UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing’s Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE) held its 10th annual CGNE Alumni and Friends Spring Brunch on April 2. 

The event, which is made possible through the support of CGNE partners and sponsors, recognizes Penn State students, community champions, and nurse leaders whose work advances gerontological nursing practice and improves the lives and care of older adults throughout the year.   

A highlight of the brunch was a keynote session titled “Empowering Interprofessional Teams to Own Age-Friendly Care: An Adventure Story,” presented by Kellie L. Flood. Flood is a professor in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and serves as UAB Hospital’s first associate chief quality officer for geriatrics and care transitions.  

Flood’s presentation offered practical strategies to engage, equip, empower and transform members of high-performing interprofessional teams advancing age-friendly care, including creating a sense of urgency to drive change, improve geriatric clinical expertise, and advance quality improvement initiatives. 

The event also featured recognition of CGNE’s education, research, translation and service accomplishments during 2023 and offered attendees networking time with sponsoring organizations. Additionally, the center honored five individuals for their commitment to gerontological research and practice with specific awards.  

This year’s honorees are: 

• 2023 CGNE Ph.D. Student Champion Award: Yo-Jen Kazmer Liao 

• 2023 CGNE D.N.P. Student Champion Awards: Amy Criscitello and Tracy Kephart  

• 2023 CGNE Community Champion Award: Andrew Naugle, administrator, Centre Care Rehabilitation and Wellness Services 

• 2023 Mark T. Kolanowski Award for Excellence in Ph.D. Nursing Research: Sherif Olanrewaju 

The CGNE Student Champion Awards recognize graduate students who are affiliated with the center, have an elevated level of participation throughout their educational program, focus on doctoral research (Ph.D.) or doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) projects that involves gerontology, demonstrate passion and commitment for working with older adults, present a dissertation or final project that aligns with the center’s vision, and seek to improve quality of care and lives of older adults in positive and person-centered ways.  

"This annual CGNE Student Champion honor for a D.N.P. student signifies our ongoing commitment to expanding and supporting doctoral scholarly work in gerontology,” said Kelly A. Wolgast, assistant dean for Outreach and Professional Development in the Nese College of Nursing. “We were very fortunate this year to be able to have two very talented DNP students chosen for this award. I am delighted to be in an advising role for both of the honorees." 

The CGNE Community Champion Award recognizes individuals and organizations who have contributed substantively to the advancement of the well-being of older adults and who are known for championing the cause of Penn State nursing excellence in the care of older adults.  

“What a privilege to watch Andrew in action with his genuine love for and care of older adults alongside the Centre Care team,” said Donna Fick, CGNE director and Elouise Ross Eberly Endowed Professor of Nursing, in presenting Naugle with the 2023 award. “When we think about partners who go above and beyond to support our students through clinical experiences; work daily for older adults with a service mindset; and share in our center’s commitment to respect, quality and equity in care, Andrew exemplifies that champion spirit. We’re grateful for his collaboration and, most of all, his dedication to the people at the center of what we do who are working and living in nursing homes — students, staff, faculty and older adults.”

In presenting the Kolanowski Award, Nese College of Nursing Professor Susan Loeb, who serves as Olanrewaju’s dissertation committee chair, academic adviser and research assistantship supervisor, characterized his contributions to gerontological nursing research and engagement with CGNE as extraordinary examples with far-reaching impact. 

“Sherif is a consummate scholar with a curious mind and commitment to excellence,” said Loeb. “His planned dissertation study aims to enhance our understanding of Internationally Educated Nurses’ (IENs) experiences as they transition to work with older adults in long-term care settings in the United States. This dissertation research is especially timely in this era of tremendous nursing workforce shortages. Sherif’s research will reveal policies and practices that promote IEN’s successful integration into the workplace, as well as challenges that impede IEN’s smooth transition.” 

About the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence 

Penn State’s CGNE was established in 2007 as one of eight legacy centers in the U.S. originally funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation and now supported by an endowment. As an interdisciplinary community of leaders and scholars with expertise in aging, geriatrics and gerontology, CGNE believes every older adult deserves the highest quality of evidenced-based care and well-being that respects their individual goals and preferences. Learn more about the center here.