Dr. Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, nursing professor emerita, senior research scientist, and director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU College of Nursing, was presented with the annual Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award on November 20, 2009, at the Nursing Care of Older Adults Interest Group meeting of the Gerontological Society of America annual meeting in Atlanta.
Dr. Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, nursing professor emerita, senior research scientist, and director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU College of Nursing, was presented with the annual Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award on November 20, 2009, at the Nursing Care of Older Adults Interest Group meeting of the Gerontological Society of America annual meeting in Atlanta.
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. Since 1996, Dr. Mezey has served as the director of the Hartford Institute, overseeing a national initiative to improve geriatric nursing education, practice, research, and policy. In nominating Dr. Mezey, Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of NYU College of Nursing, cited Dr. Mezey’s original research in geriatric nursing and her ability to translate evidence-based research findings to the national health care community, resulting in enhanced standards particularly in geriatric nursing education and nursing home care. Dr. Mezey was one of the first researchers to address the inadequacy of gerontological education in baccalaureate and advanced-practice nursing programs. She was instrumental in developing defined competencies and curricula, and for creating evidence-based educational tools for these programs.
The Doris Schwartz award is given each year by the Health Sciences section of the Gerontological Society of America. This national tribute is named for Doris Schwartz, a pioneer in gerontological nursing research who was a mentor to Dr. Mezey. It is given annually in recognition of the recipient’s visionary and exemplary contributions advancing the field of geriatric nursing research.
The Doris Schwartz award is accompanied by a lectureship: This year Dr. Mezey presented “50 Years: Older Adults and Geriatric Nursing.” The presentation, attended by more than 260 people, took Dr. Mezey’s 50-year career as the backdrop to the dramatic scientific and social trends in nursing and in the aging of the population that have taken place over the same period.
The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing seeks to shape the quality of health care that older Americans receive by promoting the highest level of geriatric competency in all nurses who deliver care. By raising the standards of nursing care, the Hartford Institute aims to ensure that people age in comfort and dignity. Its initiatives include education, practice, research, policy, and consumer education.