UF nursing student chosen as national geriatric scholar

August 25, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Judy Campbell, a doctoral student from the University of Florida College of Nursing, has been chosen to receive a scholarship supporting the work of future leaders in geriatric nursing.

Campbell is one of 18 recipients nationwide to receive the “Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity” predoctoral scholarship, funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation and administered by the American Academy of Nursing. The scholarship, which provides $40,000 a year for two years, will enable Campbell to concentrate on her research full time.

Campbell’s research examines interventions that can possibly delay placement of those with dementia in long-term care. Campbell’s primary mentor, associate professor Meredeth Rowe, Ph.D., R.N., whose research focuses on lessening the inherent dangers associated with wandering Alzheimer’s and dementia patients’ nighttime activity, has guided Campbell in her research track.

“Judy has great potential to conduct research that will improve the lives of persons with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease,” Rowe said. “She has learned many aspects of the researcher’s role by working with me on our Night Alert Prompting study, in which we developed a home monitoring system called CareWatch and currently are conducting a randomized clinical trial of its effectiveness.”

The multimillion-dollar Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Scholars Award Program was launched in 2000 to produce gerontological leaders in the areas of research, academics and practice who will ultimately improve elderly care.