Distinguished Educators in Gerontological Nursing
Purpose:  Given the rapidly growing older adult population and the urgent 
need to prepare the future nurse workforce to care for an aging population, 
it is imperative to have well prepared nurse educators not only with knowledge and skills in care of older adults, but also with teaching competence so that they can foster positive attitudes toward older adults and actively engage learners at all levels.
The Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing Program (the Program) is a Hartford initiative that aims to recognize the leadership of nurse educators working with students, faculty, providers, and older people in diverse settings.
You are invited to apply for a Certificate of Recognition for Excellence as a Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing by the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE) if you meet the following eligibility requirements:
  • Masters or higher degree in nursing
  • Post-baccalaureate academic education in gerontological nursing or related professional development programs
  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience in gerontological nursing education
  • Active engagement at the time of application in gerontological/geriatric nursing education which could include, but is not limited to:
  • Teaching aging or gerontological/geriatric nursing content/courses
  • Curriculum development in gerontological nursing or interprofessional geriatric care
  • Clinical, laboratory, or simulation instruction in gerontological nursing or geriatric care\Administrator or coordinator of aging studies, gerontological nursing education, or interprofessional geriatric education programs
  • Providing professional development in gerontological nursing and/or interprofessional geriatric care
  • Providing community education in aging or gerontological/geriatric content
The Certificate of Recognition for Excellence as a Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing is awarded with approval by the NHCGNE Board of Directors or designee.
Meet Our 2018 Inaugural
Distinguished Educator Class!
We had a chance to sit down with our scholars and ask them a few questions about their experience in Gerontological nursing as well as the Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing Program. Below are the recipients responses. We would like to thank them all for applying to our program as well as taking the time to sit down with us.

Congratulations Distinguished Educators!
Lisa Abdallah
PhD, RN, CNE
University of Massachusetts Lowell
‌
Natalie Baker
DNP, CRNP, ANP-BC, GNP-BC,
GS-C, FAANP
‌
Ashley Leake Bryant
PhD, RN-BC, OCN
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
‌
Kimberly Bergen-Jackson
PhD, RN-BC , LNHA, BAGNCS, FGNLA
University of Iowa
Oaknoll Retirement Residence 
Nicole J. Davis
PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC,GNP-BC
Clemson University
Carol Delville
PhD, RN, ACNS-BC
University of Texas at Austin
Nancy Edwards
PhD, MSN, ANP-BC
Purdue University
Laurence Lascuña Garcia
RN, MN, DScN 
Cebu Normal University 
Mary DeGrote Goering
PHD, RN-BC 
University of Minnesota 
Sherrry Greenberg
PHD, RN, GNP-BC
New York University
J Taylor Harden
PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN 
Director Emeritus, NHCGNE 
Candace C. Harrington
DNP, ARNP, AGPCNP-BC, PhD
East Carolina University
Amy Hunter
DNP, CRNP-BC, BSN, RN 
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Ben R. Inventor 
PhD, MSN, GNP-BC 
Rush University
Glenda Joiner-Rogers 
PhD, RN, AGCNS-BC 
University of Texas at Austin 
Linda J. Keilman 
DNP, GNP-BC, FAANP 
Michigan State University 
Laurie Kennedy-Malone
PhD GNP-BC, FAANP, FAGHE, FGSA 
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Jennifer Kim
DNP, GNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP
Vanderbilt University
Alison Kris
PhD, RN
Fairfield University
Karen V. Lamb
DNP, RN
Rush University
Deborah A. Lekan
PhD, RN-BC
University of North Carolina Greensboro
Angela Yee Man Leung
PhD, MHA, BN, RN, FHKAN
The Hong Kong Polytechnic 
University
Patricia MacCulloch
DNP, ANP-BC
University of Massachusetts 
Lowell
Nanci McLeskey
DNP, MCG, MDiv, RN-BC, CHPN, FGNA
University of Utah
Karen Devereaux - Melillo
PhD, A-GNP, FAANP, FGSA
University of Massachusetts 
Lowell
Joanne Miller
PhD, RN, APRN/GNP-BC
Rush University
Melissa O'Connor
PhD, MBA, RN
Villanova University
Janet Rooker
MNSc, RNP
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Lenora Smith
PhD, FNP-BC, RN
University of Alabama Huntsville
Kristine Talley
PhD, RN, GNP-BC
university of Minnesota
Ladda Thiamwong
PhD, RN 
University of Central Florida
Tomika Williams
PhD, AGCNP-C, RN
East Carolina University
Liu Yongbing
PhD, RN 
Yangzhou University
Conference Update
NHCGNE’s 2018 Leadership Conference, Thriving Together as We Age: Older Adults and their Caregivers, was a first in many ways. In addition to being the largest conference with 194 participants, this was the first leadership conference held at a member school, Northeastern University in Boston, MA. We had attendees from 33 states and 6 countries (Hong Kong, Mainland China, Philippines, Australia, Canada and Germany). Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive and the air of excitement was contagious, so we are looking forward with anticipation to our conference in 2019 in Austin, TX. 

A big THANK YOU to Drs. Tracie Harrison and J. Taylor Harden and their Conference Planning Committee for a wonderful leadership conference!
Participants from the United States
Participants from China & Hong Kong
Participants From Around The World
Session Highlights
Caring for a Person with a Cognitive Impairment
This session was presented by Heather Young, PhD, RN, FAAN, Davis Edward K. Kaplan, PhD, and Janna Kaplan, MSC and explored the very personal impact of living with dementia from the view of the person with dementia and the view of their spouse. Attendees were moved to tear sand laughter as presenters skillfully evoked their emotional journey and detailed their building resources to optimize their daily life together.  
SPARK Talks
This session was comprised of 5 rapid fire talks with presenters each engaging the audience in an innovative take on a gerontological nursing care of older adults. Presenters demonstrated their content expertise and passion as they persuaded the audience to be a champion for their topics too: Communication with Family Caregivers; LGBT Caregivers; End-of-Life Planning; Care Coordination for Persons with Dementia and Family; The Health Impact on Grandmothers Raising Grandchildren.
Mary Starke Harper
Mary Starke Harper Leadership Interview highlighted the career path of Kathleen Buckwalter, PhD, RN, FAAN. Attendees benefitted from hearing that serendipity coupled with being educationally prepared and continually seeking out new skills as a nurse research can lead to unexpected opportunities. Mentors help one be fearless and take those unexpected pathways. 
Centers of Excellence Supporting Care Recipients and Caregivers: Challenges in Doing Research in Long-Term Care.
Tracie Harrison and Tracey Yapp covered the impact of institutional support as a key tool for researchers being able to conduct studies within the long-term care setting. Session attendees benefitted from practical suggestions for how to garner institutional support through collaborative and mutually beneficial agreements between researcher and administrators, staff, and community stakeholders. 
Conference Photos
To view photos please use your Institution log in. If you belong to a member school and would like access please email info@nhcgne.org
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Support NHCGNE
You can now donate to the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE)  online . Your generous donation will be instrumental in the development of new programs, products and services that will enable us to sustain our efforts in strengthening gerontological nursing faculty development and leadership. 

The importance of your contribution cannot be overstated. In addition to all the work that you already do on behalf of older adults, this gift further demonstrates your personal commitment to prepare our country with a competent gerontological nursing workforce.