Dean Karen Rose receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Karen M. Rose, PhD, RN, FGSA, FNAP, FAAN, dean and professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE), recognizing her decades-long contributions to improving the lives of older adults and their families.

The award was presented during the 49th Annual Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education Conference, hosted this year at The Ohio State University. The conference, themed “Aging Reframed: Empowering Generations for Impact,” brought together students, researchers, clinicians, educators and community practitioners focused on advancing aging-related research and care.

The OAGE Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made sustained, significant contributions to the field of aging at the state or national level. As co-director of the Golden Buckeye Center for Dementia Caregiving, Rose has led initiatives that extend across Ohio’s 88 counties, supporting older adults, caregivers and health care professionals. Under her leadership, the center provides statewide education, caregiver consultation and professional training, including a robust hub of web-based resources that reach thousands of Ohioans each year.

Her work also includes advancing dementia education through innovative simulation training for both formal and informal care partners, as well as developing continuing education programs that equip clinicians to improve post-diagnosis care and referral practices.

Rose’s influence reaches well beyond Ohio. Nationally, she has contributed to the field through service on editorial boards, grant review panels and policy initiatives. She has also mentored a generation of scholars and clinicians, helping shape the future of gerontological nursing.

Her career achievements have earned her induction into the National Academies of Practice and recognition as a Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing, reflecting her lasting contributions to education, research and practice.

Her recognition by OAGE affirms a career defined by leadership, mentorship and a sustained commitment to improving care and outcomes for older adults and their families. Her work has transformed dementia care in Ohio and set a national standard for excellence in aging research and education.