L. Stephen Coles facts for kids

Leslie Stephen Coles (born January 19, 1941 – died December 3, 2014) was a scientist who studied how people age. He helped start and lead the Gerontology Research Group. This group focused on learning about supercentenarians, who are people living to be 110 years old or even older! He also worked at the University of California, Los Angeles and the David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Coles earned both a medical degree (M.D.) and a science degree (Ph.D.).

Life and Education

Leslie Stephen Coles was born in New York City on January 19, 1941. He loved to learn and studied at several top universities.

His College Years

He earned his first degree, a B.S. in electrical engineering, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Electrical engineering is about designing and using electrical systems.

Next, he got a Master's in mathematics from the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Mathematics is the study of numbers, shapes, and patterns.

He then earned his highest degree, a Ph.D., from Carnegie Mellon University. This Ph.D. was in systems and communication sciences, which involves how different parts of a system work together and how information is shared.

Medical Training

After his Ph.D., Dr. Coles went to Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his medical training in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Jackson Memorial Hospital of the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. This part of medicine focuses on women's health and childbirth.

His Work and Research

Dr. Coles was very interested in how people live for a very long time. He was a key person in the Gerontology Research Group. This group works to find and verify the ages of the oldest people in the world. They study supercentenarians to understand more about aging. He also helped manage the computer systems for this research group.

Dr. Coles passed away on December 3, 2014, in Scottsdale, Arizona.