Hartford Center of Gerontological Excellence
The Hartford Center of Gerontological Excellence in the School of Nursing at OHSU is a community of students, educators, clinicians and researchers actively promoting healthy aging for all.
In March 2000, insurance giant John A. Hartford Co., through its foundation, embarked upon a campaign to build geriatric nursing capacity through national academic partnerships. They recognized a critical need for geriatric nursing education at the national level. In 2001, the OHSU School of Nursing was one of five charter academic institutions funded as a designated "Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence" by the foundation to grow the next generation of geriatric nursing leaders through research, education, and clinical practice (Retrieved from https://www.nhcgne.org/about 5/6/2021)."
The OHSU School of Nursing Hartford Center is a National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence member. As a member, OHSU affiliates have access to learning resources and opportunities for leadership development in collaboration with like-minded professionals. Please contact Beverly Bruechert for our OHSU member log-in information.
Visit the John A. Hartford Foundation and National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence sites to learn more.
Hartford Center Leadership

Kristin G. Cloyes, Ph.D., M.N., RN
Elenora E. Thompson Distinguished Professor
Director, Hartford Center of Gerontological Excellence

Ruth Tadesse, Ph.D., M.S., RN
Assistant Professor
Associate Director, Hartford Center of Gerontological Excellence
Affiliated Faculty
Hartford Center Affiliated Faculty are highly committed to promoting healthy aging for all. Recognized as national leaders in geriatric research, education and clinical care, they teach and mentor the next generation of geriatric nursing leaders. The success and longevity of the Hartford Center are credited to the Affiliated Faculty's ongoing commitment to excellence in key mission areas.
Tiffany Allen - Heart Failure
Juliana Cartwright - End of Life Care, End of Life Research Ethics, Technology Mediate, Active Learning Strategies
Kristin Cloyes - LGBTQ+ older adults, Caregiving, Chronic Illness
Walter Dawson - Global Health Policy, Dementia, LTSS
Quin Denfeld - Symptom Biology, Heart Failure and Frailty
Linda Felver - Healthy Aging, Exercise and Aging
Jane Hagan - Gerontological nursing
Lissi Hansen - End of Life, Palliative Care, Liver Disease
Shigeko (Seiko) Izumi - Palliative Care and End-of-Life, Advanced Care Planning, Patient-Centered Care of Older Adults with Chronic Disease
Hiroko Kiyoshi-Teo - Patient Safety, Implementation Science
Nancy Knechel - Patient Safety
Allison Lindauer - Dementia Caregiving, Telehealth
Glenise McKenzie - Promoting Physical and Mental Health of Older Adults
Deborah Messecar - Family Caregiving for Chronically Ill Older Adults
Lyndsey Miller - Dementia, Family Caregiving, Dyadic Analysis
Scott Mist - Chronic Pain, Complementary and Alternative Approaches to Wellness
Rana Halabi Najjar - Stigma, Obesity, Nursing Education
Hector Olvera Alvarez - Integrative Biobehavioral Research, Health Equity Research, Environmental and Social Epidemiology
David Oni - Type 2 diabetes and diabetic foot care management in primary care
Amy Miner Ross - Stroke, Infection and the Immune Response in Older Adults
MinKyoung Song - Behavioral science and epidemiology; promotion of physical activity/lifestyle changes to prevent and manage chronic disease
Ruth Tadesse- Nursing Education on Care of Older Adults
Virginia (Ginny) Tilden - Improving End-of-Life Care and Decision Making
Patti Warkentin - Innovations in Undergraduate Nursing Education, Nursing Leadership Development
Tamara Whittle - Critical care
Kerri Winters-Stone - Clinical Exercise Trials, Cancer Survivorship, Falls, Frailty and Fracture Prevention
Gail M. Wolf - Health Literacy
Contact the Center
The Hartford Center of Gerontological Excellence is in the School of Nursing at OHSU in Portland, Oregon. Affiliated faculty are situated at OHSU's five regional Schools of Nursing throughout the state and in our online nursing program.
OHSU Hartford Center of Gerontological Excellence
OHSU School of Nursing, SN-6S
3455 S.W. U.S. Veterans Hospital Road
Portland, OR 97239-2941
Phone: 503-494-0222
Email:soncgne@ohsu.edu