Martha Coates, PhD, RN, CRNP, AGPCNP-BC
- Assistant Professor
Affiliated Programs
Education
- PhD, Nursing (2023)
Drexel University (PA) - MSN, Adult Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Focus (2012)
Vanderbilt University (TN) - BSN, Nursing (2005)
The Catholic University of America (DC)
About Me
I am a geriatric nurse practitioner and nurse scientist committed to improving health outcomes and quality of life for older adults. My clinical experience spans primary care, long-term care, skilled nursing, medical-surgical nursing, post-anesthesia care, and medical intensive care. I earned my PhD in Nursing from Drexel University in 2023, following graduate preparation as an Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner at Vanderbilt University and a BSN from The Catholic University of America.
As a nurse educator, I am passionate about teaching and mentoring nursing students and helping them develop the knowledge, clinical reasoning, and confidence needed to provide safe, patient-centered care.
Research Interests
My research focuses on the complex health needs of older adults, with particular interests in polypharmacy, medication-related outcomes, physical function, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. I am also interested in deprescribing and improving medication safety for older adults with complex health conditions, including cancer.
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- American Geriatrics Society, 2020-present
- Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2020-present
- Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association, 2017-present
- The Gerontological Society of America, 2019-present
- Eastern Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society, 2024-present
Awards
- 1st Place, Research Presentation, Eastern Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society, 2024
- Nurses for Tomorrow Graduate Scholarship, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, 2022
- Person-In-Training Award, The Gerontological Society of America, 2020