President’s Update: Upcoming Conference, Certification, and DEI Efforts
By Ann Kriebel-Gasparro
Ann Kriebel-Gasparro
President
“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
Hello, GAPNA family!
As I continue my year as President of GAPNA, I am excited about many things we are involved in planning and moving forward with.
The GAPNA Annual Conference is on September 12-14 at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas. Registration is now open! For those who cannot join us in person this year, you can pre-register for on-demand access through the GAPNA Library. I hope to see many of you there!
Earn Your Gerontological Specialist Certification
If you are interested in taking the Geriatric Specialist Certification (GS-C) exam, the Pharmacology Conference is an excellent way to study and earn additional contact hours. If you cannot attend in person, you can pre-register to access the on-demand recordings after the conference ends.
The GS-C exam can be scheduled online and is offered at many locations for live testing. The requirements, application, and test sites can be accessed at gerocert.org. I will confess I was a bit daunted by the task of taking another exam, but the study materials and the study webinar available in the GAPNA Online Library were very helpful. I highly recommend taking the exam and becoming a Gerontological Specialist-Certified!
Thank You to GAPNA’s Volunteer Leaders
I am immensely grateful to all the leaders and members who serve on committees, SIGs, and chapter boards at the state level. Without you, GAPNA would not maintain its status as the premier organization for older adults. Thank you all!
How GAPNA Is Moving Forward
This year, GAPNA formed a DEI Task Force, co-chaired by Val Flattes and Sharon Bronner. Over the next year, this task force aims to make tangible recommendations on optimizing and sustaining efforts to strengthen GAPNA’s culture, ensuring the inclusion and value of all members and the communities they serve. Read GAPNA’s current Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement on the GAPNA website.
As everyone knows, climate change has resulted in severe weather across the U.S. this past year. Heatwaves, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes have affected vulnerable older adults, causing not only the loss of habitats but also adverse health effects. GAPNA has joined the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE), and as the liaison, I hope to bring you education, engagement opportunities, and environmental news to help improve care for our older adults during these events. Please feel free to join any of the initiatives and webinars sponsored by ANHE–they are usually free and educational, and you can become as active as you desire as an advocate for climate action.
The upcoming year will offer more opportunities and campaigns to increase student member engagement. Numerous chapters, committees, and SIGs exchange ideas during our monthly Chapter Leadership meetings. Please join in and share your great ideas.
Your continued membership and service have firmly positioned GAPNA as the leading organization for gerontological APRNs and healthcare professionals. As I continue my presidency, I want to thank all of you for your commitment, leadership, engagement, and compassion in serving the older adult population.
Ann Kriebel-Gasparro, DrNP, FNP-BC, GNP-BC, GS-C, FAANP
President
Ann.kriebel@gmail.com