New York University College of Nursing is pleased to announce the appointment of Tara Cortes, PhD, RN, FAAN, as executive director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. Now in its 14th year, the Hartford Institute has become a global resource for best practices in nursing care of older adults. Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, director since the Hartford Institute’s inception in 1996, will oversee national initiatives to improve geriatric nursing education and long term care. Professor Elizabeth C. Capezuti will direct practice and research initiatives. College of Nursing Dean Terry Fulmer will direct interdisciplinary initiatives.
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New York University College of Nursing is pleased to announce the appointment of Tara Cortes, PhD, RN, FAAN, as executive director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. Now in its 14th year, the Hartford Institute has become a global resource for best practices in nursing care of older adults. Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, director since the Hartford Institute’s inception in 1996, will oversee national initiatives to improve geriatric nursing education and long term care. Professor Elizabeth C. Capezuti will direct practice and research initiatives. College of Nursing Dean Terry Fulmer will direct interdisciplinary initiatives.
“Dr. Cortes’ distinguished career in executive leadership, nursing education, research and practice make her a natural fit for the position,” says Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean of NYU College of Nursing. “She will enhance some of the respected existing programs in the Institute and develop new and innovative initiatives. We are delighted to have her on board.”
Dr. Cortes holds the Mathy D. Mezey Chair as a Professor in Geriatric Nursing at the NYU College of Nursing. Before coming to the NYU College of Nursing, Dr. Cortes served as president and CEO of Lighthouse International, a respected not-for-profit organization dedicated to fighting vision loss through prevention and treatment. In this role, she worked to change the organization’s paradigm of care for those with vision loss from a charitable service to a health care delivery system. Prior to her role at Lighthouse International, Dr. Cortes was senior vice president for patient care operations and chief nursing officer at Yale New Haven Health System, Bridgeport Hospital.
Dr. Cortes has held many adjunct faculty positions including clinical professor at Yale University School of Nursing and clinical assistant professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. While working in nursing administration at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York as well as at Rockefeller University Hospital, Dr. Cortes developed innovative models for utilizing advanced-practice nurses and physicians in traditional as well as non traditional settings to enhance the quality and access to care for older adults.
Dr. Cortes is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing as well as Past Fellow of the prestigious RWJ Executive Nurse Fellows Program. She recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from New York University, where she received her doctoral and master’s degrees. Her bachelor of nursing degree is from Villanova University, where she serves on the board of trustees.
New York University College of Nursing
The College of Nursing is one of the leading nursing programs in the United States. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Master of Arts and Post-Master’s Certificate Programs; a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Theory and Development, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. For more information, visit www.nyu.edu/nursing.
Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing
The Hartford Institute 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, and policy. For more information, visit www.HartfordIGN.og.