Each year, leading advocates, policymakers, and champions in the aging community gather in Washington, DC, to celebrate our collective efforts to enhance healthy aging. As we approach our annual Heroes in Health Celebration on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, we’re proud to introduce this year’s honorees.
Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)
Claude Pepper Award for Advancing Healthy Aging
Sen. Mark Warner has represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate since 2009 and serves as Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as a member of the Senate Finance, Banking, Budget, and Rules Committees. A former Governor of Virginia, Warner is known for bipartisan work on issues including national security, cybersecurity, infrastructure, technology, AI, and economic development.
Before entering public office, Warner spent two decades as a technology and business leader in Virginia, co-founding the company that became Nextel and investing in technology startups. He and his wife, Lisa Collins, live in Alexandria and have three daughters and two grandchildren.
Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Distinguished Public Service Award
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan is co-chair of the bipartisan Florida congressional delegation and Vice Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, where he is the most senior Republican. He also chairs the Health Subcommittee, which oversees issues including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, prescription drug coverage, and access to care.
Buchanan also chairs the House Democracy Partnership, a bipartisan commission that works with legislatures around the world to strengthen democratic institutions. A longtime businessman and tax policy leader, he serves on the Joint Committee on Taxation and has played a key role in major federal tax legislation.
Dr. Rachel Rubin
Silver Innovator Award
Dr. Rachel S. Rubin is a nationally recognized urologist and sexual medicine specialist providing evidence-based care for sexual health, pelvic and genital pain, erectile dysfunction, and menopause. She is the founder of a patient-centered sexual health practice in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles and an assistant clinical professor of urology at Georgetown University.
A leading voice in sexual health advocacy, Dr. Rubin contributed to the 2025 AUA guidelines for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause and played a key role in removing the FDA’s boxed warning on menopausal hormone therapy. She also founded the Sexual Medicine Research Team, which advances research and mentors emerging clinician-researchers. Her expertise has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, Oprah Daily, NPR, and CBS Morning News.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Daniel Perry Founder’s Award
Senator Thom Tillis was first elected to represent North Carolina in 2014 and is currently serving in his second term after being re-elected in 2020. Senator Tillis is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Judiciary Committee.
Before serving in the Senate, he was Speaker of the House in the North Carolina General Assembly where he played an instrumental role in enacting job-creating policies and reforming North Carolina’s tax and regulatory codes.
Theresa Montgomery
Perennial Hero Award
Theresa “Terrie” Montgomery is a dedicated patient advocate committed to elevating lived experiences, influencing policy, and increasing public understanding of dementia through education and advocacy. She is the creator of the motto MADD = Make A Dynamic Difference and a recipient of the 2024 Maude Award for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care.
Terrie has served on several dementia advocacy boards and currently contributes to the Alzheimer’s Association/NIH Lived Experience Panel and Alzheimer’s Disease International Global Dementia Expert Panel. She also works with the National Council of Dementia Minds, serves on the Alliance for Aging Research’s Research Advisory Council, and hosts the Walking the Talk of Dementia podcast.
Shon Lowe
Perennial Hero Award
Shon Lowe is a nationally recognized patient advocate, author, speaker, podcast producer, and family caregiver dedicated to advancing brain health equity, dementia awareness, and culturally informed healthcare advocacy. As the primary caregiver for her mother, Terrie Montgomery, who was diagnosed with early-onset frontotemporal dementia at 58, Shon has firsthand experience navigating the challenges of caregiving. She has also advocated for her own cognitive health and was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Shon serves on the Alliance for Aging Research’s Research Advisory Council and Global Advisory Panel, as well as the Patient & Family Advisory Council at Elmhurst Hospital. She is a producer of the Walking the Talk of Dementia podcast, CEO of Paint Clover Purple, and a Voices of Alzheimer’s Champion. A recipient of the 2024 Maude Award for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care, Shon uses storytelling, education, and community engagement to promote early detection, equitable care, and greater awareness of the challenges faced by Black families affected by dementia.
The Alliance for Aging Research is pleased to consider these prestigious leaders as our partners in healthy aging. Learn more about our awards dinner, honorees, and the deeper meaning behind the evening here.
