Join the UW School of Nursing and de Tornyay Center, to hear center scholars and PhD in Nursing Science students present their work!
When: Friday, May 30, 8:30 am – 12 pm
Category: de Tornyay Center
Contact the de Tornyay Center
Contact Us
Thank you for your interest in the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging.
We are located in the Health Sciences Building, UW School of Nursing, at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.
Phone: 206.685.5210
Email: agingctr@uw.edu
de Tornyay Center Staff
Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN
Director
Email: basiab@uw.edu
Paige Bartlett
Public Information Specialist
Phone: 206.685.5210
Email: pbartlet@uw.edu
Spotlight Interview: Eriska Fajriyati
Eriska Fajriyati is a UW School of Nursing BSN student and one of the de Tornyay center for Healthy Aging’s 2024-2025 Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholars. Her project is on “Exploring Perceptions of Aging and Menopause in Somali and Indonesian Older Adults: A Qualitative Study” and her faculty mentor is Eeeseung Byun. Sarah McKiddy, a PhD in Nursing Science Candidate and former de Tornyay Center scholar is also serving as Fajriyati’s mentor.
Why did you choose nursing?
I’ve always been drawn to healthcare because I truly want to make a difference in people’s lives. When I was younger, I was part of a club called “Little Healthcare Helper,” and that’s when I first started thinking about healthcare as my path. At the time, I wasn’t sure exactly where I’d end up, but I knew I wanted to help people. Eventually, I became a CNA and worked with residents, many of whom had Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, and that’s when I really discovered my love for nursing. I enjoy hands-on work, being able to interact with people, earn their trust, and offer them comfort. Nursing also gives me so many opportunities to grow and take on new challenges, which is exciting. It’s just such a rewarding field to be in, and it feels like the perfect fit for me. Nursing also offers incredible opportunities for growth, whether it’s exploring other specializations or advancing to a nurse practitioner. The diversity of options is really exciting!
What made you want to do a research project?
A big part of why I decided to do this research project is because of my mom and her friends. They’re at the age of either starting or experiencing menopause and started asking me a lot of questions about it. I realized that I didn’t know enough to give them the answers they were looking for, and that really sparked my curiosity. As a nursing student, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into understanding menopause—not just for my mom and her friends, but also to raise awareness in my community. My goal is to help people understand menopause better, particularly within the Indonesian community, and ensure they have access to the right resources. Through this research, I hope to improve how menopause is discussed and managed, both in my community and in healthcare overall.
Could you share a little more about your research project?
My project is focused on exploring the perception of aging and menopause in both Somali and Indonesian communities. I’m working closely with my mentors Professor Eeeseung Byun and Sarah McKiddy, as well as my co-partner, Sumaya. Together, Sumaya and I are interviewing people from our respective communities to understand their experiences with menopause. We want to learn about the symptoms, beliefs, and cultural factors that influence how they manage this stage of life. For our interviews, we’ve created questions in English, then translated them into Bahasa Indonesia and Somali to make sure we’re truly capturing authentic perspectives. I’m excited because this project is not just about learning for myself, but also about providing valuable insights that can lead to more culturally sensitive healthcare in the future.
Has there any been anything that surprised you so far while working on the project?
I’ve discovered something quite interesting about the people I’m interviewing within my Indonesian community. I initially thought menopause would be a more taboo or stigmatized topic in my community, but it turns out it’s not as hidden as I expected. People are open to discussing it, but they tend to do so only within their close circles or when the topic arises naturally in conversation. What’s also surprising is that many individuals rely on traditional remedies—such as drinking a traditional Indonesian drink called Jamu or practicing meditation/praying—to manage their symptoms. Another common piece of advice I frequently hear is to maintain a positive outlook and not to dwell too much on the discomforts associated with menopause. This perspective differs from what I anticipated based on the literature I reviewed, and it has been fascinating to see how cultural beliefs influence the experience and management of menopause.
What interests you about healthy aging in general? What is your experience like working with older adults?
Healthy aging is something I’m really passionate about because it’s such a crucial part of everyone’s life. We’re all going to grow older, and it’s not just about taking care of our bodies—it’s also about looking after our emotional and mental well-being. For me, understanding how culture influences aging is really important, and how we can best support people in that process. I’ve seen firsthand how cultural beliefs shape health practices, like how in my community, people drink Jamu to manage menopausal symptoms. These experiences really made me see how vital cultural competence is in healthcare.
I’ve been working with older adults for over four years now, mostly in senior living and Alzheimer’s dementia units. Working with them has been such a rewarding experience. It’s shown me that aging is about so much more than just physical health—it’s about emotional, mental, and social well-being too. One of the most fulfilling parts of my job is helping create spaces where older adults feel supported and connected. It’s inspired me to focus on improving their quality of life and making sure they can age with dignity, joy, and comfort.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be doing this research, especially with the support of the scholarship. It allows me to focus more on my studies and my interests. It’s exciting to learn not only for my own understanding but also for the benefit of my community. Through this research, I hope to raise awareness about menopause in both the Somali and Indonesian communities and improve how healthcare providers approach it.
Spotlight Interview: Antonia Cai
Antonia Cai is a UW School of Nursing BSN student and one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2024-2025 Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholars. Her research project is on “The influence of physical activity and diet quality on the symptom experience of older adults with HIV”, and her faculty mentor is Vitor Oliveira.
What made you choose nursing?
I chose nursing because I always wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. I appreciate how nursing offers a wide range of opportunities, flexibility, and room for professional growth within a single career. Beyond bedside nursing, I can become a nurse practitioner and provide advanced care, engage in research to expand the field, work in clinical settings serving diverse populations, or even pursue a career in nursing education.
Moving to the U.S. as a teenager, I witnessed firsthand how healthcare operates and saw my parents struggle at times to navigate the system. That experience inspired me to become someone who understands the system and can provide support in meaningful ways.
What interests you about healthy aging?
My grandmother, who played a significant role in my upbringing, has been living alone since I moved to the U.S. with my parents. I spent a lot of time with her during my childhood, and not being able to be physically present as she experiences aging has weighed on my mind. This personal connection fuels my interest in healthy aging—I want to help not only her but also others who are aging alone. She is just one of many facing similar challenges, and I want to contribute to improving their quality of life.
Have you had past experience working with older adults?
Yes, my first job as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) was at Evergreen Hospital on the orthopedic floor, where I cared for many elderly patients. I saw how quickly their health status could change in the hospital setting, and I realized how aging and chronic illnesses significantly impact their recovery. While younger patients might heal quickly from a fracture, the same injury could be far more debilitating for an older adult.
I also noticed that many elderly patients had limited resources for recovery and, at times, did not seek help due to mental health struggles or a lack of support. One of the most important things I learned from working with older adults is how deeply mental and physical health are interconnected.
Could you briefly talk about the project that you’re doing for the de Tornyay Center scholarship?
My project examines how physical activity and diet quality impact symptom management in older adults living with HIV. This research is connected to the ongoing projects at the Webel Lab, where I work under my mentor, Dr. Oliveira. While the lab has been studying this topic for years, I am conducting a more focused analysis on how diet and exercise influence the experiences of individuals with this chronic condition.
How did you first get involved with this research?
Before pursuing nursing, I earned my first degree in nutrition, where I gained extensive training in how the food system—from production to consumption—affects public health.
When I had the opportunity to apply for the BSN honors program and receive support for research, I expressed my interest in the connection between nutrition and aging. This led me to Dr. Oliveira and the Webel Lab, where their research aligned closely with my interests in nutrition and exercise. That’s how I became involved in this project.
How do you feel like your background in nutrition influences your work as a nurse?
I firmly believe that we are what we eat—nutrition and lifestyle choices play a crucial role in overall health. My background in public health and nutrition helped me develop a systematic way of thinking about how different factors—biological, social, and environmental—interact to shape health outcomes.
In nursing, I see how many illnesses stem from a complex web of influences, including socioeconomic factors and social determinants of health. Many chronic conditions are passed down through generations due to these systemic influences. That’s why I believe in taking a holistic approach to patient care, considering multiple perspectives beyond just medical treatment. My nutrition background has strengthened my ability to assess patients’ health through a broader lens.
With the project that you’re working on, has there been anything that’s surprised you that you’ve learned or seen?
The level of rigor required at every step! From the initial proposal stage to data collection, everything must follow strict protocols. Even minor deviations from the approved methodology require resubmission and reevaluation before moving forward.
This experience has reinforced the importance of precision and attention to detail—not just in research but also in clinical practice. I’ve learned to approach every step with intention, knowing that careful execution is critical in both research and patient care.
2024-2025 Scholars
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 Healthy Aging Scholars!
DNP RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS:
Sera Madsen, Germaine Krysan Doctoral Scholar
Topic: Expanding Dementia Awareness through Faith-Based Organizations in Rural or Underserved Washington Communities
Faculty Mentor: Kori Dewing
Lydia Chen, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar
Topic: Using Artificial Intelligence in Improving Nursing Documentation in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Faculty Mentor: Jamie Young
Ashley Gougouehi, Healthy Aging Doctoral Research Scholar
Topic: Age-Friendly Health Systems Needs Assessment
Faculty Mentor: Jamie Young
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP:
Jun Heo, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: Exploring Healthcare and Housing Differences Between Older Veterans and Non-Veterans in Permanent Supportive Housing: Barriers to Healthy Aging
Faculty Mentor: Anita Souza
Madison McKee, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar
Topic: Examining the Impacts of Facilitated Garden Activities for Individuals Living with Dementia and their Caregivers
Faculty Mentor: Basia Belza
Eriska Fajriyati, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: Exploring Perceptions of Aging and Menopause in Somali and Indonesian Older Adults: A Qualitative Study
Faculty Mentor: Eeeseung Byun
Jessica Japra, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: The Roles of Chronotype and Cognitive Function on Feasibility of Cognitive Training for Older Intensive Care Unit Survivors
Faculty Mentor: Maya Elias
Antonia Cai, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: The influence of physical activity and diet quality on the symptom experience of older adults with HIV
Faculty Mentor: Vitor Oliveira
Wenchi Lai, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholar
Topic: The effects of exercise training on symptoms experienced by older adults with HIV
Faculty Mentor: Vitor Oliveira
Graduate Aging Group
About
Group Co-leaders:
Nicolai Wohns (nwohns@uw.edu) is a doctoral student in the UW Department of Philosophy and an internal medicine-trained hospitalist. His dissertation work is in the Philosophy of Aging, with particular interest in the ontology of aging and the ethical implications of geroscience. He is also a predoctoral research associate with the UW Neuroethics Research Group.
Sarah McKiddy (sm256@uw.edu) is a doctoral student in the UW School of Nursing. Her dissertation work is in music-based interventions for cognitive health and intergenerational community-based participatory research. Sarah is a predoctoral scholar with the UW de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging.
The UW Graduate Aging Group is generously funded by the University of Washington Retirement Association (UWRA) and sponsored by the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging.
Upcoming Speaker Events
| Date | Event | Room Location |
|---|---|---|
|
April 7, 2025 (Virtual) 11:00 – 12:00 |
Special Event: James Appleby, CEO of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) | Zoom |
|
April 16, 2025 3:00 – 4:00 |
Clara Berridge: Associate Professor, School of Social Work |
Hans Rosling, 101 |
|
April 30, 2025 3:00 – 4:00 |
Shelly Gray: Professor, School of Pharmacy and Endowed Director of the Plein Center for Aging | Hans Rosling, 101 |
|
May 7, 2025 3:00 – 4:00 |
Ben Wilfond: Professor, Divisions of Bioethics and Palliative Care and Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics | Location TBA |
| May 28, 20253:00 – 4:00 | Lesley Steinman: Research Scientist, Department of Health Systems and Population Health | Zoom |
Past Events
Autumn Quarter Book Information
Aging Thoughtfully, by Nussbaum and Levmore: The ebook is available at no cost through UW Libraries
All meeting times at 5:00 PM
| Date | Event | Room Location |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024: | Introductions & paper discussion: Jessica Stanier, “Nostalgia, Ageing, and Older Age,” in The Routledge Handbook of Nostalgia, ed. by Tobias Becker and Dylan Trigg, 2025. | Hans Rosling, 101 |
| October 10, 2024 | Discussion of chapters 1 and 2 from Aging Thoughtfully, by Nussbaum and Levmore | Hans Rosling, 101 |
| October 24, 2024 | Speaker: Andrea Stocco, Associate Professor of Psychology | Hans Rosling, 135 |
| October 30, 2024 | Special Event: James Appleby, CEO of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) | Zoom (Please RSVP for the link) |
| November 7, 2024 | Discussion of chapters 3 and 4 from Aging Thoughtfully, by Nussbaum and Levmore | Hans Rosling, 101 |
| November 13, 2024
3:30 – 5:00 |
Simpson Center for the Humanities Lecture: Stephen Katz, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Distinguished Research Award recipient at Trent University (Feel free to stay afterward for some informal discussion and socializing!) |
Communications, 202 |
| November 21, 2024 | Speaker: Sasha Johfre, Assistant Professor of Sociology | Hans Rosling, 101 |
| December 5, 2024 | Discussion of chapters 5 and 6 from Aging Thoughtfully, by Nussbaum and Levmore | Hans Rosling, 101 |
Contact Us
If you are interested in joining our group, please complete this interest form!
About the Center
About Rheba de Tornyay
Read about the latest center announcements, events, healthy aging interviews, and more.
Center Fact Sheet
Learn about UW School of Nursing gerontology faculty and about faculty research support.
Center Annual Report
Learn about our student scholarships, awards, travel scholarships, and more.
Our Team
Learn more about the de Tornyay Center and the center’s founder.
Contact Us
Explore resources on aging, resources for students and community talks.
News & Events
News
Learn more about our research and travel scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.
Spotlight Interviews
Read interviews about healthy aging with UW School of Nursing students and other healthy aging scholars.
Events
Check out the upcoming center events.
Ignite Aging
The center’s annual symposium highlighting UW School of Nursing healthy aging research in a series of short talks for the public.
Research
Pilot Projects
Explore pilot research projects by UW School of Nursing faculty, funded by the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging RIFP grants.
Faculty with Aging-Related Interests
Find a list of UW School of Nursing faculty with aging-related research interests.
Make a Gift
Support Our Work
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging serves as a catalyst for healthy aging through our support of research, education and clinical practice. A gift to the center enables us to support groundbreaking research, build community partnerships, and educate nurses. We hope you will consider giving today. Any amount will have an impact. Thank you!
de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging Anthem
Lyrics:
The great de Tornyay Center
Plays an instrumental role
A champion for aging –
Now what a worthy goal!
They research healthy aging
From the body to the brain
They mentor gero nurses
And they leave them so well-trained!
Chorus:
I’m getting older, and so are you!
It seems that once we’re born that is the one
thing we all do!
We’re getting older, yes it’s true!
But with the de Tornyay Center, aging now is
something new!
They educate providers
How to help folks age with grace
They advocate to make the world
A more age-friendly place
They reach out to their partners
All across community
Wherever they can put to practice
Gerontology!
Chorus:
I’m getting older, and so are you!
It seems that once we’re born that is the one
thing we all do!
We’re getting older, yes it’s true!
With the de Tornyay Center we can all enjoy
the view!
They help us understand
That growing old’s not all downhill
In fact it’s quite the opposite
Aging can be a thrill!
They’ve changed our views on aging
With the work they’ve done to date
In terms of getting older,
Now I can hardly wait!
Chorus:
I’m getting older, and so are you!
It seems that once we’re born that is the one thing we all do!
We’re getting older, yes it’s true!
With the de Tornyay Center we can
celebrate, yahoo!
Ignite Aging
Engaging with Aging
Engaging with Aging Framework
“EWA is an active, conscious process taken on by an older adult or on behalf of the older adult (Primomo & Belza, 2019). This process involves coping with daily living and the aging process, placing an emphasis on active engagement to discover and test adaptations that help individuals maintain independence. The notion of EWA was first put forth in a blog written for older adults and later advanced as a framework that can be used to study the processes of EWA. The EWA framework describes the nuances of how to engage with the impact of age-related changes, approaches to adapting and managing age-related changes, and challenges encountered. Authors of the articles in this EWA special issue represent varied specialties and roles in gerontology. Each article presents a different perspective on the application of EWA.”
from Advancing Our Understanding of Engaging With Aging, Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Engaging with Aging Blog
“Faculty emerita Doris Carnevali has written in the area of nursing diagnosis and management applied to health related daily living. As she aged (now 95), she applied these perspectives to her own aging and daily living… She’s sharing her own thoughts on the aging experience – both as nurse and elder in an Engaging With Aging blog. Doris says, “I’m writing to ‘elders’ and ‘yet-to-be elders.’ This is absolutely not a ‘how to’. There are no panaceas just a sharing of experiences, explorations, ideas, and an invitation to try out engaging with aging instead of just living it.”
Quoted from the UW School of Nursing.
Find the blog here, or watch her speak about the blog on K5News. On November 10, 2023 the blog came to a close.
Journal of Gerontological Nursing Special Issue
A group of UW faculty, students and collaborators wrote a series of articles for the December special issue of Journal of Gerontological Nursing, based on the ‘Engaging with Aging’ framework developed by faculty emerita Doris Carnevali.
Read the editorials here.
Blog Analysis
A group of UW School of Nursing students analyzed Carnevali’s blog for themes, which they published as a part of the Journal of Gerontological Nursing article series. PhD in Nursing Science student, Yan Su, presented about the analysis at the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2019 Ignite Aging.
Inaugural Doris Carnevali Engaging With Aging Term Post-Doctoral Fellow
The inaugural fellow, Shaoqing Ge, began Fall 2019. Her work helped develop and advance the Engaging with Aging framework and concepts.
Annual Report
Our Team
Center Staff
Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA
Director of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging
de Tornyay Endowed Professor in Aging
Adjunct Professor, UW School of Public Health
Casey Thomson
Center Manager
Paige Bartlett
Public Information Specialist
Resources
Want to learn more about healthy aging? Here are some good places to start.
Action Briefs
African Americans and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Call to Action for Organizations
The Washington state’s Dementia Action Collaborative create an action brief, highlighting ways that organizations can help address institutional racism in dementia care.
Reducing Social Isolation and Loneliness among Older Adults
The purpose of this research brief is to share results about a pre-COVID-19 study about social isolation and loneliness in Washington state. We sought information on social isolation and loneliness from older adults. The participants were recruited from seven clinical and community sites in Washington state.
The Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity
“The Global Roadmap for Healthy Longevity (the Global Roadmap) describes a path forward so the world can reap the benefits of older people while avoiding predicted challenges of population aging. Through evidence-based recommendations, the report describes how challenges can be translated into opportunities to promote healthy longevity across the life course and around the globe. To ensure that all people of all ages can achieve healthy longevity equity is at the center of the report.”
Ageism
National Center to Reframe Aging
“The National Center to Reframe Aging is dedicated to ending ageism by advancing an equitable and complete story about aging in America. The center is the trusted source for proven communication strategies and tools to effectively frame aging issues. It is the nation’s leading organization, cultivating an active community of individuals and organizations to spread awareness of implicit bias toward older people and influence policies and programs that benefit all of us as we age. Led by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the National Center acts on behalf of and amplifies efforts of the ten Leaders of Aging Organizations.”
World Health Organization – Ageism
“For older people, ageism is an everyday challenge. Overlooked for employment, restricted from social services and stereotyped in the media, ageism marginalises and excludes older people in their communities. Ageism is everywhere, yet it is the most socially “normalized” of any prejudice, and is not widely countered – like racism or sexism. These attitudes lead to the marginalisation of older people within our communities and have negative impacts on their health and well-being.”
Professional Development and Education
NW Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Center
“We’re a federally funded regional center that conducts inter-professional education and training programs to improve the primary care of older adults in the Northwest United States. Our mission is to lead the Pacific Northwest is optimizing primary care of older adults through collaborative education, traineeships, client engagement, and enhanced community-clinical linkages.”
Local Resources
Creative Aging at the Frye Art Museum
“An offering of programs for adults to engage in creative lifelong learning. Programs explore the rich potential of aging and offer opportunities to impact the community’s health and wellbeing.”
Dementia Friendly Recreation – Seattle Parks and Recreation
“Dementia-Friendly Recreation provides meaningful recreation and social engagement opportunities for people living with memory loss throughout Seattle. Dementia-Friendly Recreation is part of our Lifelong Recreation program.”
The Memory Hub: A Place for Dementia-Friendly Community, Collaboration, and Impact
“Bringing together people, programs and partners, the Memory Hub operates as a vibrant dementia-specific community center, collaborative workspace and training center. Spearheaded by the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC), and located on the campus of founding partner the Frye Art Museum, the Memory Hub welcomes visitors year-round to explore what it means to live well with dementia.”
National Organizations
AARP
“AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age.”
National Institute of Aging
“NIA, one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA is the primary Federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer’s disease research.”
National Council on Aging
“We’re a respected national leader and trusted partner to help people aged 60+ meet the challenges of aging. We partner with nonprofit organizations, government, and business to provide innovative community programs and services, online help, and advocacy.
National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence
“The National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE) is a specialty organization dedicated to optimal health and quality of life for older adults.” The de Tornyay Center is a member of the NHCGNE.
Current Pilot Projects
AI for Early Pneumonia Detection in Dementia Patients via Cough Analysis – Oleg Zaslavsky
Pneumonia is a major health risk for people living with dementia, and is one of the top reasons people with dementia are hospitalized. An easy way to screen people living with dementia for pneumonia could preserve the health of those individuals and save numerous lives. This innovative pilot study hopes to take early steps to building an AI model that can detect pneumonia just by the sound of someone’s cough.
Healthy Aging Awards
Healthy Aging Awards
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging recognizes one outstanding DNP project and PhD dissertation by graduating students each year. Each application will be evaluated for the significance of the topic and its relevance to aging, as well as the quality and clarity of the submission and personal career goals. The annual DNP and PhD award are presented along with a $100 prize.
The PhD Healthy Aging award is due on Thursday, May 1, at 5pm. Learn more and apply here.
Scholarships
Looking for scholarships? You can find them here.
Events
Upcoming de Tornyay Center Events
Spring Scholarship Day
Friday, May 30th, 8:30 am – 12 pm. Location TBA
Join the de Tornyay Center and UW School of Nursing PhD program for our Spring Scholarship Day. See and hear poster and podium presentations by our outstanding de Tornyay Center scholars and PhD students about their research and scholarship.
Learn more about Scholarship Day here.
Ignite Aging 2024
Thursday, September 25th, at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture.
Join us for our annual symposium, where UW School of Nursing students and faculty share their healthy aging work with the public in a series of short presentations.
Faculty with Aging-Related Interests
Nursing Research Faculty Tacoma
| Faculty | Position | Interests | |
| Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA | The de Tornyay Endowed Professor in Healthy Aging, BNHI; Director, de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging | Healthy brain, healthy aging, evidence-based health promotion programs, physical activity, public health interventions and policy. | basiab@uw.edu |
| Donna Berry PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN | Professor BNHI | Human response to cancer; specifically, but not exclusively, in genitourinary (GU) malignancies. Multi-method investigator. Led a large interdisciplinary team to develop and test the Personal Patient Profile-Prostate (P3P). | donnalb@uw.edu |
| Eeeseung Byun, PhD, RN | Assistant Professor, BNHI | Symptom Management, specifically sleep disturbance, fatigue and impaired cognition, and underlying mechanisms of these symptoms in persons with chronic illness. | ebyun@uw.edu |
| Chieh (Sunny) Cheng, RN, PhD | Assistant Professor, UW Tacoma | Early identification and intervention for mental health conditions, Mental health promotion for school youth, Technology based intervention for supporting family caregivers | ccsunny@uw.edu |
| Kristen Childress, DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, CWCN-AP | Associate Teaching Professor, CFPHN | Geriatrics/internal medicine, wound care, dialysis rounding, home care, and urgent care/emergency medicine. | kmchild@uw.edu |
| Barbara Cochrane, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA | Professor Emeritus, CFPHN | Older women’s health, healthy aging, symptoms and symptom management, menopausal hormone therapy, living with chronic illness. | barbc@uw.edu |
| Paula Cox-North PhD, ARNP
|
Teaching Associate Professor | Research interests are in liver related diseases, chronic illness symptom management and vulnerable populations. I am clinically active working in an outpatient Gastroenterology/
Hepatology clinic that primarily cares for underserved and vulnerable patients. |
paulac@uw.edu |
| Cynthia Dougherty, ARNP, PhD, FAHA, FAAN | Professor, BNHI | Development of knowledge related to human responses to sudden cardiac arrest and cardiac arrhythmias, both for survivors and their family members. | cindyd@uw.edu |
| Maya Elías, PhD, MA, RN | Assistant Professor, BNHI | Healthy aging research, including serving as the PI on the project, “Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function in Hospitalized Older Adult Survivors of Critical Illness.” | mnelias@uw.edu |
| Margaret Heitkemper, PhD, RN, FAAN | Professor, BNHI | Gastrointestinal physiology, enteral nutrition, geriatrics. Leads an interdisciplinary team focused on the study of the pathophysiology and non-pharmacological management of individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). | heit@uw.edu |
| Frances Lewis RN, MN, PhD, FAAN | Professor, CFPHN, The UW Medical Center Endowed Professor in Nursing | Behavioral interventions to enhance the well-being of patients, caregivers, and the dependent children in families. | fmlewis@uw.edu |
| Jingyi Li, PhD, RN | Assistant Professor, UW Tacoma | evaluating and translating evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions designed to improve the care and quality of life for older adults with dementia and their family caregivers. | jingyi89@uw.edu |
| Susan McCurry, PhD | Research Professor Emeritus, CFPHN
|
Sleep disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease; behavioral treatments for dementia patients and caregivers; cross-cultural differences in dementia onset and progression; successful aging | smcurry@uw.edu |
| Janet Primomo, PhD, RN | Associate Professor Emeritus, UW Tacoma | One of the three founding faculty members of UW Tacoma Nursing. Scholarly work focuses on community/public health, environmental health, and chronic illness care. | jprimomo@uw.edu |
| Kerry Reding PhD, MPH, RN | Associate Professor, BNHI
Interim PhD Program Director
|
Biobehavioral and health disparities research, focus on health promotion and breast cancer survival. In the context of health promotion, impact of lifestyle interventions (primarily focused on improving nutrition and physical activity habits) on obesity-related biomarkers relevant to cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention, with a particular focus on underserved communities. | kreding@uw.edu |
| David Reyes, DNP, MN/MPH, RN, PHNA-BC
|
Dean, UW Tacoma | Primary interests are in addressing the root causes of health inequity and disparities, building community capacity to improve health, and population health systems. His research uses community-based participatory approaches that focus on equitable relationships with diverse communities to improve health outcomes. | djreyes@uw.edu |
| Anita Souza, PhD | Clinical Professor / PMHNP-DNP Clinical Placement Coordinator
|
Care and support of older adults across the cognitive continuum, including those in the early stages of memory loss, focusing on the psychosocial and health care needs of those with cognitive decline who live alone and reside in the community. Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methods. Study of cognitively impaired individuals who have experienced homelessness, aiming to better understand the needs and challenges of providing care to homeless older adults with cognitive impairment by examining social network factors (mobility, housing, family and friend networks) that contribute to health care access in older homeless adults, and the associations with chronic disease and cognitive health. | asouza@uw.edu |
| Megan Streur PhD, RN, FNP-C | Assistant Professor, BNHI | Understanding the biological and behavioral mechanisms underlying inter- and intra-individual variability in symptoms and patient centered outcomes in adults with cardiovascular disease, with a primary focus on atrial fibrillation. | mstreur@uw.edu |
| Hsin-Yi (Jean) Tang, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, APRN | Associate Professor, BNHI | Brainwave entrainment for the management of hyper-arousal related health conditions such as insomnia and hypertension. Non-pharmacological approaches that empower self-regulation for health promotion. | jeantang@uw.edu |
| Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, ARNP, CNRN, AGACNP-BC, FAAN | Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Executive Dean, Professor, BNHI | Traumatic brain injury; geriatric trauma; biomarkers; gerontechnology; health services research; evidence-based practice | hilairet@uw.edu |
| Alexi Vasbinder, PhD, RN | Assistant Professor, BNHI | Research utilizing precision health approaches, incorporating assessments of biological, clinical, lifestyle, and sociocultural factors, to predict and mitigate adverse effects of cancer treatments | avasbind@uw.edu |
| Allison Webel, RN, PhD, FAAN
|
Professor, CFPHN
Aljoya Endowed Professor in Aging
|
Dr. Webel’s clinical research laboratory focuses on generating high-quality evidence to help people with HIV live and age well, with an emphasis on diet and exercise. | awebel@uw.edu |
| Nancy Fugate Woods, PhD, RN, FAAN | Professor and Dean Emerita, BNHI | Women’s health, menstrual cycle, menopause transition, healthy aging in women | nfwoods@uw.edu |
| Weichao Yuwen, Ph.D., RN | Associate Professor, UW Tacoma | Research in developing, testing, and disseminating technology-enabled health solutions for people with chronic conditions and their family caregivers | wyuwen@uw.edu |
| Oleg Zaslavsky, PhD, MHA, RN | Associate Professor, BNHI
Aljoya Endowed Associate Professor in Aging Director of the Digital Health Innovation Hub |
Prevention and improving clinical outcomes in older persons with frailty, specifically to identify factors that are associated with individuals’ transitions between levels of health along a positive-normative-frail continuum of aging. | ozasl@uw.edu |
| Brenda Zierler, PhD, RN, FAAN | Professor and Chair BNHI | Health systems and patient outcomes; interprofessional education, practice and research; prevention and management of deep vein thrombosis. Improving collaborative practice in an accountable care organization so that health care teams can co-produce health services with patients and families to meet their goals/needs. | brendaz@uw.edu
|
Rheba de Tornyay
About Rheba de Tornyay
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging honors Dr. Rheba de Tornyay, who served as dean of the UW School of Nursing from 1975 to 1986. A dedicated educator, scholar and nurse, Dr. de Tornyay made outstanding contributions to the fields of nursing and gerontology including lifelong work in nursing research, training and services for healthy aging. During her time as dean, she emphasized nursing research scholarship, including establishing one of the first nursing PhD programs. The UW School of Nursing became ranked the number one public school in the nation.
Dr. de Tornyay was a tireless advocate for the nursing profession. As a student, she pushed back against conditions for student nurses and helped to organize the Bay Area Student Nurses Association, despite suffering consequences for her activism. She was the first woman and nurse elected to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation board of trustees and directed the Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Scholars Program. She helped found the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) and served as its first board president. When she retired, Dr. de Tornyay was named an AAN Living Legend.
An innovative and thoughtful teacher, her book Strategies for Teaching Nursing set a standard in nursing education for decades after it was first published. Throughout her career, she was constantly learning and sharing her knowledge. In an East Hampton Star essay, a friend of hers recounted a story from towards the end of her life, when she changed her stance on medical marijuana and even organized a talk about it in her retirement community.
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging is made possible in part by a generous endowment from Dr. Rheba de Tornyay and her husband Dr. Rudy de Tornyay and is dedicated to carrying on Dr. de Tornyay’s legacy of excellence in nursing and gerontology.
“[Rheba’s] real dream, I think, was imagining what future students would be able to create, what you would be able to inspire, not just in your own work, but in your work with students, your work with older adults, and to begin thinking about what is left on this agenda…”
Referenced Materials:
Online Materials:
UW News – Rheba de Tornyay, dean emeritus of School of Nursing, dies at 87
Journal of Nursing Education – Remembering Rheba
Seattle Times – Obituary: Rheba de Tornyay, pioneering UW School of Nursing dean
The East Hampton Star – Guestwords: Rheba Tries Pot
American Academy of Nursing – Conversation with Rheba de Tornyay
Print Materials:
Houser, B. & Player, K. (2004). Pivotal Moments in Nursing: Leaders Who Changed the Path of a Profession, Volume I. Sigma Theta Tau International
Scholarships
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging is dedicated to supporting nursing students interested in healthy aging research. We are proud to offer scholarships to support undergraduate and graduate students completing healthy aging research and travel scholarships for graduate students to present their work at conferences. We also recognize completed aging projects and research by graduate students with our Pathways to Healthy Aging awards. You can find our awards here.
Find our conference and travel scholarships at the bottom of this webpage.
The Healthy Aging Scholarship
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging offers undergraduate and graduate scholarships for students to pursue research or investigative projects related to healthy aging or gerontology. Scholarship proposals can include primary or secondary data analysis. Funds are unrestricted and are intended to support students while doing their research. Faculty mentors offer individual guidance and serve as valuable resources for beginning researchers.
Applications for 2024-2025 are now closed. Applications for 2025-2026 will open in fall 2025.
Scholarships
- Undergraduate (BSN or ABSN) awards: $5,000
- Master’s awards: $5,000
- Graduate (DNP or PhD) awards: $10,000
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Healthy Aging Scholarship, students must:
- Be enrolled at UW School of Nursing or one of the Nursing Programs at UW Bothell or UW Tacoma
- Have a faculty mentor to guide the research or project
- Focus of application is not required to be student’s thesis or capstone
Selection
Selection is based on the following criteria:
- Project is relevant to gerontology, aging
- Significance of the proposed project
- Feasibility for project completion by end of the current academic year
- Professional commitment to gerontology
- Quality of the application, including answering application questions and proofreading
In addition, preference is given for:
- Demonstrated need for financial aid
- Those who have not received a previous Healthy Aging Scholarship
- Plan to graduate in the next 12 months
Only applications submitted by the deadline will be considered.
If you have any questions or would like help in identifying or selecting a faculty mentor, please contact the de Tornyay Center at agingctr@uw.edu.
Conference Scholarships
The de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging supports undergraduate and graduate students and post-doctoral fellows who are presenting a project or research with a focus on aging at regional, national, and international conferences with travel scholarships up to $800. Applications must be submitted at least two months prior to the first day of the conference.
Fill out the scholarship application. Read the dTC Travel Scholarship Guidelines before applying.
Don’t qualify for a de Tornyay Center travel scholarship? Check out the Graduate and Professional Student Senate’s travel grants.
Former de Tornyay Scholars
Healthy Aging Scholars
2023-2024 Scholars
Student |
Topic |
Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholarship |
||
| Hsin-Ni Lee, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar | The Relationship of Ageism, Aging, and Music on Cognitive Health: Perspectives of Mandarin-Speaking Older Adults | Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA |
Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholarships |
||
| Emily Ahrens, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar | Best Practice in Qualitative Research Methods with Linguistically Diverse Participants: A Narrative Review |
Hilaire Thompson PhD, RN, ARNP, CNRN, AGACNP-BC, FAAN |
| Karl Cristie Figuracion, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar | Is Environmental Enrichment Neuroprotective? | Hilaire Thompson PhD, RN, ARNP, CNRN, AGACNP-BC, FAAN |
| Kuan-Ching Wu, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar | A Theoretical Framework for Urinary Tract Infection Prevention and Management in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Dementia |
Oleg Zaslavsky PhD, MHA, RN |
2022-2023 Scholars
Student |
Topic |
Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholarship |
||
| Tedra Hamel, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar | Understanding Age-related Psychological Changes: A Secondary Qualitative Data Analysis |
Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA |
| Esther Mwaniki, Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholar | Assessing Symptoms of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) in Older Intensive Care Survivors with End-Stage Renal Disease |
Maya N. Elias, PhD, MA, RN |
| Dariga Tugan, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholar | A Descriptive Analysis of Variability in Exercise to Address Differences in Physical Fitness (VO2 Max) in Older Adults Living with HIV |
Allison Webel RN, PhD, FAAN |
Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholarships |
||
| Emily Ahrens, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar | Best Practice in Qualitative Research Methods with Linguistically Diverse Participants: A Narrative Review |
Hilaire Thompson PhD, RN, ARNP, CNRN, AGACNP-BC, FAAN |
| Karl Cristie Figuracion, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar | Is Environmental Enrichment Neuroprotective? | Hilaire Thompson PhD, RN, ARNP, CNRN, AGACNP-BC, FAAN |
| Kuan-Ching Wu, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar | A Theoretical Framework for Urinary Tract Infection Prevention and Management in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Dementia |
Oleg Zaslavsky PhD, MHA, RN |
2021-2022 Scholars
Student |
Topic |
Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholarship |
||
| Lia Kaluna, Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholar | ‘Identifying Key Landmarks of Central District’s Historically Black Neighborhoods |
Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA |
| Claire Kane, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar |
Exploring Women Veteran’s Experiences of Substance Use Disorder Treatment in the Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Healthcare System: A Mixed Methods Approach |
Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon, PhD, CNM, ARNP, FACNM |
Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholarships |
||
| Meaghan Oakes, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar (DNP) | Improving Advance Care Planning within the Geriatrics Department at Confluence Health’ |
Katie Kemble, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C, AOCNP, FAANP |
| Frances Chu, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar (DNP) | Frances Chu, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar (DNP) | Oleg Zaslavsky, PhD, MHA, RN |
2020-2021 Scholars
Student |
Topic |
Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholarship |
||
| Hillary Frey, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar | Identification of Triggers that Alert Older Adults to Prepare for Age-related Changes | Shaoqing Ge PhD, MPH |
| Derick Welsh, Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholar | Learning about the Engaging with Aging (EWA) Experience among Older Adults | Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA |
Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholarships |
||
| Susie Cho, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar | A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of the Facilitators and Barriers to Self-care Practices in Care Partners of People Living with Dementia | Tatiana Sadak PhD, PMHNP, RN, FAAN |
| Wonkyung Jung, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar | Social Integration after Traumatic Brain Injury in Older Adults | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, CNRN, ACNP-BC, FAAN |
| Wendy Wilson, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar | Significance of Dignity in End-of-Life | Donna Berry, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN-DF/HCC |
| Claire Han, Germaine Krysan Doctoral Scholar | Tailoring Chronic Disease Management Care Pathways to Older Adults and their Caregivers in Adults Family Homes | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, CNRN, ACNP-BC, FAAN |
| Lisa Neisinger, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar | Home ZIP Code Outcomes in Older Burn and Trauma Patients | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, CNRN, ACNP-BC, FAAN |
| Olga Yudich, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholarship | Improving Coordination of Care of Highly Complex Geriatric Patients | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, CNRN, ACNP-BC, FAAN |
2019-2020 Scholars
Student |
Topic |
Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholarship |
||
| Kristi Louthan, Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholar | Aging Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Dementia Project | Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN |
Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholarships |
||
| Catherine Munene, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar (DNP) | Fall Prevention and Harm Reduction in Ambulatory Settings at Kaiser Permanente | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, CNRN, FAAN |
| Isadora Yi, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar (DNP) | Developing a Dementia Care Toolkit for Caregiving Staff in Memory Care Units at Era Living | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, CNRN, FAAN |
| Boeun Kim, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar (PhD) |
Walkable Neighborhoods and Cognitive Health in Older Adults | Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN |
2018-2019 Scholars
Student |
Topic |
Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Lee, Germaine Krysan Undergraduate Scholar |
Evaluating the Impact and Effectiveness of Dementia Friends in Washington State | Basia Belza PhD, RN, FAAN |
Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholarships |
||
| Judy Leong, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar (DNP) |
Process Evaluation of the Healthy Eating Healthy Aging Program | Wendy Barrington, PhD, MPH |
| Han Su, Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar (PhD) |
Aging, Workload, and Employment Outcome Following Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, CNRN, FAAN |
2017-2018 Scholars
Student |
Topic |
Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Inthira Roopsawang, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar | Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, psychometric testing and clinical validation of The Reported Edmonton Frailty Screening (REFS)-Thai version to assess frailty status in an older Thai orthopedic population | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, CNRN, FAAN |
Healthy Aging DNP Research Scholarship |
||
| Chelsea Miller, Germaine Krysan Doctoral Scholar | Managing Pleural Effusions | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, CNRN, FAAN |
Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholarship |
||
| Liesl Henthorn, Healthy Aging Undergraduate Scholar | Wellbeing: a Photovoice Exploration of Health Among Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness | Anita Souza, PhD |
2016-2017 Scholars
Student |
Topic |
Faculty Mentor |
|---|---|---|
| Shih-Yin Lin, Myrene C. McAninch Doctoral Scholar |
Associations between Functional Mobility, Activities of Daily Living, and Objective Caregiver Burden in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment | Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN |
Healthy Aging DNP Research Scholarship |
||
| Melissa Fessel, de Tornyay Healthy Aging Doctoral Scholar |
Reducing Polypharmacy in Older Adults | Hilaire Thompson, PhD, RN, CNRN, FAAN |
Healthy Aging Masters Research Scholarship |
||
| Creseta Simmons, Germaine Krysan Masters Scholar |
Pike Market Food Bank, The Homeless Initiative | Noel Chrisman, PhD, MPH |
Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholarship |
||
| Jordan Hardman, Myrene C. McAninch Undergraduate Scholar |
Examining Themes with Nursing Delegation Among Gerontological Populations | Barbara Cochrane, PhD, RN, FAAN |
Students
Scholarships
Learn more about our research and travel scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students.
Awards
Learn about the center’s annual Pathways to Healthy Aging awards for UW School of Nursing students.
Past Scholars
Find past de Tornyay Center scholars and their projects.
de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging
Spring Scholarship Day
Please join us as we celebrate de Tornyay Center scholars and PhD in Nursing Science students presenting cutting-edge projects and research.
Explore the center website and resources:
News & Events
Read about the latest center announcements, events, healthy aging interviews, and more.
Research Support
Learn about UW School of Nursing gerontology faculty and about faculty research support.
Student Support
Learn about our student scholarships, awards, travel scholarships, and more.
About the Center
Learn more about the de Tornyay Center and the center’s founder.
External Resources
Explore resources on aging, resources for students and community talks.
Support Our Work
Give to the de Tornyay Center and support our healthy aging work.