Sandy Burgener, PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN
Associate Professor
Department of Biobehavioral Health Science, Urbana Campus
Room #340 NURS
408 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801-3703
Phone:
217.333.3083
Email:
sburgenr@illinois.edu
Research / Discovery
Dr. Burgener is an associate professor and gerontological nurse practitioner. Her main research area for the past 20 years has been the examination of variables associated with quality-of-life in persons with dementia (PWD). Dr. Burgener has conducted 8 studies in this area since 1987. Dr. Burgener's previous work has included the examination of a variety of personal, environmental, and caregiver-related variables associated with productive, positive outcomes in PWD. Her most recent NIH-funded research was a randomized trial of a three-part intervention specifically for persons with dementia. This pilot study follows her 6-year longitudinal study examining predictors of quality-of-life outcomes as PWDs move through the various disease stages. To facilitate knowledge-driven practice, Dr. Burgener also completed a study of more than 350 inner-city older adults (age 50) to determine the incidence and effectiveness of management of common chronic illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension, and depression. Dr. Burgener has more than 40 publications in a variety of prestigious nursing and multidisciplinary journals, including the Journals of Gerontology; Image; Journal of Nursing Scholarship; Research in Nursing & Health; Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders; and Journal of Religion and Health.
Teaching / Learning
Dr. Burgener developed and
implemented the Geriatric Nurse Practitioner program across the 5 UIC CON
campuses. This program includes a post-master's option as well. In conjunction with Dr. Jean Berry, a geriatric component was added to the Adult Nurse Practitioner program to allow for simultaneous obtainment of an Adult/Gerontological Nurse Practitioner certification. Dr. Burgener is also the principal investigator for an HRSA-funded geriatric education development and dissemination project designed to improve care for older adults across a variety of care settings.
Service / Practice
Dr. Burgener developed and continues to direct a community-based, multi-modal program
for persons with early-stage dementia, one of only two such programs in the state of Illinois. Dr. Burgener previously developed and directed a small network of nurse-managed clinics designed to provide health care to underserved populations living in high-risk inner-city communities. Having begun operation in 1994, these nurse-managed clinics now provide primary health care and primary prevention services to more than 7,000 clients annually in the inner-city Indianapolis area.
Personal
In addition to loving her work with older adults, Dr. Burgener also loves and collects antiques, having restored their circa 1897 Victorian home once operated as a bed and breakfast. In the summer, you will find Dr. Burgener working in her garden or spending time at her lakeside home in Indiana, while the winter finds her on the ski slopes in Colorado or Utah. Dr. Burgener's central personal focus is her family, however, with a husband, three children, and four grandsons to occupy any time that is available.
Current Training or Research Projects:
|
| 
Copyright © 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois