Gerson Galdamez

Program Officer

Gerson [her-son] Galdamez, PhD, (he/him) is a gerontologist and musician who uses research, policy, and the arts to promote full lives for people as they age. Raised by an immigrant family of hospice nurses and care workers, Gerson has spent the last decade of his career preserving dignity and justice for older adults in his home state of California. He leads the Foundation's work in narrative change, storytelling, and community organizing. He also manages the Foundation's statewide partnerships, such as California's Master Plan for Aging. 

As part of his doctoral research, Gerson led a four-year, $2 million project on elder abuse multidisciplinary teams and Elder Abuse Forensic Centers. As a 2016-2020 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Research Fellow, he used this research to support the replication of elder abuse intervention models across the country, in addition to elder justice advocacy efforts at the state and federal level.

Prior to joining Archstone Foundation, Gerson served as an advisor to The Hearthland Foundation and managed the Righteous Persons Foundation, both founded by Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg. In this unique role, he applied his aging expertise to a wide range of issues, including building a more inclusive American democracy, bridging communities across political divides, and championing artists committed to social justice. As a violinist himself, he is a proud member of the Heart of Los Angeles Intergenerational Orchestra, which brings together musicians across the lifespan to share their love of music.

Gerson holds a PhD in Gerontology and a BS in Human Aging and Development from the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.