Dr. Valerie Flattes has been a faculty member at the University Of Utah College Of Nursing since 2001. Her background in nursing includes medical-surgical nursing, obstetrics, long-term care, emergency nursing, and home health care. Since 2003, she has practiced as an adult nurse practitioner. She completed her PhD degree at University of Utah Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. Valerie has a strong commitment to community engagement and has served as a member or officer in several community organizations over the last 25 years. Valerie has shown a passion for teaching and gerontology. She has been a champion of enhancing gerontology content in the nursing curriculum in the undergraduate and graduate programs.