Hartford Scholars, Hartford Center, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota

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MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (Nov. 5, 2007) - The University of Minnesota School of Nursing has selected its 2007 Minnesota Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence (MnHCGNE) scholarship recipients. This year's scholars are Mary Dierich, Sue (Patricia) Bikkie, Niloufar Hadidi, Audrey Weymiller, and Diane Willer-Sly.

Mary Dierich Dierich has been a nurse for 21 years and is currently employed by the University of Minnesota School of Nursing as a teaching specialist. Her interest in gerontological nursing grew from her desire to solve challenging and complex medical issues within the patient's social environment as a part of an interdisciplinary team. As a part of her PhD Program, Dierich will focus her research on the complexities associated with medication regimens in elderly patients living in community dwellings and how it affects their ability to age.

Sue (Patricia) Bikkie Bikkie has been a nurse for 15 years and is currently employed by Unity Hospital as a geriatric nurse practitioner and a clinical nurse specialist. Her interest in the area of gerontological nursing grew from her drive to improve the outcomes of hospitalized elderly patients. As a part of her doctor of nursing practice curriculum, Bikkie will conduct research and consult with patients who have complex medical conditions, are acutely confused, or are suffering from delirium.

Niloufar Hadidi Hadidi has been a nurse for 16 years and has been employed by the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview for the past seven years as a clinical nurse specialist in the neurology and med-surg departments. Her interest in the area of gerontological nursing grew from her professional and educational experience with stroke patients.She will use the money to research post-stroke depression in patients in order to improve care delivery to this patient population.

Audrey Weymiller Audrey Weymiller is currently a nurse practitioner working in the Division of Endocrinology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Audrey's focus is on chronic disease management, particularly diabetes, pursuing promotion of optimum functioning whether well or sick.

Diane Willer-Sly Willer-Sly has been a nurse for 25 years and is currently employed by Health Partners as a gerontological advance practice care coordinator and nurse practitioner for the PartneringCare Senior Services Program. Her interest in the area of gerontological nursing grew from the loving relationship she had with her grandparents, and a unique experience that she had during her first clinical nursing experience in a nursing home. It was there that Willer-Sly learned ways to communicate with a stroke patient who was unable to walk or speak. As a part of her doctor of nursing practice curriculum, Willer-Sly will focus on improving care for geriatric patients with dementia in assisted living settings by focusing on improving communication between care team members.

The MnHCGNE awards matriculated doctoral students who intend to focus their graduate studies on the nursing care of older adults and engage in an academic career with a commitment to teaching geriatric nursing. The scholarship provides doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) and doctorate (Ph.D.) students with money for education-related expenses. Students also receive funding to defray expenses in attending the Gerontological Society of America's Annual Scientific Meeting.

The MnHCGNE was established at the University of Minnesota earlier last fall after the School of Nursing was awarded a $1 million grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation and a $500,000 matching award from the University of Minnesota. The Center aims to address the Upper Midwest's critical need for nurses with expertise in caring for older adults by developing quality faculty with expertise in gerontological nursing.