Smyer, an expert on geriatric mental health and a past president of the American Psychological Association's Division on Adult Development and Aging, was nominated for the conference by US Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.).

Some 1,200 delegates from throughout the country will participate in the 2005 WHCoA, the fifth such conference in the nation's history. Delegates will vote on resolutions and develop implementation strategies aimed at assisting the President and Congress in shaping aging policies for the next 10 years and beyond.

Hundreds of local, state and national events, including listening sessions, solutions forums and mini-conferences, will set the stage for the 2005 conference, the theme for which is "The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action." The event is mandated by the Older Americans Act to focus on the interests and needs of current seniors as well as the 78 million baby boomers who will begin to turn 60 in 2006.

Smyer is the author or co-author of more than 70 articles and chapters and he has co-authored or edited six books, including Older Adults' Decision-Making and the Law and Aging and Mental Health.

More information on the conference is available at http://www.whcoa.gov/about/about.asp.