Patricia Burbank

Dr. Patricia Burbank is a distinguished Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island, where she has made significant contributions to gerontological nursing and health innovations. She serves as a faculty member in the Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center and sits on the board of SAGE/RI (Services and Advocacy for Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Elders of Rhode Island), demonstrating her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and advocacy for vulnerable older populations.

• D.NSc in Nursing from Boston University
• M.S. in Nursing from Boston University
• B.S. in Nursing from University of Rhode Island

Dr. Burbank's research focuses on gerontological nursing with special emphasis on exercise promotion among older adults using the Transtheoretical Model, fall prevention programs, and addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ+ older adults. Her work bridges theoretical foundations of nursing science with practical health innovations, particularly in gait measurement technologies and exercise promotion systems. She has developed interdisciplinary approaches that integrate philosophy of science with clinical practice to improve health outcomes for aging populations.

Her publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on gerontological nursing, with recent work emphasizing resilience in older adults, LGBT aging issues, and theoretical frameworks for understanding complex human conditions. The articles show progression from early work on exercise behavior change to more recent sophisticated analyses of caring perspectives, delirium assessment, and critical interactionism as applied to healthcare reform.

• American Academy of Nursing Fellow for national and international contributions to nursing
• AJN 2006 Book of the Year Award for 'Vulnerable Older Adults: Health Care Needs and Strategies'
• Choices Award for scholarly work
• URI Intellectual Property Award for technological innovations

Dr. Burbank has been instrumental in developing interdisciplinary research teams focused on geriatric care, serving as principal or co-investigator on numerous grants related to aging and health innovations. Her mentorship extends to fostering collaborative research environments that bring together nursing, medicine, and other disciplines to address complex challenges in geriatric care. She has co-founded two startup companies based on her research in gait measurement and exercise promotion technologies, translating academic research into practical applications.

Through her leadership in the Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center and SAGE/RI, Dr. Burbank has established herself as a key figure in regional geriatric care initiatives, developing programs that address both clinical and social aspects of aging, with particular attention to vulnerable populations including LGBTQ+ elders.