'Top 25 Women in Business in Northeast Pa.': Susan Scanland: Advisor to the elderly

Susan Scanland was researching Alzheimer's disease before most health care providers knew what it was, thanks to Joan McDowell, Ph.D., a geriatric professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Her work was 20 years ahead of her time," Scanland says. "Her passion for elderly patients, research and knowledge

Scanland's business GeriScan Geriatric Consulting provides seminars based on geriatric research. Her participants are nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physicians, nurses, social workers, caregivers and long term care and assisted living facility administrators. Her clients include pharmaceutical corporations, national long-term care pharmacy chains, continuing education agencies, professional organizations and government agencies. The company also provides corporate elder care programs and media authoring of gerontological topics.

Scanland holds a MSN in adult primary health care from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BSN in nursing from Wilkes College. She has practiced as a geriatric nurse practitioner in long-term care, home care and outpatient care for 23 years.

Scanland's friends, Marie King and Mary Louise Ruane inspired her to begin her own business. "Both consultants, I was envious of their work and life balance and their level of professional satisfaction," she says.

"The patients I see for comprehensive geriatric assessments at home and geropsychiatric consultation *in nursing homes inspire me to provide the best geriatric care that I can. My business coach, Hart Davidow, guides me to achieve the goals I set. The positive feedback I receive from clients and seminar participants reminds me daily of the importance of GeriScan's mission: to improve the quality of life of elders through professional and consumer education," explains Scanland.

She is the wife of John Scanland, a self-employed podiatrist, and the couple recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. "He is incredibly supportive and a wonderful father," she said. The couple has two sons, Craig, who will graduate from Wyoming Seminary secondary school in May, and Brendan, an elementary student at Campus School. "As a family we enjoy vacations in Rehoboth Beach, skiing locally and out west and travel to cities where I present," she adds.