Chapter Members Share Talent and Knowledge
By Melissa C. Lockhart
The Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of GAPNA is large, covering the area from Dallas to the Mexico border (Harlingen) and over to San Antonio. Texas has 28 million residents and, as of 2019, has over 26,000 APRNs practicing in the state, up from 10,000 a decade ago. Our chapter is busy, coming to terms with the pandemic and trying to provide meaningful virtual meetings for GAPNA members.
Beginning in March 2020, meetings were held via video conferencing. The Chapter created a partnership with the Sealy Center on Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to provide Zoom capabilities and, when possible, contact hours. All meetings will continue via Zoom through 2021.
Three outstanding presentations were recorded at the July, September, and December meetings and the slide decks are available (see presentations below). If your chapter needs a great speaker, send me an email: melockha@utmb.edu
July: Dr. Tzeng – “Navigating Your Way to American Academy of Nursing Fellowship”
September: Dr. Bergen – “COVID 2020 Update”
December: Christine Hopkins – “Healthful Aspects of Clean Crafter Wine”
Congratulations to Merlendi Brown, FNP, a TX GCGAPNA student member, for being a 2020 scholarship recipient. Merlendi is a FNP and works in Carrollton, TX, at a CVS-Minute Clinic. She is pursuing her DNP at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. In 2020-2021, she will also be a student liaison for TX GCGAPNA at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and continue to share the educational programs of TX GCGAPNA with her colleagues. She started working in nursing homes where she developed a love for her geriatric patients.
Congratulations to Zachary Carson, AGNP, a full member of TX GCGAPNA, for being a 2020 scholarship recipient. Zachary works in the Geriatric House Calls Program at UTMB, Galveston, where he is pursuing a DNP. Zachary will continue to share educational programs of TX GCGAPNA with his colleagues at the DNP program. Zach is also an instructor at UTMB School of Nursing.
TX GCGAPNA looks forward to seeing all the exciting things Merlendi and Zach will accomplish!
TX GCGAPNA 2021 scholarship year opens Spring 2021 and we look forward to many more applications. Thanks to all the other chapters who gave Gulf Coast such great scholarship advice in the GAPNA Exchange.
More Member News
The National Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence recognized GCGAPNA Past President Dr. Myla Magno as a Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing. During the October 2020 Virtual Leadership Conference, Dr. Magno was recognized for her commitment to gerontological nursing education. She was one of three presenters in the first virtual GAPNA conference and a first-ever review workshop on Gerontological Specialist Certification. Dr. Magno also participated on behalf of TX GCGAPNA Chapter Walk 2 End Alzheimer’s in Houston, held virtually in November 2020. She is a gerontological nurse practitioner at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Extended Care Line, Houston, TX.
Dr. Maureen Beck is a busy lady. She is now President Elect of TX GCGAPNA and will take office July 2021. In September 2020, she was awarded the GAPNA Clinical Excellence Award, had posters at the 2020 Annual National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing (NHCGNE) Conference, submitted an article on osteoporosis to NCHGNE, and reviewed an article in Geriatric Nursing.
Melissa C. Lockhart, PhD, GNP, and Andrea Wirt, GNP, at UTMB were awarded a $40,000 Presidents Cabinet Award to provide respite to patients with dementia and their caregivers. The 2-year award will provide over 1,350 respite hours utilizing community agencies. The program is designed to reduce caregiver burden.
Texas Gulf Coast is proud of the talented geriatric nurse practitioners in this chapter.
Melissa C. Lockhart, PhD, APRN, GNP-BC
Chapter President
mlockhart0196@gmail.com