Rudi Westendorp

Rudi Westendorp is a Professor of Medicine at Old Age at the University of Copenhagen, where he focuses on interdisciplinary research related to aging. He is a prominent figure in the Center of Healthy Ageing, which investigates various aspects of aging, from cellular mechanisms to societal impacts. Westendorp has a rich academic background, having trained at Leiden University in the Netherlands, where he became a consultant in internal medicine and epidemiology before specializing in geriatrics and gerontology. His career includes serving as a full professor at Leiden University Medical Center and founding the Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing, which aimed to enhance the quality of life for older adults through research and education. He has published over 600 original articles, achieved an h-index exceeding 70, and supervised more than 50 PhD students. His notable works include the bestseller "Growing Older Without Feeling Old," translated into six languages. Westendorp has received several accolades, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Newcastle and a knighthood in the Order of the Dutch Lion.