Rita Jablonski PhD, CRNP, FGSA, FAAN

Dr. Rita Jablonski is a professor of nursing at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She holds a PhD degree in nursing science from the University of Virginia and a master of science degree in adult health nursing from LaSalle University. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Her internationally renowned program of research is focused on improving the lives of older adults, especially those with dementia who reside in nursing homes. Her most recent studies have tested interventions that improve oral hygiene for persons with dementia who resist care. The strategies for reducing threat perception using dementia-centric communication strategies are congruent with the principles of person-centered care and nursing home culture change initiatives.