Tara Cortes appointed to HHS board

New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing’s Tara A. Cortes, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor of Geriatric Nursing and Executive Director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, received an invitation from the 22nd United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell, to serve on the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry. Cortes is the first nurse appointed to serve on this committee. 

“I am honored to have been asked to work with the Secretary in this role,” said Cortes. “I am even more so humbled by the unbelievable opportunity to collaborate with this extraordinary team of sixteen. These are not just the people who write the textbooks, they are the visionaries and pillars of our profession. I look forward to working with the committee to address the challenges facing healthcare professionals and identify opportunities for growth and improvement.”

Established in 1998, the Advisory Committee advises the Secretary on matters of significance concerning policy and program development. The committee also presents recommendations on issues concerning the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce: family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, general dentistry, pediatric dentistry and physician assistant programs.

The Advisory Committee consists of seventeen members appointed by the Secretary. As stipulated by the Public Health Service Act, members are appointed based on their competence, interest, and knowledge of the mission of the profession involved. To be considered for appointment, a prospective candidate must be an established leader among practicing health professionals engaged in training and shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. 

Cortes’ appointment follows four grant awards she has received from the Department of Health and Human Services, Human Resources and Services Administration over the past 4 years. These grants focus on interdisciplinary care models, geriatric workforce enhancement and community activation in the care of older adults.  The most recent,  the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program grant , awarded $2.5M over three years to implement the Community-Clinical Primary Care of Older Adults which partners clinical and community based organizations through geriatric education of inter[professional teams and community advocates and creates a care coordination model between primary care and community based organizations. 

About the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing

The mission of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (HIGN) is to ensure older adults achieve optimal health and quality of life. The commitment to this mission exhibited by the dedicated Hartford Institute leadership, staff and affiliate organizations has made the HIGN today a globally recognized geriatric presence. The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing is the geriatric arm of the NYU College of Nursing, and has become, over the years, a beacon for all those who wish to advance geriatrics in nursing. 

About the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing

NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It offers a Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing, a Master of Science and Post-Master’s Certificate Programs, a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing research and theory development.

About HRSA
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for improving health and achieving health equity through access to quality services, a skilled health workforce and innovative programs. HRSA's programs provide health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically or medically vulnerable.

Since 1943 the agencies that were HRSA precursors have worked to improve the health of needy people. HRSA was created in 1982, when the Health Resources Administration and the Health Services Administration were merged.