Dr. Marc Agronin, the director of mental health services at the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital, has been named the recipient of the Clinician of the Year Award of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Dr. Agronin is also an associate professor of Psychiatry at the University of Miami–Miller School of Medicine.

Dr. Agronin is recognized as a leading expert in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care. He has had numerous articles published in all the major publications in his field, and his book, Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias: A Practical Guide, is an accessible yet definitive work on the subject. He is equally noted for his extraordinary compassion and empathy for patients and their families.

Sandy Miot, the Miami Jewish Home’s CEO, said, “What really distinguishes Dr. Agronin as a geriatric psychiatrist is not only his vast knowledge within his chosen field, but his boundless humanity when it comes to caring for his elderly patients and their caregivers. Dr. Agronin has a unique understanding of and empathy for what it means to grow old and have to deal with life’s losses. He also has tremendous empathy for the families of Alzheimer’s patients, and he is as expert in helping them to understand and cope as he is in caring for the patients themselves. He is truly an exemplary geriatric psychiatrist and a remarkable man.”

Dr. Agronin said of being named Clinician of the Year, “This is really a special honor for me because it comes from my professional peers. In my mind, the Miami Jewish Home really deserves the award since it has provided me with the environment and the support to maintain a very unique geriatric psychiatry practice – one that you probably won’t find at many long-term care institutions around the country.”

The Miami Jewish Home’s chief operating officer, Fred Stock, commented, “Dr. Agronin is most deserving of the Clinician of the Year Award. For the past 9 years the residents of the Miami Jewish Home have benefited from his expertise and compassion. In addition to maintaining a large clinical practice, he has been at the forefront of developing innovative programs in dementia and behavioral health for our elders. Dr. Agronin will continue to expand the knowledge of geriatric psychiatry and we are proud to have him on our staff.”