Ruth Palan Lopez, PhD, FGSA, FAAN

Dr.   Ruth Palan Lopez is the Associate Dean for Research at the MGH Institute of   Health Professions School of Nursing and the Jacques Mohr Endowed Professor   in Gerontological Nursing. She received a BS in nursing from Boston College,   MS in nursing from Boston University, PhD from Boston College, and was a   Claire M. Fagin Post-doctoral Fellow. Her career focuses on empowering nurses   through education, leadership, and research. Ruth’s clinical work as a   gerontological nurse practitioner has included providing care to older adults   in primary, acute, and long-term care.  Her program of research focuses   on people with dementia and their family caregivers.  Ruth has received   foundation and federal extramural support for her research, and she has published   and lectured extensively nationally and internationally in the field of   gerontological nursing, dementia, and end-of-life care.  She is   currently funded by the National Institute on Aging to conduct a study   examining care of nursing home residents with advanced dementia in several   regions of the country.  Ruth has been a reviewer for the National   Institutes of Health, UK Alzheimer's Society, and The Netherlands   Organization for Health Research. Her positive influence on care of older adults   was recognized by her induction as a fellow in the Gerontological Society of   America and the American Academy of Nursing.