Mary Starke Harper Distinguished Lectureship

On November 20, 2002 Mary Starke Harper addressed over 130 scholars and invited guests at the Second Annual Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Leadership Conference in Boston. Dr. Harper, a living legend, was born in 1920. Her life and her career trajectory - still going strong - held the audience spellbound as she spoke of her commitment to geriatric and psychiatric health care, her professional and personal accomplishments within a social fabric fret with bias and bigotry and her work yet to be completed.

The reception that followed to honor this distinguished guest gave the audience individual access to this gracious and commanding nurse leader. Not surprisingly, the evaluation of this program received the highest marks possible by every attendee. As a result of the overwhelming response to this event, the Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Program proposed the idea of the Mary Starke Harper Distinguished Lectureship for future Leadership Conferences.

The John A. Hartford Foundation supported Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity program has grown and gained nationwide recognition in the years since it began. Developing unique and meaningful opportunities for leaders to foster and inspire future leaders is core to the mission of this program. Providing a forum which allows nurses to listen and learn from such leaders is not only educational but inspirational.

This lectureship highlights the career of a nurse leader who has made significant contributions to the field of gerontology. The indelible wisdom and grace of these proven legends is an invaluable gift to our future leaders. Building on the strength of past leaders supports the promise within the next generation of nurses.