'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 has inspired me for 25 years."

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.