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Biography

Dr. María de los Ángeles Ortega Hernández serves as Director of the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center (MWC) since 2014 after functioning as Interim Director in 2013. Dr. Ortega’s position began in 2011 while practicing as a board certified Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP-BC). Shortly after being selected as the clinical director, a role that she maintains today, she leads the clinical practice and financial operation of the Center. As MWC Director, Dr. Ortega continues her clinical practice specializing in Gerontology, Psychiatry and Mental Health caring for aging adults through the diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and chronic conditions, as well as providing integrated mental health care for persons with mental health, co-morbid mental and physical conditions, and those experiencing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) in collaboration with formal and informal caregivers. Her practice experience encompasses memory disorder clinic and nursing rehabilitation facilities (skilled nursing, post-acute, and long-term care). While in caring service to the MWC clients, students, staff, and community, Dr. Ortega continues her scholarly endeavors towards improving health outcomes of older adults transitioning from the hospital to the skilled nursing facilities post open heart surgery and with cognitive impairment. Enhancing and sustaining specialized long-term care services and supports through excellence in clinical practice and integrated care coordination remains the focus of Dr. Ortega’s continuing post-doctoral work. She has initiated or participated in receiving 22 external-funded grants in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease, home-based care, advance care planning, psychiatric and mental health, and community outreach. Her philanthropic efforts have raised millions of dollars supporting the MWC.

Dr. Ortega leads and facilitates various clinical practicum experiences at the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center for RN-BSN students, graduate, and post graduate students from Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, and Sandler School of Social Work.

Dr. Ortega’s innovative thinking and demonstrated leadership in clinical care, scholarship, teaching, research, and policy development, have resulted in health care advances for Latinx and other vulnerable populations in the United States and globally.

Teaching

Dr. Ortega facilitates and leads various clinical practicum experiences at the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center for RN-BSN students and Graduate students from Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. 

  • 2021 - Present - Professor, Practice Teaching Track
  • 2018 - 2021 – Associate Professor, Practice Teaching Track
  • 2014 - Present - Assistant Professor of Clinical Biomedical Science (Secondary)
  • 2013 – 2018 - Assistant Professor of Nursing Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
  • 2012 – 2013 - Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing Faculty Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
  • 2011 – Present - Full-Time Faculty: Assistant Professor in Advanced Practice Nursing Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
  • 2006 – 2011 - Adjunct Clinical Faculty Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing

Grants Awarded

  • 2022: College of Criminal Justice and Social Work Seed Grant. Collaboration between Dr. Manny González and Dr. María Ortega. $5,000
  • 2021: College of Arts and Letters Seed Grant. Collaboration between Dr. William McConnell (Sociology) and Dr. María  Ortega. $13,200.
  • 2020-2021: Memory and Wellness Center. Collaboration between Drs. María  Ortega, Jo Ann M. Bamdas, and Dr. George R. Luck (Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine). Project Title: Opening, Sustaining Loving, Caring Conversations of Advance Care Planning. $100,000. Role Principal Investigator.
  • 2018-2021: Project Title: Bridging the Gap: Providing Specialized Dementia Care and Supportive Services through Community Partnerships: Expansion. Alzheimer's Disease Initiative - Specialized Supportive Services (ADI-SSS) Project Awarded for 18 months (November 2019-August 30, 2021). Dr. María  Ortega. Role: Principal Investigator.
  • 2015: Alzheimer's Disease Initiative - Specialized Supportive Services (ADI-SSS) Project Awarded on August 31, 2015 for 3 year time period (September 1, 2015 – August 31, 2018), Project Title: Bridging the Gap: Providing Specialized Dementia Care and Supportive Services through Community Partnerships; Dr. María Ortega. Role: Principal Investigator (BGDCS-CP) ($1,327,853.00 including Federal + Non-Federal share)
  • 2013, 2014, 2015: Florida Department of Elder Affairs Alzheimer’s Disease (FLDEA); Alzheimer’s disease Initiative- Memory Disorder Clinic; Florida Department of Elder Affairs-State; Dr. María  Ortega. Role: Project Director ($213,904.94 annually)
  • 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016: Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation; Dr. María  Ortega. Role: Project Director (2013, 2014, 2015: $9,860; 2016: $20,000)
  • Hain, D., Ortega, M. & Valentine, K. (2012). Fall prevention program for Community Residing Older Adults.

Recent Publications

Chapters in books:

  • 2019: Hain, Ortega, & Touhy: Chapter: 29: Care of Individuals with Neurocognitive Disorders; in Ebersole & Hess’s Toward Healthy Aging: Human Needs & Nursing Response. Touhy/Jett; Tenth Edition.
  • 2016: Hain, Ortega, & Touhy: Chapter: 29: Care of Individuals with Neurocognitive Disorders; in Ebersole & Hess’s Toward Healthy Aging: Human Needs & Nursing Response. Touhy/Jett; Ninth Edition.

Peer Review Journals:

  • LaRose, B., Wiese, L. K., & Ortega, M. (2022). Improving behavioral and psychological symptoms and cognitive status of participants with dementia through the use of therapeutic interactive pets. Submitted for peer review June 12, 2021. Acceptance notification 9.13.21. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 43(4), 330-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2021.1979142
  • Ordóñez, M. & Ordóñez, P. (2021, June). Sleep in persons living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Nursing Clinics of North America 56(2), 249-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2021.02.004 *Invited.
  • Daccarett, S., Wiese, L., & Ordóñez, M. (2021, April-June). Enhancing dementia education and cognitive screening in a Haitian population: A faith-based approach. Journal of Community Health Nursing 38(2), 103-119. doi:10.1080/07370016.2021.1887566 Dr. Daccarett’s committee chair; Federal Grant. Impact Factor 1.56
  • Espinosa del Pozo, P.H., Espinosa, P.S., Donadi, E., Rogel, L., Naranjo, R., Haro, G. E., Riera, D. C., Mendoza, G. S., Garzon, N.A., & Andrade, N.F. (2020). Detecting cognitive decline and dementia in Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands – Ecuador. Cureus Journal of Medical Science 12(10), 1-10. doi:10.7759/cureus.10826. Acknowledgement to M. Ortega.
  • Ordóñez, M. (2018). Afterword: Looking with joy to the future. Journal of Art and Aesthetics in Nursing and Health Sciences, 4(2):28 (English version); 29 (Spanish version)
  • Valentine, K., Ordóñez, M., & Millender, E. (2014). Transforming practice through embracing caring in nurse-managed centers. International Journal for Human Caring 18(3), 52-64. ISSN: 1091-5710
  • Ordóñez, M. & Hain, D. (2014). Healthy transitions from hospital to skilled nursing facility post-CABG. Journal of Nursing Practice Applications & Reviews 4(2), 123-134. DOI:10.13178/jnparr.2014.0402.1315
  • Tappen, R., Ordóñez, M., & Curtis, B. (2014). Designing a nurse-managed center grounded in caring: The aesthetics of place and space. Journal of Art and Aesthetics in Nursing and Health Sciences, 2(1): 22-35 (English and Spanish versions)
  • Ordóñez, M. (2014). Dance of caring, dance of love. Journal of Art and Aesthetics in Nursing and Health Sciences, 2(1): 10 (English version); 11 (Spanish version) 


PRESENTATIONS:

2022: Keynote Speaker. A Caring Science Model of Specialized Dementia Care for Transforming Practice, Education, Research, and Policy. Iota Tau Chapter of Sigma Nursing Honor Society. Creighton University. College of Nursing Omaha NE. *Invited due to seeing Edge Runner award. https://www.creighton.edu/events/2022IotaTau

2021: Streit, B., Wiese, L.K. and Ordóñez, M. (2021, April). “Improving Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and Cognitive Status of Participants with Dementia through the Use of Therapeutic Interactive Pets.” Southern Gerontological Society 42nd Annual Meeting & Conference. Aging Better Together: Building an Inclusive Aging Community. April 20-23, 2021. Virtual.

2021: Ortega, M. (Ordóñez, M.). Responding to the Call to Care: A Public Health Initiative. Project Lifesaver International. Project Lifesaver 2021 Conference. Hilton Buena Vista Palace-Disney Springs. August 29-31, 2021.

2019: Ordóñez, M. & Hain, D. (2019, July). Reaching Individuals Living with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementias from Minority Populations: Strategies, Experiences, and Lessons Learned from a Nurse-Led Community Partnership Model of Specialized Care and Supportive Services. AAIC19 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Los Angeles, USA. [Podium]

2019: Ordóñez, M., Hujanen, I., & Drowos. J. (2019, April). Interprofessional Team Practice and Education at an Academic Nurse-led State-designated Memory Disorder Clinic. 6th World Congress on Nursing. Amsterdam, Netherlands. [Podium]

2018: Ordóñez, M. & Hain, D. (2018, August). Culturally Tailored Dementia Specific Caregiver Program. National Association of Hispanic Nurses 43rd Annual Conference. Cleveland, Ohio. [Podium]

2018: Ordóñez, M., Hain, D., & Hujanen, I. (2018, July). Towards Health Equity: Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities among Hispanics Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in the United States through a Community Engagement Model. Alzheimer's Disease International's 33rd Conference. Chicago, Illinois. [Poster]

2018: Ordóñez, M. (2018, April). A Nurse-led Model of Care of Adults Aging with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Dementia. 4th World Congress on Nursing. Valencia, Spain. [Podium]

2018: Ordóñez, M. (2018, March). “Querer es Poder” (“Where There's a Will, There's a Way”). FAU 2018 Latinos in Action Youth Leadership Conference. Boca Raton, Florida. [Podium]

2018: Ordóñez, M. (2018). Memory Disorder Clinic at Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center. XI Congreso Iberoamericano de Alzheimer. Guatemala City, Guatemala.

2017: Ordóñez, M. (2017, June). Pilot Study submitted as part of P30 application to establish the Florida Atlantic University Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (FAU-RCMAR) in response to RFA-AG-18-003. Principal Investigator: Ordóñez, M. Testing a Culturally Tailored Support Group Program for Hispanic Informal Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementias. Invited proposal accepted and included as part of P30 application.

2017: Ordóñez, M. & Hain, D. (2017, April). A Caring Science Model of Specialized Dementia Care and Supportive Services. 3rd World Congress on Nursing. Barcelona, Spain. [Podium]

2017: Rodríguez, H., Ordóñez, M., & Hain, D. (2017, July). A Culturally-Tailored Caregiver Support Program. National Association of Hispanic Nurses 42nd Annual Conference. Phoenix, Arizona. [Podium]

2017: Ordóñez, M. (2017, March). Nursing: Your Pathway to Lead and Build Strong Communities. 2017 FAU Latinos in Action Conference. Boca Raton, Florida. [Podium]

2016: Klinoff, V., Yassin, S., Restrepo, L. M., & Ordóñez, M. (2016, October). The Neuropsychological Profile and Possible Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Case Study. National Academy of Neuropsychology Conference. Seattle, Washington. [Poster]

2015: Ordóñez, M., Hain, D., & Bensadon, B. (2015, July). Bridging the Gap: Providing Specialized Dementia Care and Supportive Services through Community Partnerships (BGDCS-CP). Alzheimer's Association International Conference®. Toronto, Canada. [Poster]

2015: Clues to Successful Recruitment and Implementation of Falls Study Involving Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment. Southern Nursing Research Society Conference, February 26-28, Tampa, FL

2015: MAGEC IGT Module: FAU

2015: Geriatric Training Institute: Collaborating for Quality Care; April 30th; Shaping Perceptions of Biopsychosocial Dementia Care with Interprofessional Collaboration. Nova Southeastern University, Eight Annual Interprofessional Conference. Fort Lauderdale, FL

2015: American Geriatric Society/AGS: Uncovering and Exploring Learners’ Views of Biopsychosocial Dementia Care. Baltimore

2015: National Association of Hispanic Nursing (NAHN): Design and Implementation of a Hispanic Day Center Program in an Academic Nurse Managed Center (July): Anaheim, California

2015: Gerontological Society of America: GSA: PCORI: Resident and Family Evaluation of the Decision Aid, “Go to the Hospital or Stay Here? A Decision Guide for Patients and Families”. Orlando, FL

2014, May: Ortega, M., Hain, D. Best Practices for Transitions of Care - Leading the Way Caring for Older Adults. Florida Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association CEU Symposium, Orlando, Florida

2013: MAGEC conference: April. Transitions in Care

2013: September: Elder Concert Seminar: FAU Memory and Wellness Center

2013: Medication Issues for the Older Adult with Dementia: Self Preservation Activities: Caregiver Support Services

2012: Transitions in Care. Intensive Geriatric Training: Nursing Module April 27. Florida Atlantic University. Louis & Anne Green Memory & Wellness Center

Honors/Awards

2021: Edge Runner, American Academy of Nursing

2020: Faculty Enhancement Award (CELCON)

2020: Clinical Practice Organization reappointment (2023-2026)

2020: Appointment to Chair, Clinical Care Subcommittee - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Council on Research, Care, and Services.

2020: Invitation to International Committee, American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

2019: Service Award, National Association of Hispanic Nurses

2019: Fellow, American Association of Nurse Practitioners

2018: Fellow, American Academy of Nursing

2018: Emerging Edge Runner, American Academy of Nursing

2017: Emerging Edge Runner, American Academy of Nursing

2016-2018: Board of Directors (2-year-term) – National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)

2015: Nurse of the Year – Palm Healthcare – Heart of Gold Nursing Celebration

2011: Omicron Delta Kappa Society/ National Leadership Honor Society; FAU

2006: Clinical Excellence Award; Sigma Theta Tau International; FAU

2000-2001: Academic Year: Brotherhood of Ten Scholarship Award; FAU

2000: Certificate of Academic Excellence; presented by IMPAC (Individuals Making Personal and Academic Contributions); FAU

2000: Senior Scholarship Award Recipient; in recognition of “superior scholastic attainments and outstanding academic merit,” presented by Golden Key National Honor Society (FAU)

Education