Dr. Kerry Burnight is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, nationally recognized gerontologist, and Professor of Medicine whose groundbreaking work celebrates the gift, meaning, and vitality of growing older. With more than three decades of experience in gerontology, Dr. Burnight has dedicated her life to changing the way we think about aging—transforming it from something to resist into something to revere.

For eighteen years, Dr. Burnight served as Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the University of California, Irvine, where she cofounded the nation’s first Elder Abuse Forensic Center, an innovative multidisciplinary model that has been replicated across the United States and abroad. Her work has informed national policy and advanced the protection, dignity, and wellbeing of older adults everywhere.

Known widely as “America’s Gerontologist,” Dr. Burnight is celebrated for her rare ability to blend science with soul—translating complex longevity research into practical, heart-centered insights that empower people to live with greater vitality, connection, and purpose. Building upon the well-known concepts of lifespan and healthspan, she introduced the term “Joyspan” to describe the measure of how much joy, curiosity, and meaning we experience throughout our lives—not just how long we live. The Joyspan Framework is now recognized as a leading approach to holistic wellbeing, offering science-based tools to deepen love, foster resilience, and expand fulfillment at every stage of life.