Meredith Wallace Kazer, Ph.D., APRN, FAAN, of New Haven, Conn., has been named associate dean of Fairfield University's School of Nursing . An adult and gerontological nurse practitioner, Dr. Kazer's positions at the nursing school also include professor and director of graduate programs. The appointment comes in the midst of the school's considerable growth and success.

"Dr. Kazer is a nationally recognized leader in care of the aging and graduate nursing education," said Professor Lynn Babington, Ph.D., RN, dean of the School of Nursing. "Her strong leadership skills and extensive experience in interdisciplinary, collaborative practice will be critical assets as we move forward with new initiatives in the School of Nursing and throughout the University."
With Dr. Babington and faculty member Dr. Sally Gerard, she is leading a new Fairfield University project, "Innovation in the Masters of Science in Nursing Program: A Global Approach," an endeavor that will educate nurse leaders in this rapidly changing environment of healthcare reform.

Dr. Kazer, whose research interests focus on nursing care meeting the needs of older adults, is currently working on several research studies aimed at supporting the needs of older adults and men with prostate cancer. She has varied her research to include independent and collaborative research projects focused on the education of nurses toward the care of older adults. She currently maintains a practice in primary care with a focus on chronic illness in older adults.

Last year, she was inducted as a fellow into the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), an appointment reserved for nurse leaders at the forefront of the profession nationwide. In becoming a fellow, she joined several professors at Fairfield's School of Nursing who are already members of this esteemed group.

Dr. Kazer, who completed a B.S. in nursing degree magna cum laude at Boston University, earned an M.S. in nursing in medical-surgical nursing with a specialty in geriatrics from Yale University and a Ph.D. in nursing research and theory development from New York University. Extensively published, she's the recipient of numerous awards, and the author or editor of multiple journal articles and book chapters.


Image: Professor Meredith Wallace Kazer, Ph.D., has been appointed to the position of associate dean of Fairfield University's School of Nursing.

Posted On: 09-05-2012 11:09 AM

Volume: 45 Number: 35