Florida Atlantic University’s Ruth M. Tappen, Ed.D., RN, FAAN, the Christine E. Lynn Eminent Scholar and professor in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, was recently recognized as the “2021 Alliance World Class Faculty” honoree by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance. Tappen, a member of the FAU Brain Institute and FAU Institute for Human Health and Disease Prevention, received the award during the alliance’s mid-year luncheon.
Tappen is nationally and internationally renowned as an innovative researcher and scholar. Her leadership role, prestigious reputation and cutting-edge research projects benefit the biomedical, high-tech and healthcare industries. She is a leader in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and related memory disorders (ADRD) and long-term care of older adults. Tappen’s research has meaningfully impacted ADRD in the fields of geriatrics and gerontology and populations affected by ADRD. Among her many accomplishments is the development, testing and dissemination of an evidence-based resident and family decision aid titled, “Go to the Hospital or Stay Here?,” which has resulted in a 30 percent drop in unnecessary transfers to acute care for nursing homes upon implementation of the guide.