School of Nursing

Nursing professor named fellow

Professor Yao named 2018 fellow of the Gerontological Society of America

Lan Yao, Ph.D., RN, an assistant professor in the School of Nursing at Oakland University, has been named a 2018 Fellow in the Health Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

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icon of a calendarJuly 16, 2018

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Nursing professor named a 2018 fellow of the Gerontological Society of America
Lan Yao, Ph.D., RN, an assistant professor in the School of Nursing at Oakland University, has been named a 2018 Fellow in the Health Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America.

Lan Yao, Ph.D., RN, an assistant professor in the School of Nursing at Oakland University, has been named a 2018 Fellow in the Health Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the nation’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging. 

She is one of 89 exemplary professionals in this year’s class. She is one of only 27 in her field of expertise (Health Sciences Section) and one of just five chosen from the state of Michigan.

The status of “Fellow” is the highest class of membership within the Society. It is an acknowledgment of outstanding and continuing work in gerontology. This recognition can come at varying points in an individual’s career and can acknowledge a broad scope of activity. This includes research, teaching, administration, public service, practice, and notable participation within the organization. Fellows are chosen to represent each of GSA’s four membership sections.

“Dr. Yao has always shown a keen interest in working with the elderly and has based many of her research projects on improving the health of this population,” Judy Didion, dean of Oakland University’s School of Nursing said. “Her results have stood out over time and it’s great to see the Gerontological Society of America recognize her with this honor.”

Dr. Yao joined Oakland University in 2015 and has been an active researcher in the School of Nursing. Dr. Yao’s research focuses on promoting health and preventing disease of older adults through physical activity interventions. 

Some of her recent work has been funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan and relates to a fall prevention Tai Chi exercise program for older Arab Americans in Dearborn. That study is still enrolling participants. Those interested learning more about the program can view this flyer or contact Ms. Marwa Alasmar at the ACCESS Center at 313-213-3855.

Dr. Yao also developed a China Study Abroad Program for undergraduate students that has served as both a learning experience and cultural exchange of nursing techniques between the East and West.

Ths year’s class of new Fellows, including Dr. Yao, will be formally recognized during GSA’s 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 14 - 18 in Boston.

A full listing of this year’s class of Fellows:

Behavioral and Social Sciences Section

Nicole Anderson, PhD, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest; Allison Bielak, PhD, MS, Colorado State University; Iraida V. Carrion, PhD, University of South Florida; Grace Caskie, PhD, Lehigh University; Kyong Hee Chee, PhD, Texas State University; Denise Cloutier, PhD, University of Victoria; Megan Dolbin-MacNab, PhD, Virginia Tech; Amy Eisenstein, PhD, CJE SeniorLife; Malitta Engstrom, PhD, MSW, University of Pennsylvania; Cassandra Ford, PhD, RN, MSN, MBA, University of Alabama; Esme Fuller-Thomson, PhD, University of Toronto; Alyssa Gamaldo, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University; Patricia Griffiths, PhD, Emory University, GA Tech & VHA; Marnin Heisel, PhD, University of Western Ontario; Martin Hyde, PhD, Swansea University; Nancy Karlin, PhD, University of Northern Colorado; Migette Kaup, PhD, Kansas State University; Corinne Leach PhD, MPH, American Cancer Society; Anja Leist, PhD, University of Luxembourg; I-Fen Lin, PhD, Bowling Green State University; Eileen MaloneBeach, PhD, Central Michigan University; Jennifer Morgan, PhD, Georgia State University; Adam Perzynski, PhD, Case Western Reserve University; Christine Proulx, PhD, University of Missouri; James Raymo, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Amy Roberts, PhD, Miami University; Sonia Salari, PhD, University of Utah; Markus Schafer, PhD, University of Toronto; Oliver Schilling, PhD, University of Heidelberg; Suzanne Segerstrom, PhD, MPH, University of Kentucky; Adam Shapiro, PhD, California State University San Marcos; Myrna Silverman, PhD, University of Pittsburgh; Renae Smith-Ray, PhD, Walgreen Co; Samantha Solimeo, PhD, DO, MPH, Iowa City VA Health Care System; Jennifer Stanley PhD, MS, University of Akron; Ann Steffen, PhD, University of Missouri-Saint Louis; Christine Stephens, PhD, Massey University; Antonio Terracciano, PhD, Florida State University; Amber Watts, PhD, University of Kansas; Loriena Yancura, PhD, University of Hawaii at Manoa; Jeremy Yorgason, PhD, Brigham Young University; Zhenmei Zhang, PhD, Michigan State University.

Biological Sciences Section

Alan Cohen, PhD, Universite de Sherbrooke; Nathan LeBrasseur, PhD, Mayo Clinic; Shin Murakami, PhD, Touro University; Christian Sell, PhD, Drexel University

Health Sciences Section

Joel Anderson, PhD, University of Tennessee; Melissa Batchelor-Murphy, PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN, Duke University School of Nursing; John Batsis, MD, Dartmouth College; Richard Bohannon, EdD, University of Connecticut; Ashley Bryant, PhD, RN, University of North Carolina; Thomas Buford, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Mary DiBartolo, PhD, Salisbury University; Stefan Gravenstein, MD, MPH, Brown University; Sherry Greenberg, PhD, Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing; Theresa Harvath, PhD, RN, FAAN, University of California, Davis, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing; Barbara Holtzclaw, PhD, RN, FAAN, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Natalie Leland, PhD, University of Pittsburgh; Heather Leutwyler PhD, RN, University of California, San Francisco; Sheila Molony, PhD, Quinnipiac University; Manuel Montero Odasso, MD, PhD, University of Western Ontario; Joanne Murabito, MD, Boston University School of Medicine; Subashan Perera, PhD, University of Pittsburgh; Michelle Porter, PhD, University of Manitoba; Ingrid Pretzer-Aboff, PhD, RN, Virginia Commonwealth University; Carol Rogers, PhD, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Tatiana Sadak, PhD, University of Washington School of Nursing; Stephen Shuman, DDS, University of Minnesota; Amy Silva-Smith, PhD, University of Colorado Colorado Springs; Laurence Solberg, MD, University of Florida College of Medicine; Jenny van der Steen, PhD, Leiden University Medical Center; Nancy Woods, PhD, University of Washington; Lan Yao, PhD, RN, Oakland University; Tracey Yap, PhD, Duke University.

Social Research Policy and Practice Section

Jean Accius, PhD, AARP; Sunha Choi PhD, MSW, University of Tennessee at Knoxville; Emily Greenfield, PhD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Man Guo, PhD, The University of Iowa; Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, George Mason University; Kathryn Kietzman, PhD, MSW, University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Health Policy Research; Judith Lucas, EdD, Seton Hall University; Richard Morycz, PhD, University of Pittsburgh; Emily Nicklett, PhD, MA, MSW, University of Michigan; Mary Parker, PhD, Institute for Palliative & Hospice Training, Inc; Judith Smith, PhD, Fordham University; Gail Towsley, PhD, University of Utah; Denise Tyler, PhD, RTI International; Amanda Woodward, PhD, Michigan State University; Heather Young, PhD, RN, FAAN, University of California, Davis, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing.

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About the GSA: 

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,500+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA’s structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society, and an educational organization, the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education.

About Oakland University’s School of Nursing:

The Oakland University Board of Trustees established the School of Nursing (SON) in 1974. At that time, the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree was the only academic degree awarded by the SON. Graduate nursing programs began in 1984 and the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program was established in 2006.All of the School of Nursing academic programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Oakland University’s mission statement:

Oakland University cultivates the full potential of a diverse and inclusive community. As a public doctoral institution, we impact Michigan and the world through education, research, scholarship and creative activity.

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