Member Spotlight

Q&A with Guifang Guo, PhD, RN from Beijing, China.

		"GSA is a place where you can find information, inspiration, encouragement, and friendship."
Meet Guifang.

Q: How long have you been a GSA member and why did you choose it as your international membership organization?
A: I have been a member for 3 years.  I chose GSA as my international membership organization for its multidisciplinary and multicultural approaches as well as for its information sharing through networking, meetings and journals. I have met many gerontologists from both the US and other countries at GSA meetings and have benefited a lot from these different perspectives.
 
Q:  How is gerontology in China? 
A: China’s aging population has been growing very fast. The national average life expectancy grew from a mere 41 years in 1950 to 73 years in 2010. There are about 167 million people aged 60 and over, about 12.5% of its total population in 2009, and it is as high as 21.6% in big cities. It is estimated that China will have 400 million elders over 65 by 2050. China is facing a lot of challenges related to population aging. For example, China has moved to an aging phase while the economy has not yet developed to the level to meet the emerging needs of elder care; social and economic system changes have affected the life and healthcare for elders; family structure changes have challenged the traditional concept of filial piety and family ethics, and created many new caregiving issues. 

GSA has been playing a leading role in advancing gerontology. I would like to work with the GSA to promote gerontological education, research and practice in China. I am glad that the GSA has put a lot of efforts in establishing networks and cooperation with Chinese gerontology society and gerontologists. I have been encouraging Chinese faculty, students and nurses to participate in GSA activities.  I hope the GSA can open even more programs to international researchers and students (many programs limit participation from international researchers by requiring for US citizenship or permanent residency status).   

Q: Why is it important for other individuals to join GSA?
A: I heard about the GSA from a Chinese friend who was a successful researcher in gerontological nursing.  She told me that the GSA was a great place for inspiration; in research ideas and updates in top current practices and networking. I went to GSA Annual Meetings and enjoyed it very much. I always collect different kinds of learning materials and share them with my friends who could not participate. We have also shared information from the GSA with students and colleagues. So, I would say that the GSA is where you can keep updated and connected with the gerontology society.

Q: How did you get interested in the field of aging?
A: My interest in the field of aging was initiated from taking care of my elder parents and working as a nurse. I saw many elders with unmet needs for care. I discussed my observations and concerns with my advisor Dr. Linda Phillips when I started my PhD study in the University of Arizona. Dr. Phillips guided me into the field of gerontological nursing.  

Q: What are the key responsibilities at your job?
A: As the Dean and Professor of the Peking University School of Nursing in Beijing China, my key responsibilities are to lead the establishment and implementation of academic, research and clinical practice programs; facilitate and maintain effective working relationships with academic partners and institutions nationally and internationally to encourage cooperation, joint research opportunities, and identify best practices in nursing. Gerontological Nursing as an emerging nursing science will become a major area for research and education. I am planning to establish a gerontological nursing center as a platform for research and education to meet the continuous and increasing needs for elder care.
 
Q: What has been your most memorable experience in gerontology and aging research?
A: My most memorable research was the project I conducted when I was a graduate student.  It was a community-based participatory research on Key Informants’ Perception of Health Care for Elders at the US-Mexico Border.  It was my first experience conducting research in a foreign country and with a transcultural perspective. The paper won the American Society on Aging Honorable Distinction Graduate Student Research Award For Outstanding Research Relevant to Aging and Directly Applicable to Practice in 2005.

Q: Do you have any tips for emerging gerontologists?
A: Be creative and passionate.

Q: Tell us a little about your most recent activities/accomplishments?
A: The most recent GSA related activity was the organization of a symposium focusing on elder care in China for this year’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans.  I had just returned from the US and had not yet reconnected with colleagues due to the Chinese New Year holiday, and realized the deadline for abstract submission was less than two weeks.  Luckily, I got four nursing faculty who answered my call for abstracts. Very soon, we came out with a major theme and four abstracts within a week and the symposium package was submitted on time.

Q: Have you had an important mentor in your career? If so, how did it make a difference?
A: Many people have guided and supported me in my career.  Among them, Dr. Linda R. Phillips was the most influential one.  Dr. Phillips was my advisor and dissertation chair in the University of Arizona College of Nursing, and my advisor in post-doctoral training at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing. She is a GSA fellow and the recipient of the 2007 Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award.  Dr. Phillips has been a wonderful advisor and mentor to me during these years. Her broad knowledge and insights in nursing and gerontology, her willingness to listen, her understanding of my research ideas, and her willingness to accept my decisions were great sources of support and inspiration. Another person who has been a great supporter to me is Ms. Jilan Chen, a GSA staff member.  Her enthusiasm in promoting GSA international outreach, cooperation and membership is very inspiring and encouraging.