BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Sandra Hirst RN, PhD, GNC(C) is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary, and Director of the Brenda Strafford Centre for Excellence in Gerontological Nursing.She has held a number of leadership positions in gerontology including: president of the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association; president of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, and president of the Alberta Association of Gerontology.She recently completed a three-year prime ministerial appointment on the National Seniors Council. Her areas of research and related scholarship focus on abuse and neglect of older adults and the experiences of older adults who reside in long-term care facilities.She has also received an Honourary Member award from the Alberta Gerontological Nurses Association and, in 2009, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta.