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2025 – 2026 de Tornyay Center Healthy Aging Scholars

The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging is thrilled to welcome a new cohort of healthy aging scholars!

PHD SCHOLARSHIPS:

Suah Park, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar

Topic: Socio-contextual, Physical, and Psychological Factors Associated with Sleep Disturbances Among Korean Immigrant Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Study

Faculty mentor: Eeeseung Byun, PhD, RN

Zih-Ling Wang, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar

Topic: Beyond the Plate: A Multi-Methods Investigation of Mealtime Experiences and Modeling Independence in Eating in Dementia Care

Faculty mentor: Basia Belza

Hyunhae Lee, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar

Topic: Lifestyle Features and Longevity beyond Blue Zones: A Mixed-Method Study with Pragmatic Grounded Theory Analysis

Faculty mentor: Kerry Reding

Yanjing Liang, Myrene McAninch Endowed Scholar

Topic: Culturally Adapted, Translation, and Revision of Readiness for Aging Scale

Faculty mentor: Basia Belza

Wenting Peng, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar

Topic: Patterns of Digital Technology Use and Their Associations with Social Isolation and Loneliness among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A longitudinal study

Faculty mentor: Basia Belza

Hongyu Yu, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar

Topic: Understanding Facilitators, Barriers, Scalability and Sustainability of the Women’s Health Initiative Strong and Healthy Pragmatic Physical Activity Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A CFIR-Guided Inquiry

Faculty mentors: Kerry Reding and Sarah Gimbel

 

DNP SCHOLARSHIPS:

Michelle Thomas, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar

Topic: Improving Timely Colonoscopy Follow-up after Abnormal Fecal Immunochemical Test Results in the Veteran Population

Agency mentor: Katherine Murrow; Faculty mentor: Brenda Zierler

Lydia Rose Downs, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar

Topic: Enhancing Education on Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: A Nurse-Led Quality Improvement Initiative in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at Harborview Medical Center

Faculty mentors: Kristine McGlennen, Maya Elias

Chiayu Chen, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar

Topic: Support Transitions Between Levels of Care at Northaven

Faculty mentors: Jamie Young

 

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS:

Chad Cheldelin, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar

Topic: Health outcomes in the perioperative period of patients undergoing ostomy surgery in terms of cognition, delirium, and anxiety.

Faculty Mentor: Kendra Kamp

Fiza Noman, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar

Topic: Unwrapping Bias: Addressing Ageism Towards Older Adults Alongside Racism in Nursing Textbooks to Advance Inclusive Education and Promote Healthy Aging.

Faculty Mentor: Bethany Rolfe Witham

Delina Mesfin Berhe, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar

Topic: Exploring Factors Associated with the Use of Physical and Chemical Restraints in Hospitalized Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias

Faculty Mentor: Maya Elias

Julia Lee, Germain Krysan Endowed Scholar

Topic: Incorporating Dementia-Inclusive Practices to Music-Based Memory Loss Programming in a Cross-Sector Partnership

Faculty Mentor: Basia Belza and Sarah McKiddy

Christina Tran, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar

Topic: Social Determinants of Health, Inflammation, and Sleep Disturbances in Older Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Survivors

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eeeseung Byun

Amber Beeson, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar

Topic: Analyzing musician perspectives in co-designing music-based memory loss programming

Faculty Mentor: Basia Belza & Sarah McKiddy