Gerti E. Heider, PhD, MSN, GNP, BC, assistant professor in SN's joint RN-to-BSN degree program with Ramapo College, would "love to see more students entering the GNP program. I like helping others move forward in their careers and there is a severe shortage of nurses in gerontology. This field is tremendously rewarding and offers an extremely enriching experience." Heider is an advanced clinical hypnotherapist. She is also the recipient of numerous honors including the 2006 SN Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence.

After 30 years in a successful business career, this 57-year-old followed his wife, a pediatrician, into medicine and joined SN's inaugural class for students as a nursing scholar seeking a second bachelor's. His original college degree, earned 35 years ago from Cornell University, was in French literature but this student quickly surprised even himself, excelling in science and math and earning the 2005 Humanism in Health Care Award from The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey. President of SN's alumni association, he's testified before the New Jersey State Legislature on UMDNJ's behalf. But what he does best goes beyond the classroom or political arena: he makes time for patients.

My Degrees: A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) earned in 2005 with the first accelerated BA to BSN class at the School of Nursing. Currently in the UMDNJ geriatric nurse practitioner (GNP) master’s program which is offered at Ramapo College.

Most Memorable Patient: A very frequent, repeat patient at University Hospital, this woman was about 40 but looked 60. She had AIDS, rashes, diseases of all kinds, and was in terrible shape, physically and mentally. I met her on the Step Down Unit, which is a very busy place. She would come in, get tuned up, be discharged and return again not long afterward. During one exam, she was manic, acting out and uncooperative. One of the things I learned about myself in nursing school was that I could walk into patients’ rooms, talk to them quietly for a few minutes, listen carefully and get them to change their behavior. It worked with this patient. A day or so later, when a group of residents returned and she was resisting their attempts to perform a procedure, arguing and hollering, I said to her quietly, “Look, why don’t you just let these doctors do this? I’ll be here for you.” Because she trusted me, she quieted down and let them work. This kind of patient interaction has turned out to be the most rewarding part of my being a nurse.

Pet Research Project: A Power Point presentation on raising awareness about diabetic self-care at University Hospital. Patients need to be educated to prevent amputation or re-hospitalizations because of their diabetes. A group effort — my team did a really thorough job introducing our ideas about early intervention and prevention to a team of hospital administrators and doctors.

Best Clinical Memory: Observing NJMS neurosurgeon Michael Schulder during a 10 hour procedure — which seemed like only two — remove 30 percent of a woman’s skull. I had been standing in the corner following orders, away from the surgical activity, when Dr. Schulder said to me, “Put your hands behind your back, come over here, and look through this stereotactic microscope.” There was her brain. It was unbelievable. Something I’ll never forget.

Why UMDNJ: I was always fascinated with medicine and wanted to be a doctor as a kid but wound up going into my family’s business in the paper industry. Later when I was looking around for something new and my wife suggested nursing, I thought the idea was absurd. But I am excited about this and the School of Nursing is doing a wonderful job. I was in the first class that took 14 months. There were 38 of us who finished the program in 2005.

 My story. Our university.