UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Ying-Ling Jao, assistant professor of nursing, has been recognized as a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (FGSA), the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging. Additionally, she has been promoted to associate professor at Penn State, effective July 1.
Jao is an accomplished nurse researcher and professor in Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and a member of the leadership team with the college’s distinguished Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE). Gerontology has remained her focus for the entirety of her career, with most of her research concentrated around assessment and nonpharmacological interventions for neurobehavioral symptoms of dementia.
Fellow status is peer recognition for outstanding contributions to the field of gerontology and represents the highest class of GSA membership. The distinction comes at varying points in a person’s career and is given for diverse activities that include research, teaching, administration, public service, practice, and notable participation in the society. Fellows are chosen from across GSA’s membership groups. Jao was recognized by GSA’s Health Sciences section.
Jao began working with older adults during her clinical experience at a national medical center in Taiwan that primarily provided healthcare for the country’s aging veteran population. Her enjoyment working with and learning from older people brought her to the United States to study gerontological nursing.
“During my clinical training as an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, I met individuals with dementia who often showed no interests or flat mood, which inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. and develop a program of research focused on apathy and dementia,” Jao said. “I have been fortunate to work with great research mentors, collaborators, and students in this field for more than a decade. I am deeply honored and humbled to be recognized with the FGSA designation. Aging research is such an enjoyable and rewarding career path with many opportunities to improve care and quality of life for people with dementia.”
Jao joins a class of 38 new fellows who will be formally recognized in November during GSA’s 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the society — and its 5,500+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers and the public.