UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Marie Boltz, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Elouise Ross Eberly and Robert Eberly Endowed Chair and professor; and Andrea Yevchak-Sillner, assistant professor, were recently recognized as National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE) 2021 Distinguished Educators in Gerontological Nursing.
The NHCGNE recognizes a select group of outstanding gerontological educators each year to celebrate their accomplishments as gerontological educators.
“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,” a NHCGNE report stated.
Boltz is the associate director of translation at the Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE). With her primary concentration in aging research, much of the research she has conducted focuses on interventions that promote function, well-being and cognition in older adults; caregiving efficacy; coping with dementia and delirium; and other complex aging-related care issues.
Yevchak-Sillner has been a gerontological researcher and educator for almost 15 years, aiding in the development of older adults’ healthcare advancements. Her interdisciplinary research focus revolves around enhancing Person-Centered Care (PCC), communication, and symptom recognition among older adults, informal caregivers and formal healthcare providers.