Marie Boltz
PhD, GNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN
Associate Dean for Research and Innovation; Elouise Ross Eberly and Robert Eberly Endowed
Professor
306 Nursing Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 215-962-9712
Email: mpb40@psu.edu
Research & Publications
Marie Boltz is Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and the Elouise Ross Eberly and Robert Eberly Endowed Professor in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State. She is an internationally recognized gerontological nurse scientist whose research focuses on improving outcomes for older adults living with dementia across acute care, long-term care, and community settings.
Boltz’s program of research emphasizes promoting function in older adults, caregiver efficacy and support, dementia-capable health systems, rural health, community-engaged research, and implementation science to translate evidence into practice. She has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous federally funded studies supported by the National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Her work has resulted in sustained improvements in care delivery, patient engagement, and quality outcomes for older adults and their care partners.
A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the Gerontological Society of America, Boltz has received multiple national awards recognizing her contributions to gerontological nursing research, education, and leadership. She is deeply committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship of early-career investigators, and advancing innovative research that informs policy and practice.
Education
- Post-doctoral training, University of Maryland
- PhD, New York University
- MSN, University of Pennsylvania
- BSN, LaSalle University
- Diploma, Lankenau Hospital School of Nursing
Awards and Honors
- Nightingale Award for Nursing Research. (2022)
- Distinguished Gerontological Nurse Educator, National Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence. (2021)
- Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award, Gerontological Society of America. (2020)
Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization
Primary Clinical Focus
Gerontological nursing; care of older adults with dementia across acute and long-term care settings
Certifications
- GNP-BC (Gerontological Nurse Practitioner – Board Certified)
- Licensed Certified Nurse Practitioner (PA)
- Registered Professional Nurse (PA)
- Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (PA)
Mentorship
- Faculty mentor for NIH-funded F31 doctoral fellows
- Mentor for KL2 Early Investigator Program scholars
- Extensive mentorship of doctoral, postdoctoral, and early-career faculty researchers
- Leadership in interdisciplinary training and research development initiatives
Research
Primary Research Focus
Improving outcomes for older adults including those living with dementia through behavioral interventions and organizational models; caregiver support and education, rural health in older adults
Secondary Research Areas
- Dementia-capable health systems
- Family-centered care interventions
- Care transitions and post-hospital outcomes
- Technology-enabled care and communication
Accepting new PhD students
Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement
- Led and evaluated function-focused care models across acute and long-term care settings
- Developed and implemented delirium identification and dementia care interventions adopted nationally
- Demonstrated improvements in physical function, patient engagement, and quality of care
Presentations and Conference Involvement
- National and international keynote and invited speaker on dementia care, gerontological nursing, and implementation science
- Regular presenter at conferences including Gerontological Society of America, American Academy of Nursing, and related forums
Research Funding and Grants
- NIH/NIA R01 & R21 awards – Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator
- AHRQ R21 – MPI
- PCORI-funded stakeholder engagement projects
- Alzheimer’s Association research grants
Publications and Scholarly Work
- 100+ peer-reviewed publications focused on dementia care, gerontology, and health systems innovation
- Frequent publication in The Gerontologist, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Clinical Nursing Research, and Geriatric Nursing
Editorial and Peer Review Roles
- Reviewer for leading nursing, gerontology, and health services research journals
- Leadership roles in national scholarly organizations supporting peer review and research advancement
Community, Policy and Professional Service
Community & Policy Engagement
- Collaboration with healthcare systems, foundations, and government-funded initiatives to improve dementia care
Professional Organizations & Fellowships
- Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)
- Fellow, Gerontological Society of America (FGSA)
- Active member, Sigma Theta Tau International
Policy & Advocacy Work
- Contributor to national discussions on dementia care quality, workforce, and health system transformation
