Beyond the Pledge: Turning Age-Friendly Commitments into Institutional Change

Patricia M. D’Antonio, BSPharm, MS, MBA, BCGP is Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs for the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and a board-certified geriatric pharmacist. Ms. D’Antonio directs GSA’s policy initiatives and is responsible for developing relationships with organizations in the aging arena. She represents GSA on several policy coalitions and serves as co-chair for the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition, president of the board of the Protecting Access to Pain Relief, and a member of the steering committee for several federally focused coalitions. Ms. D’Antonio is also the executive director for the National Center to Reframe Aging, the central hub to advance the long-term social change endeavor designed to improve the public’s understanding of what aging means and the many ways that older people contribute to our society. She received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Duquesne University and her Master of Science in Health Finance and Master in Business Administration with a concentration in health care from Temple University. She completed a residency in administration and finance at The Philadelphia Geriatric Center.

Lisa A. Barry, PhD, MBA, RN, is an Assistant Professor (Clinical) at the University of Utah College of Nursing, where she teaches across undergraduate and prelicensure programs with a focus on evidence-based practice and lifespan care. She earned her PhD in Nursing Research from the University of Utah and brings over two decades of clinical experience in neonatal and pediatric intensive care. Dr. Barry’s scholarly work centers on advancing health equity, with research interests focused on reducing disparities among diverse and vulnerable populations, including examining racism in nursing education and improving representation in curricula. She has led and contributed to funded projects addressing social determinants of health and equity in nursing education. As a Lifespan Champion, her work emphasizes age inclusivity and equitable care across the continuum, supporting innovative educational strategies that prepare nurses to meet the needs of diverse populations.

Hannah Albers is passionate about building communities where all people can thrive at every age. As Director of Program Development at the National Center to Reframe Aging, she leads national efforts to improve the way we talk about aging, challenge ageism, and promote narratives that reflect the full value and potential of all of us as we age. Hannah guides the development of innovative programs, resources, and partnerships that help advocates, policymakers, and organizations across the country reframe conversations about aging. She’s a nationally recognized speaker and facilitator, known for translating research into practical strategies that inspire action and create lasting social change. Before joining the National Center, Hannah worked with a senior services organization, where she built expertise in project management, strategic planning, leadership development, and data analysis—and played a key role in launching a grant-making initiative focused on community based supports for older people. She holds a degree in International Business and Global Service from Valparaiso University.

Jacqueline Eaton, PhD is an Associate Professor and Gerontologist in the College of Nursing at the University of Utah. Dr. Eaton’s research focuses on identifying and implementing innovative approaches to improving the health and wellbeing of older adults, persons living with dementia, and their care partners/caregivers. She uses community-based participatory methods and implementation science to develop, administer, and evaluate interventions. Currently, she is using multidisciplinary approaches to improve active engagement techniques that better prepare family care partners for the behavioral symptoms experienced by persons living with dementia (Enhancing Active Caregiver Training (EnACT); NIH K01AG065623). Dr. Eaton is the PI of a project promoting age inclusivity within a College of Nursing and co-leads the initiative to enhance age-friendly principles at the University of Utah. She is Associate Editor of GSA’s Age Inclusivity in Higher Education Newsletter.