People Group Archives: Gerontology

Marissa “Mari” Mackiewicz is an assistant professor at UCF’s College of Nursing and a nurse scientist whose work focuses on ensuring all older adults have access to healthcare. Her research interests include substance use disorders and unmet oral health needs in older adult populations. Prior to joining UCF, Mackiewicz held post-doctoral positions at the University […]

Kworweinski Lafontant is a certified strength coach and certified exercise physiologist and personal trainer who works as a graduate research assistant in the Healthy Aging Lab at UCF’s College of Nursing. Previously, as a master’s student, he served as research coordinator for the Physique & Performance Enhancement Lab at the University of South Florida. Lafontant […]

Jethro Raphael Suarez is a biomedical engineering researcher in the Healthy Aging Lab at UCF’s College of Nursing. His research focuses on the static balance performance and physical activity levels of older adults. Additionally, he applies his engineering expertise to develop cost-effective rehabilitative assistive devices designed to enhance mobility and improve quality of life for […]

David Asakitogum was originally educated as a nurse at the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College in his native Ghana and is the first in his community to earn a Ph.D. Over the next 15 years, he served as a nurse clinician and nurse educator in five rural districts in Ghana, advocating for prevention of malaria in […]

Nurse, researcher, and educator Michael Joseph “MJ” Dino specializes in health informatics, gerotechnology, educational technologies, robotics, human-computer interaction (HCI), extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence (AI), and academic integrity. He is part of the Delphi Group, which pioneered the new definition of Nursing and Nurses at the International Council of Nurses, and past president of the […]

Angela Wheat is a healthcare professional with 13 years of experience, specializing in care management, diabetes care and management, and diabetes education. She combines chronic care management expertise with healthcare navigation to assist in disease management, medication management and patient education in promotion of optimal healthcare outcomes. As an educator, Wheat has a special interest […]

Lisa Linville is the director of the Leadership and Management online MSN program at UCF’s College of Nursing. She has held administrative, legal and clinical roles in health care systems for more than 25 years and has taught in graduate nursing programs for more than 15 years. Her legal experience includes medical malpractice, health care […]

Associate Professor Rebecca Koszalinski investigates the relationships between air, water, the environment, and health outcomes and leads the interdisciplinary Human Health Outcomes of Exposure to Environmental Toxins Lab at UCF’s College of Nursing. Her harmful algal bloom research seeks to evaluate significant health care implications of potential toxin exposures. She is currently the primary investigator […]

Two-time alumnus Isaiah Moser is a lecturer at UCF’s College of Nursing Cocoa campus. Prior to his academic appointment at UCF, Moser was a paramedic and travel nurse at various hospital systems in Florida. After becoming a board certified adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, Moser transitioned his clinical practice to acute care where he […]

Lecturer and two-time alumnus Sotos G. Djiovanis has been in continuous clinical practice in Central Florida for more a decade. He has routinely served as a clinical preceptor, education resource nurse, and member of hospital shared governance councils. His clinical expertise spans adult and geriatric populations in both acute care and home health settings. His […]