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Baltimore, Md. - Elizabeth "Beth" Galik, PhD ’07, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Department Organizational Systems and Adult Health (OSAH), has been named the 2026 Clinician of the Year by the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed). The award recognizes a practitioner in the post-acute and long-term care setting who embodies excellence in patient care. “I am deeply honored to be recognized for my clinical practice in post-acute and long-term care settings that has focused improving outcomes for individuals living with dementia,” Galik said. “My clinical practice has inspired and informed my teaching and scholarly pursuits.” She was nominated by several current and former members of the PALTmed Board of Directors, including Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor, Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, and associate dean for research. “Her dedication to clinical care of older adults, particularly those living with dementia and other mental health issues, aging research, education, and the creation and advancement of new knowledge in aging is clearly evident by work over her career at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and prior to that time,” the group wrote in its letter of support. “Her work has altered how care is provided to so many individuals she has touched or taught others to provide care for. Her approaches to care are innovative, and she has a magical way of engaging older adults living with dementia or other mental health issues and an incredible ability to help families know when behavioral interventions have been sufficiently attempted and medication management may be needed.” Galik is a leader in the field of gerontology, having served as past president of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA) and chair of the GAPNA Foundation and of the Beacon Institute, the educational affiliate of the Lifespan Network, the largest senior care provider organization in the Mid-Atlantic. “She exemplifies the high standards associated with the PALTmed Clinician of the Year award,” the group wrote. “Her work has altered the philosophy of care for those with severe dementia from being custodial and propagating disability to a philosophy in which function is optimized and the quality of life of older adults is maintained.” Galik joined UMSON as a clinical instructor in 2006; she was promoted to assistant professor in 2007 and to associate professor with tenure in 2013. She attained the rank of professor with tenure in 2018. In 2021, Galik was appointed OSAH chair. She teaches in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty and conducts research designed to optimize function and physical activity and to effectively manage behavioral symptoms among older adults with dementia. In addition to her roles at UMSON, Galik is a certified adult nurse practitioner specializing in the medical and neuropsychiatric care of older adults with dementia. Through clinical practice with the Sheppard Pratt health system in Maryland, she provides patient care to older adults and their caregivers in long-term care communities. Galik has also developed a house call practice for dementia symptom management. Galik holds a PhD from UMSON, a Master of Science in Nursing from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. Galik has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Nursing, and the Gerontological Society of America. She has written for a wide variety of publications and served as editor-in-chief of Caring for the Ages journal from 2020 - 2025. Galik will receive her award at the PALTmed annual conference in Anaheim, California, March 26 - 28. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. - Yvette Conyers, DNP, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CFCS, CNE, FADLN, CWCN-AP, FNAP, assistant professor and associate dean for strategic engagement and impact at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded the Maryland state Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition Award. Conyers was recognized for demonstrating excellence in “Fostering Diversity,” one of six award areas. She is among 69 faculty recipients statewide of this $10,000 award, which recognizes commitment to excellence in nursing education and service to Maryland. “I am truly honored to receive the Dr. Peg E. Daw Nurse Faculty Annual Recognition Award,” Conyers said. “This distinction is especially meaningful because it celebrates excellence across Maryland’s nursing education community. Being selected in the Fostering Diversity category is profoundly rewarding, as it affirms the importance of advancing equity, representation, and inclusion within our profession. “I am deeply grateful for this acknowledgment of my work and for the colleagues and students who share in the commitment to fostering learning environments where every voice is valued and empowered.” The award is part of the Nurse Support Program II, a statewide initiative funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. According to the letter of nomination, submitted by Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and professor, Conyers excels in her ability to foster a diverse and inclusive educational environment. “Through her welcoming nature and open-door policy, she has been particularly adept at creating a climate in which underrepresented students feel seen, heard, and supported,” Ogbolu wrote in the letter. “She is committed to mentoring emerging nurses and developing education models that challenge assumptions, foster critical reflection, and equip students to be compassionate nurses prepared to serve their communities as change agents.” In 2023, Conyers led UMSON’s successful proposal to the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation’s initiative, “Eliminating Structural Racism in Nursing Academia: A Systems Change Approach to Anti-Racist Nursing Education.” UMSON was one of 12 schools nationwide selected to participate in the collaborative, which seeks to improve nursing education environments for all students. Conyers also led AACN’s national “Leading Across Multidimensional Perspectives Survey,” which examines inclusion and belonging within nursing education, including experiences related to curriculum, academic culture, and clinical environments. The work has continued through AACN’s “Building a Culture of Belonging in Academic Nursing” initiative. With support from an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Faculty Scholars Grant, Conyers recently established the UMSON Nursing Policy Academy. The program provides students with firsthand exposure to the policymaking process, opportunities to engage with nurse leaders and legislators, and education to influence health policy at local, state, and national levels. She is also active in legislative advocacy. During the 2025 Maryland legislative session, she helped advance a bill requiring health professionals to complete training on structural racism as part of license renewal. The legislation passed the Maryland General Assembly, and Conyers is now developing educational programs to help professionals meet the new requirement, supported by grants from the American Nurses Association and the Maryland Nurses Association. Conyers joined UMSON in 2023. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Family Nurse Practitioner post-master’s certificate from St. John Fisher College in New York; a master’s degree in nursing education from Roberts Wesleyan College in New York; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Rochester in New York; and an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing from Monroe Community College in New York. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

Baltimore, Md. – Seven University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been named Maryland state New Nurse Faculty Fellows, and one has been awarded a Nurse Educator Doctoral Grant (NEDG) for Practice and Dissertation Research. These awards are part of the Nurse Support Program II, a statewide initiative funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. New Nurse Faculty Fellowship The New Nurse Faculty Fellowship is for new nursing faculty members and helps cover the expenses of their graduate education. It was designed to assist Maryland nursing schools and academic programs with recruiting and retaining new nursing faculty required to educate the nursing graduates Maryland’s hospitals and health systems need. The following UMSON faculty received the maximum award amount of $10,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 - 2031, assuming continuous employment as faculty in good standing: Yanka Campbell, DNP, MSN ’17, RN, AGPCN-BC, CNE, assistant professor Yvonne Douglas, DNP, CRNA, CNE, assistant professor Leslie Greenberg, DNP, MBA, MSN ’04, RN, CCRP, OCN, assistant professor Yvette Hammond, MSN ’19, RN, clinical instructor Heather Johnson, DNP ’20, BSN ’08, CRNP, assistant professor Lee Moore, DNP, MEd, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CNE, assistant professor Lyn Starrs-Zorn, PhD, CRNP (A/AC), CWS, CNOR, assistant professor NEDG for Practice and Dissertation Research Tolvalyn Dennison, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, CNE, clinical instructor, received an NEDG, which provides funding to nurse faculty currently enrolled in or who have recently completed a doctoral degree and helps cover costs associated with their graduate education. These awards are contingent upon degree completion and employment as a faculty member. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.