Eileen M. Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN is a Professor of Scholarly Practice and Associate Dean for Practice & Community Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, holding the Shearer Endowed Term Chair in Healthy Community Practice. Dr. Sullivan-Marx chaired Pennsylvania's Senior Care and Services Study Commission and is a 2010-11 Health and Aging Policy Fellow & Senior Advisor to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She is an active consultant on geriatric practice issues and oversees the School's practice and community mission that includes the Living Independently For Elders (LIFE), a program of comprehensive integrated health and social services for older adults in West Philadelphia. Dr. Sullivan-Marx is a leading researcher on improving functional outcomes of older adults in community and institutional settings. Among her many awards are the 2008 Eastern Nursing Society Hartford Geriatric Nurse Research Award and the 2010 Pennsylvania State Nurses Associate Advocacy-Legislative Award.