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Marla Berg-Weger, Ph.D., M.S.W.

Professor Emeriti of Social Work
School of Social Work

Program Director; Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program

Department of Family and Community Medicine, Saint Louis University Family Center for Healthy Aging, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Courses Taught

Interprofessional Geriatrics

Education

Ph.D., Washington University
M.S.W., University of Kansas
B.S.W., Kansas State University

Research Interests

non-pharmacologic interventions for older adults, particularly those with cognitive impairment; loneliness and social isolation among older adults; family caregiving; geriatric workforce

Publications and Media Placements

  • Cho, J., Gibson, A., Zubatsky, M., Wang, W., Nketsiah, E., Sanford, A., & Berg-Weger, M. (2025, online first). Identifying multimorbidity risks in older adults: A cross-sectional study using the RGA screening data. Frontiers in Public Health – Aging and Public Health, 13. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1600779.

  • Nketsiah, E., Berg-Weger, M., & Zubatsky, M. (2025, in press). Cognitive Stimulation Therapy: Making a Difference for Older Missourians Experiencing Dementia. Missouri Medicine.

  • National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2024). Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Social Isolation and Loneliness. Washington, DC: The
    National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/27874.

  • Nketsiah, E., Zubatsky, M., & Berg-Weger, M. (2024). Incorporating spirituality into Cognitive Stimulation Therapy groups for persons with dementia. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 68(1):23-36. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2024.2372113. Epub 2024 Jul 1.

  • Anderson, K.A., Berg-Weger, M., Olofinboba, O., & Plocher, T. (2024). A qualitative examination of a reminiscence intervention for older adults using three-dimensional (3D) printed objects. In press, Journal of Applied Gerontology, 44(1), 147-155. doi: 10.1177/07334648241263234. Epub 2024 Jun 20.

  • Talley, K.M., Berg-Weger, M., Zubatsky, M., Osterbur, E., Williams, R., Schicker, R., Pesja, L. Cauble, C., Wyman, J.F., Gaugler, J.E., & Pacala, J.  (2024). An inter-university geriatric case competition helped students’ achieve interprofessional collaboration competencies. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 72(S76-78).

  • Aprahamian, I., Coats, A.J., Morley, J.E., Klompenhouwer, T., Anker, S.D. on behalf of the International Advisory Board, and Regional Advisory Boards for North America, Latin America, Europe, and Japan. (2023). Identification and management of anorexia of aging: An assessment of healthcare providers’ knowledge and practice gaps. Journal of Sarcopenia and Cachexia, and Muscle, 14(6), 2779-2792. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.13355.

  • Henderson-Kalb, J., Ramel, M., Berg-Weger, M., Hawthorne, K., FitzGerald, J., & Vaughn, A. (2022). A student-led geriatric assessment clinic: Interprofesional education with an older adult population. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, 44(4), 649-660. doi: 10.1080/02701960.2022.2142577.

  • Zubatsky, M., Khoo, Y., Lundy, J., Blessing, B., Berg-Weger, M., Hayden, D., & Morley, J.E. (2022). Comparisons of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy between Community versus Hospital-Based Settings: A Multi-Site Study. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(2), 185-193. doi: 10.1177/07334648221130676.

  • Lach, H.W., Berg-Weger, M., Washington, S.E., Malmstrom, T.K., & Morley, J.E. (2023). Fall across health care settings: Findings from a geriatric screening program. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42, 67-75. [DOI: 10.1177/07334648221124912; PMID: 
    36121797]

  • Emery-Tiburcio, E., Berg-Weger, M., Husser, E.K., Tumosa, N., Golden, R.L., Newman, M.H., Morley, J.E., Hupcey, J.E., Fick, D.M., & Knecht-Fredo, J.M. (2021). Adopting and adapting the new revolution in geriatrics education and care: Diverse implementation of Age-Friendly Health Systems. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(12), E31-E33. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17497.

  • Washington, S., Malmstrom, T., Bottin, E., Cler, E., Stallings, D., & Berg-Weger, M. (2022). Perceptions and Knowledge of Older Adults: An Analysis of Interprofessional Education and Medically Underserved Populations. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 44(3), 480-494. doi: 10.1080/02701960.2022.2067152.

Chapters/Units

  • Amick, M., Zubatsky, J.M., & Berg-Weger, M. (2024).  Virtual cognitive stimulation therapy for older adults with memory loss. In R. Cobb, The therapist’s notebook for systemic teletherapy creative interventions for effective online therapy. NY: Routledge Publishing.

  • Boisert, D., Zubatsky, M., & Berg-Weger, M. (2020, in press). Caring for the Caregiver. Pathy’s Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine.

Books

  • Tyuse, S., Murugan, V., & Berg-Weger, M. (2026). Contemporary Social Work Practice (7th edition). New York: Routledge. Previously published as Tyuse, S. & Berg-Weger, M., (2023, 6th edition); Berg-Weger, M., Adams, D., & Birkenmaier, J. (2020, 5th edition); Birkenmaier, J. & Berg-Weger, M. (2017, 4th edition); Birkenmaier, J., Berg-Weger, M., & Deweese, M (2014, 3rd edition and 2011, 2nd edition). 

  • Murugan, V., Bender, A., & Berg-Weger, M.  (2025).  Social Work and Social Welfare:  An Invitation (7th edition).  New York: Taylor & Francis/Routledge. First edition 2005, Boston:  McGraw-Hill Publishers; 1st edition 2004; 2nd edition 2010, 3rd edition, 2013, 4th edition 2016, 5th edition 2019; 6th edition 2022. New York: Routledge.  
Media
  • 2025 New York Times: The New Age: This Geriatrics Training Program Escaped the Ax. For Now. Reprinted by John A. Hartford Foundation (and recognized as a top article for 2025), Kaiser Family Foundation, California Healthline, National Association of Social Workers, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and News Medical.

  • 2025 Ladue News: Preparing for Retirement

  • 2025 KMOX AM Radio: Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program Interview

  • 2023 KSDK-TV, Channel 5: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America conference

  • 2021 Healthy U Radio, Healthy Aging

  • 2021 New York Times, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy at Saint Louis University

  • 2020 Fairbanks, Alaska Miner Newspaper on Isolation Among Older Adults During Pandemic

  • 2020 Catholic World Health Interview on Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program

  • 2020 Written testimony provided to the Senate Sub-Committee on Labor on Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program Funding

  • 2020 Supporting Older Adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, Interviews with KWEM (NPR), Healthy U Radio, and Kirksville Express

  • 2019 Federal government taps Saint Louis U. to improve care for Missouri's older adults, EurekAlert!, phys.org, scienmag.com, Newswise, St. Louis Business Journal, and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

  • 2018 Keeping Older Adults Safe in Heat Waves, NPR

Honors and Awards

  • 2025  Saint Louis University Research Impact and Collaboration Award
  • 2023 Medical Family Therapy Program and Department of Family and Community Medicine John DiTiberio Award for advancing the careers of students
  • 2022 Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities Dr. John E. Morley Award for Outstanding Commitment and Service to People with Developmental Disabilities Who are Aging
  • 2022 Mace Bearer, 2022 Saint Louis University Commencement
  • 2022 Faculty Speaker, College for Public Health and Social Justice Precommencement
  • 2021 Innovative Research on Aging Award—Silver Award for:
    Lundy, J., Hayden, D., Pyland, S., Berg-Weger, M., Malmstrom, T.K., & Morley, J.E. (2020). An age-friendly health system. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 69(3), 806-812. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.16959  
  • 2020 Memory Care Home Solutions Innovation and Vision Mission Champion Award
  • 2019 Faculty Leadership Award, Association of Gerontological Education in Social Work
  • 2019 Mentor Recognition, Council on Social Work Education Women’s Council
  • 2019 Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Award for Excellence in Service to Older Adults, Washington University

Professional Organizations and Associations

  • Journal of Gerontological Social Work, Managing Editor 
  • Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work, co-coordinator of the Pre-Dissertation Fellow Initiative
  • Gerontological Society of America - chair, Social Research and Policy Practice
  • National Association of Geriatric Education- President-Elect

 

Editorial Boards:

  • 2009-2019 and 2024 to present Journal of Gerontological Social Work
  • 2018- Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
  • 2018- Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging

Community Work and Service

Berg-Weger is program director of the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program. This five-year federally funded grant is a three-year project to provide geriatric education to students and community practitioners.

Community partners include: SSM Healthcare, Northside Youth and Senior Services, Mercy  Hospital Perry, Memory Care Home Solutions, Northeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging, Missouri Delta Medical Center, Washington County Memorial Hospital, Mercy Health, VOYCE, and NHC Maryland Heights.