Assistant Professor of Medicine Dr. Hillary Spangler was recently accepted into the Butler-Williams Scholars Program. Held annually, this summer’s program will take place August 3-6, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland.
Sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the program addresses both the opportunities and challenges of aging research. Dr. Spangler says, “I am honored to be selected as a Butler Williams Scholar. This experience is an opportunity for personal growth and for further developing impactful, patient centered research.”
Dr. Spangler’s research focuses on healthcare disparities for older adults and their impact on frailty and caregiving resources. During the intensive one-week program, she and her fellow scholars will join discussions on aging research, get support for their research interests, and get advice on the research grant application process directly from NIA staff.
“I look forward to connecting with a national community of scholars committed to advancing aging research.” she says. “And I am grateful for the continued support of my mentors, the Division of Geriatrics, the Department of Medicine, and the Center for Aging and Health.”
Learn more about the Butler-Williams Scholars Program.
Previous Butler-Williams Scholars
In recent years, UNC Geriatrics has supported several other Butler-Williams Scholars:
C. Adrian Austin, MD, MSCR, 2023 Butler Williams Scholar
Dr. Austin is an Assistant Professor of Medicine. He is an Intensivist, Pulmonologist and Geriatrician whose research focus on reducing the incidence and impact of delirium. And he is investigating the use of telemedicine for delirium assessment.
David Lynch, BMBS, 2022 Butler Williams Scholar
Dr. Lynch is a Clinical Associate Professor and the Medical Director of the UNC Inpatient Geriatrics Service. Dr. Lynch’s research focuses on developing scalable and sustainable interventions to reduce hospital-associated disability in people living with dementia.
Shakira J. Grant, MBBS, 2020 Butler-Williams Scholar
Dr. Grant is a board-certified hematologist, oncologist, and geriatrician who was previously an Assistant Professor in the UNC Divisions of Hematology and Geriatric Medicine. Currently, she is focused on the intersection of medicine, AI, governance, and innovation.