Hartford Institute Leadership and Staff

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Tara A. Cortes PhD, RN, FAAN
Executive Director

Dr. Cortes is recognized for her distinguished career spanning executive leadership, nursing education, research and practice. She is the Executive Director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing and holds the Mathy D. Mezey Chair as a Professor in Geriatric Nursing at the New York University College of Nursing. Dr. Cortes has provided significant contributions to advancing the health of people, particularly those with limited access to the health care system. Importantly, she has developed collaborative models with advanced practice nurses and physicians in traditional as well as non traditional settings to enhance the care of the American elderly population.

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Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN
Co-Director

Dr. Mezey's distinguished career has focused on raising the standards of nurses caring for older adults and ensuring that people age in comfort and dignity. From 1996 until 2010, Dr. Mezey has served as the Director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. In this position, she oversees a national initiative to improve geriatric nursing education, practice, research and policy.

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Elizabeth A. Capezuti, PhD, RN, APRN-BC, FAAN
Co-Director

Dr. Capezuti is an internationally recognized geriatric nurse researcher and Professor at NYU College of Nursing. As Co-director for the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, she directs the NICHE program, a national program to improve hospital care of older adults that has been implemented in more than 250 hospitals.

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Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN
Co-Director
Dr. Fulmer is an award-winning researcher who has devoted her academic career and care practice to a wide range of geriatric issues and in particular elder mistreatment. Her expertise includes the use of informatics to enhance nursing practice. She is the Erline Perkins McGriff Professor and Dean, New York University College of Nursing and the Co-Director for the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing.

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Carolyn Auerhahn, Ed.D, GNP-BC, NP-C, FAANP
Associate Director
Dr. Auerhahn has introduced the nurse practitioner (NP) role in places where it was unknown and "paved the way" for other NPs, has pioneered new and evolving aspects of the NP role, and brought national attention to the NP. Her contributions to NP education include curricular design and revision focused on changing healthcare needs and challenges. In addition to her role as Associate Director, Dr. Auerhahn also serves as the Director for Advanced Practice Initiatives. In that capacity, she is working on several initiatives designed to "gerontologize" the nursing workforce.

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Deborah A. Chyun, PhD, RN, FAHA
Associate Director
Dr. Chyun is Associate Professor and Director of the Florence S. Downs PhD Program in Nursing Research and Theory Development at NYU’s College of Nursing. Dr. Chyun’s background includes preparation as a cardiovascular clinical nurse specialist and a PhD in Chronic Disease Epidemiology. Her area of research emphasis is on the detection, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults with type 2 diabetes. Dr Chyun has consulted internationally, has had an active role in the Northeast Consortium for Native Americans and is an active member of the American Heart Association. In addition to being an Associate Director at the Hartford Institute, Dr. Chyun is the Clinical Coordinator for the Resourcefully Enhancing Aging in Specialty Nursing (REASN) project.

Hartford Institute Staff and Projects (in alphabetical order):

• Sahiba Anand (Project Coordinator - NICHE Program)
• Yamilee Bazile (Project Director, REASN Project)
• Marie Boltz (Practice Director - NICHE Program)
• Barbara Bricoli (Director of Operations - NICHE Program)
• Holly Brown (Practice Manager - NICHE Program)
• Sarah Greene Burger ( Senior Advisor - Policy)
• John Capalbo (Grants Manager)
• Maryum Christie (Administrative Aide)
• Jessica Scholder Esterson (Director, Specialty Associations, REASN Project)
• Claire Fagin, (Senior Advisor)
• Sherienne Felder (Special Event Manager- NICHE Program)
• Morgan Gange (Web Consultant)
• Elaine Gould (Program Consultant)
• Sherry Greenberg (Resources Manager/Consultant- ConsultGeriRN.org
• Malvina Kluger (Senior Administrator)
• Ethel Mitty (Long Term Care Consultant)
• Oleysa Prodan (Business Manager- NICHE Program)
• Nina Shabbat (Knowledge and Database Manager -NICHE Program)
• Alina Vayntrub (Project Manager - NICHE Program)
• DeAnne Zwicker (Content Editor - ConsultGeriRN.org)