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New York Times-bestselling author and OASIS Institute founder to speak at grand opening of the OASIS center June 26

Michael F. Roizen, M.D., author of the New York Times bestseller "Real Age: Are You As Young As You Can Be?" and Marylen Mann and Sanford Zimmerman of The OASIS Institute, will speak at the by- invitation-only grand opening celebration of the OASIS Center Tuesday, June 26. Located in the lower level of ShoppingTown Mall (near the theaters in the Kaufmann's corridor), OASIS is Central New York's affiliate of the national adult education organization, The OASIS Institute. The OASIS Center is sponsored locally by University Hospital of SUNY Upstate Medical University and Kaufmann's, a division of the May Department Stores Company.

Officials from University Hospital, Kaufmann's, The OASIS Institute and Verizon will officially open the site with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. by Dr. Roizen's presentation, "OASIS Can Make Your 'RealAge' Younger."

Roizen is the incoming dean of the College of Medicine and vice-president for biomedical sciences at Upstate Medical University. Perennially named as one of the "Best Doctors in America," he developed a health measurement test, known as RealAge, that calculates whether people are older or younger than their chronological ages by analyzing their health behaviors and lifestyles.

Roizen published his findings in "RealAge: Are You As Young As You Can Be?" which landed on The New York Times bestseller list. His latest book, "RealAge Diet: Make Yourself Younger With What You Eat," was published in May. He has appeared on national television including Oprah, 20/20 and The Today Show.

After an open house and tour of the OASIS Center, to take place from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., OASIS Institute founder and president Marylen Mann and chair of the Institute's Board of Directors, will present "The Roots of OASIS: How It Began and Where It's Going" from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Mann founded the OASIS Institute in St. Louis in 1982 and since then, more than 360,000 older adults have become members in 25 cities nationwide. As president, she serves in a leadership capacity working with the national Board of Directors, Chief Operating Officer and leaders in the field of aging to ensure the mission of OASIS is met.

Mann served as a national delegate for the Presidents' Summit for America's Future and currently serves on numerous boards including the National Council for George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University; Parents as Teachers National Center, Inc., International Women's Forum; and the School of Fine Arts at Webster University, where she serves as Advisory Council Chair.

Zimmerman is chair of the OASIS Institute. He serves as project director for Fort Orange Village of the State University of New York at Albany and is founder and executive director of the Institute for Advancement of Healthcare and Management at the University at Albany. Some of his accomplishments in the field of education include president of the University at Albany Foundation, director of the University at Albany Fund and director of the Arts and Education Councils in both St. Louis and Albany.

The OASIS Center curriculum is geared to enhancing the quality of life for people ages 55 and older. The Center creates opportunities for its members to continue their personal growth and meaningful service to the community by offering challenging programs in the arts, humanities, wellness and volunteer service. OASIS programs include HealthStages (health and wellness classes) and a Peer-to-Peer volunteer counseling service, with a Life Story Legacies program (oral history) to be introduced in the coming months.

Membership to the OASIS Center is free. Members receive the OASIS course catalog by mail three times a year. One nominal tuition fee per trimester covers most classes, although some classes may have an additional material or class charge.

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