological Society of America; Executive Director, National Center to Reframe Aging
Hannah Albers, Director of Program Development, National Center to Reframe Aging
11 a.m.–12 p.m. – Communicating Effectively With Policymakers
This panel is intended to equip innovators and researchers with the skills and strategies needed to communicate their work clearly, persuasively, and accessibly to policymakers, fostering greater understanding, support, and real-world impact of their research and innovations.
Featured Speakers:
James Appleby, MPH, CEO, Gerontological Society of America
Laura Friedel, MA, Senior Policy Advisor, Alston & Bird
Andrea LaRue, JD, MPA, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, NVG LLC.
Mary Jo H. Mitchell, MPA, Director, Government Affairs, Population Association of America and Association of Population Centers
12–1 p.m. – Lunch Break
Buffet lunch will be provided for attendees.
1–5 p.m. – The Full Stack of Adoption: From User Experience to Reimbursement Strategy
This workshop aims to expose early-stage innovators to common commercialization and adoption barriers that derail promising technologies, while equipping participants with actionable strategies to start addressing these challenges now. By understanding what patients, families, and payers actually need—and the strategic decisions required today—participants will be better positioned for market success and future funding opportunities.
Featured Speakers:
Lily Liu, Family Caregiver Member, JH AITC Stakeholder Council
Kat Mackenzie, MPH, MBA, Director, Discovery and Strategic Partnerships, The Future of Healthcare, Humana
Desh Mohan, MD, Co-Founder and CMO, Koda Health
Kunal Parikh, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University; Co-Founder and President, Visilant; Co-Founder and CEO, Samata Therapeutics; Founder, Global Institute for Vision Equity; Co-Founder and President, Eyedea Medical
Phillip Phan, PhD, Alonzo and Virginia Decker Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University; Co-PI and Networking and Mentoring Core Director, JH AITC
Lisa Walke, MD, MSHA, Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine and William Maul Measey–Truman G. Schnabel, Jr., MD Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, University of Pennsylvania; Stakeholder Engagement Core Co-Lead, PennAITech
Edward Wang, PhD, Jacobs Faculty Chair in Entrepreneurship and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UC San Diego; Founder and CEO, Billion Labs Inc.; Founder and CTO, Motion Minder Inc.
Xiaolin (Lin) Zheng, PhD, Deputy Director, Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Additional Experts Anticipated in Attendance:
Laura Gottschalk, PhD, Total Product Lifecycle Advisory Program (TAP) Advisor, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Jay Gupta, PhD, Assistant Director, Neurodiagnostic Devices Team, Division of Neurosurgical, Neurointerventional, and Neurodiagnostic Devices, Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Todd Haim, PhD, Senior Advisor on Biomedical Innovation and Director, Office of Strategic Extramural Programs, National Institute on Aging
Anindita (Annie) Saha, Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives, Digital Health Center of Excellence, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
5:30–8 p.m. – Reception for Workshop Participants
Hosted by AgeTech Collaborative from AARP at the Hatchery, an AARP innovation lab within walking distance of the Hopkins Bloomberg Center, this reception will offer workshop participants the opportunity to network and learn more about opportunities and innovators within the AgeTech Collaborative ecosystem.
Featured Speakers and Technology Demonstrations:
Amelia Hay, MBA, VP, Startup Programming and Investments, AgeTech Collaborative from AARP
Anna Barnacka, PhD, Founder and CEO, MindMics
Desh Mohan, MD, Co-Founder and CMO, Koda Health
Kyle Rand, Co-Founder and CEO, Rendever
Randall Williams, MD, Co-Founder and CEO, WellSaid AI
