John W. (Jack) Rowe MD, an expert on health care economics and healthy aging, will be the inaugural speaker for the Stanford Center on Longevity Distinguished Lecture Series. Rowe is professor of health policy and management, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and former CEO of Aetna Inc.

Rowe, who retired from Aetna in 2006 and chairs the Center’s external advisory council, is co-author of “Successful Aging,” which describes the choices, programs and policies that enable older people to stay strong mentally and physically. Prior to his tenure at Aetna, one of the nation’s leading health care and related benefits organizations, Rowe served as president and CEO of Mount Sinai NYU Health, and was a professor at Harvard Medical School and founding director of its division on aging.

Rowe’s lecture, “Myths and Realities of an Aging Society,” will be from 6 to 7 p.m. (reception at 5:30 p.m.), Tuesday, April 13, at the Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center at Stanford University.