Flash forward 50 years and Nash is now an ordained deacon, father of three and self-professed “nature lover.” He’s also president and CEO of Stoddard Baptist Home Foundation, the longest serving African-American nursing home in the US — and the very place that meant so much to his great-grandmother. 

Steven Nash was born in DC to a strict yet loving family. His parents pushed him to succeed academically and physically, nurturing his interest in science and football. When he was 5, his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and entered a nursing home. She died six years later, an experience that Nash says spurred his interest in healthcare administration.  

Eventually, he attended Princeton University. While the biology major explored a side interest in art, he was greatly moved by ceramics professor Toshiko Takaezu. She taught him how art could serve as a creative release and complement his scientific studies. Nash sought out such inspiration from all kinds of educators in his early life. 

“No matter what happens in your life, no one can take your education from you,” he says. “The gifts that you are given by God really can be brought out by finding that curiosity.”

Nash carried this love for learning well into adult life. He enjoys practicing Spanish, horseback riding and golfing, which he picked up to connect with his father before he died. Nash and his wife of 33 years, Ruth, also enjoy spending time with their children: a Fulbright scholar, a PhD candidate and a theater production professional. Nash jokingly maintains that his children received all of their intelligence from their mother.

Although he struggles to put a 51-year friendship into words, Nash’s childhood best friend, Jim Morrison III, says Nash is a “well-rounded, intelligent and caring person” who “builds lasting relationships with many.” 

Nash’s heart of gold has allowed him to make many friends, some in high places. Last December, he was asked to lead a televised mass with Wilton Cardinal Gregory, the first Black cardinal in the Catholic Church. “I fell over when they called me!” recalled Nash, who also befriended Nobel Prize recipient Bishop Desmond Tutu at a LeadingAge conference after the two met in a VIP lounge. 

For someone like Nash, who has had an illustrious career, pursued numerous passions and even crossed paths with some of his idols, it may seem like life is complete. He says, however, he still has much to look forward to, particularly with regard to growing Stoddard. His goal is to keep it running for another 120 years, despite the occasional setback. 

“My Dad would always tell me that life is full of valleys and mountains,” Nash says. “You’ll be in a valley sometimes and your job is to get out of that valley as quick as you can to get to that mountaintop.’” 

As for the climb, Nash is still on his way to yet another peak. 

Steven Nash’s resume

1983 Earns BS in biology at Princeton University

1983 Becomes a tech at nursing home pharmacy

1991 Named grant administrator for DC Office on Aging

1994 Obtains nursing home administrator license

1994 Works at Collington Episcopal Life Care Center

1994 Serves as administrator at Asbury Methodist Village

1998 Appointed VP of the DC Health Care Association

1999-2012 Chairs DC Board of Nursing Home Administration 

2001 Named administrator, Stoddard Baptist Home

2007 Becomes president and CEO of Stoddard Baptist 

2015 Ordained as permanent deacon, Archdiocese of DC

2016 Named Dr. Herbert Shore Outstanding Mentor

2017-2018 Chairs the LeadingAge DC board

Litchford’s role at LeadingAge Florida will involve developing relationships with business members and increasing sponsorship and advertising opportunities. She will also be responsible for orchestrating professional development opportunities for participating member communities.

Litchford has more than a decade of experience working for domestic and international nonprofits, government agencies and private institutions. Prior to joining LeadingAge Florida, she served as chapter and education manager at the Florida Assisted Living Association.

She has a bachelor’s in entrepreneurship from George Fox University. She also received her master’s in both social work and public administration from Florida State University, according to Linkedin.

LeadingAge Florida President & CEO, Steve Bahmer, said he is happy to bring Litchford on as a team member. “She brings a strong record of educational program development and new business development that will be essential to the continued success of our association,” he said.

However, on June 19, Davis received plenty of attention — when she was given the keys to a new 2023 Chevrolet Blazer. She had entered and won the “Lean on Me” contest hosted by Crest Healthcare Consulting, the organization providing operational support for Cedar Ridge and other skilled nursing facilities around Illinois. 

The contest, open to over 1,000 workers from 13 different skilled nursing facilities, was a demonstration of employee appreciation. Part-time and full-time employees were encouraged to answer the essay prompt, “Who do you lean on, and who leans on you?” Once contestants emailed their essays in, their names were entered into a random drawing. Employees had 30 days to send in their submissions.

In order to increase contest participation and excitement, Cedar Ridge advertised through flyers around the facility, reminders during morning huddles, and even one-on-one conversations with each employee.

There were no word limits and no writing requirements, everyone was simply encouraged to dig deep and drop their name in the hat. Davis wrote the winning entry:

“I worked so hard as a Certified Nursing Assistant, caring and helping those that can’t do for themselves. I did it with no problems; even on our bad days, we still made it work. I got an unexpected promotion to Human Resources and I couldn’t be happier with my new position. I lean on my staff and they lean on me, too. Not just because I handle the money, but because I care. They know they can ask me for help at any time no matter what it is. And yes, I will still get on the floor as a Certified Nursing Assistant: no questions asked!!!!!” 

Davis certainly spoke from the heart without any expectation of the surprise she would ultimately take for a drive. Ashley Huels, director of business development for Cedar Ridge, says Davis was “crying and jumping for joy” once she learned she was the lucky winner. Davis’ Cedar Ridge colleagues got to share this momentous event with her as she was announced winner on a Zoom call with all contestants on June 14. 

Huels says that the contest, which was hosted for the first time this year, was more than just a generous giveaway. She explained the importance of recognizing the people you rely on during the work day and says that employee appreciation is possible even at facilities where an expensive prize may not be feasible. 

“Anything that you can do to show the employees that they’re appreciated, whether it’s small or big, it goes a long way,” Huels observed.

Although Davis ultimately opted for the $15,000 cash-out option instead of the 36-month paid car lease, she took her hot new ride for a spin after receiving the car keys from Crest President Shully Lichtman. 

Davis was all smiles as colleagues cheered her on, proving once again those we “lean on” to be priceless.

Olsen’s predecessor, Larry Slatky, was Albany county’s highest paid – employee, earning over $340,000 annually before he stepped down. Olsen is set to receive a $260,000 starting salary in his new role. 

Ever since his graduation from SUNY Utica in 1988, Olsen has worked within the healthcare industry. 

He previously served as an administrator at Kingsway Arms Nursing Center in Schenectady, New York. 

“Mr. Olsen has the education, accreditation and experience to excel in this position. More importantly, he has the vision to ensure Shaker Place maintains its 5-star rating well into the future,” said a spokeswoman for County Executive Dan McCoy.

As a seven year veteran of AAPACN, Stewart has worked to expand programming to include education for nurse leaders and other members of the interdisciplinary team. 

Stewart previously served as AAPACN’s vice president of education and certification strategy, participated on multiple Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Technical Expert panels, and served on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/CMS Crisis Standards of Care for LTC. She also chaired the Coalition of Geriatric Nursing Organizations. 

Stewart is a frequent speaker at the national American Health Care Association convention as well as an AAPACN Master Teacher. 

“Amy is highly respected by our members and her expertise is highly valued by state and national associations, state and federal regulatory agencies, and healthcare media,” said AAPACN CEO and President Tracey Moorhead.

Stewart earned her master’s degree in nursing from Chamberlain College, according to Linkedin. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Prior to joining the AAPACN team, Stewart honed her leadership and reimbursement skills through serving as the division director of case mix for Presence Life Connections.

Despite her various roles within the AAPACN, Stewart still manages to make time to consult as a legal nurse for Hall, Prangle and Schoonveld, LLC, in Chicago, IL. She is also the author of AAPACN’s Director of Nursing-Certified (DNS-CT) Leadership and Business Essentials Manual and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News’ nurse expert columnist. 

Stewart says she is fortunate to have guided other nurses into becoming experts in the field.

“Being able to help nurses grow into strong leaders is why I love what I do here,” she said.

The study, published in the PLOS ONE journal, detected high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in vitamin D-deficient adults. CRP above 10mg/dL can indicate low-grade inflammation, which may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cognitive impairment. 

The new study used data from Wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), which contained vitamin D and CRP measurements from Irish participants over the age of 50. Key findings revealed that those with a sufficient vitamin D status had a reduced risk of a high CRP level compared to those who were deficient in vitamin D. Factors that increase the risk of high CRP levels included obesity, smoking, being female, physical inactivity, chronic conditions, and poorer kidney function and diabetes, the study found.

‘Our findings along with previous trials in this area suggest that optimizing vitamin D status to above deficient levels could help to benefit the inflammation pathway in community-dwelling older adults,” lead author Eamon Laird, PhD, said in a statement.

Laird noted that vitamin D is just one way to decrease inflammation. 

“In order to have the lowest risk of inflammation people should think about vitamin D in combination with regular physical activity, healthy lifestyle, adequate sleep and social interactions,” Laird said. 

Vitamin D, often referred to as the “sunshine vitamin,” has been found to benefit bone health, immune function and cognitive performance. Just last week, a study revealed that vitamin D, along with exercise and cognitive training can help older adults with mild cognitive impairments. Exposure to vitamin D also is linked to a lower rate of dementia compared to no exposure, according to a recent study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

In the fall of 2018, resident Emily Ryan was recovering from a hip injury at The Buckingham. She noticed that many of her fellow residents lacked visitors and appeared isolated and dejected. She knew something had to be done to help patients reconnect with others, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. Enter, The Smile Squad. 

Due to COVID-19 setbacks, The Smile Squad officially launched at the start of this year. What initially began as a group of five volunteers has now grown into a dedicated crew of 20 Buckingham independent living residents. Every day, two squad members visit each room located on the community’s two skilled nursing floors. During their visits, volunteers may play games with patients, gift them with helpful items, or simply provide a listening ear. 

“We get them to think about their memories and their past. It really does seem to cheer them up,” said Ryan.

Ryan and her partner visit up to 25 rooms when they volunteer, spending around 10 minutes in each room. Skilled nursing residents appreciate having someone pay attention to their wants and needs, especially a peer. Ryan told McKnight’s that orchestrating this program has required little to no expense and that the true purpose of the Smile Squad is to forge relationships between all types of Buckingham residents.  

Jeanette Mitchell, the Manager of Lifestyle at The Buckingham, has been working with Ryan for the past five years to help The Smile Squad come to fruition. 

She described the happy moment when Ryan proposed the idea to her: “I felt like this would do a lot of justice to the residents in regards to making them feel welcome and loved.” 

For facilities interested in creating their own such squad, Mitchell recommends staff members take a more hands-off approach and allow the volunteers to “have more involvement.” She says staff members can still provide guidance through giving volunteers a list of things they can and cannot ask per HIPAA. All members of The Buckingham’s Smile Squad undergo minimal training to ensure volunteers know how to appropriately speak with skilled nursing residents. 

Ryan shared a story about one skilled nursing resident from the Ukraine who was unable to communicate with nursing staff. Fortunately, a member of The Smile Squad spoke Ukrainian and offered to help make the patient feel more at ease. This simple interaction transformed one’s patient experience in an indelible way.

“There is something very special about peer-to-peer connection,” said Shannon Schmidt, The Buckingham’s Director of Lifestyle. “When you get someone there because they want to be there, it is something special.” 

A number of members of The Smile Squad have been in skilled nursing at one point so they see quite clearly the importance in having visitors. And the benefits go both ways, according to Ryan. 

“I’m so grateful that I’ve met some of the people that I’ve met… The bottom line for life (is), ‘If you’re not contributing, what’s the point?’”

With over 15 years of experience as a certified public accountant and chief financial officer, Zygarlicke will conduct financial statement analysis and reporting for HDG.  

“Melissa will guide HDG and its managed communities in leveraging opportunities for financial optimization and long-term growth,” said HDG President and Principal Amber Rogotzke.

As part of the expansion of HDG’s finance team, Carmen Broska has been promoted to senior director of revenue services. In her role, Broska will manage revenue cycle activities for HDG-managed communities. With 25 years of accounting experience throughout the senior living industry, Broska has a deep understanding of cyclical strategies to secure lasting financial viability for HDG’s managed communities. 

In addition, Veronica James, RN, has been named vice president of clinical reimbursement. James is responsible for managing the clinical aspects of the revenue cycle, including the systems around third-party reimbursement for HDG-managed communities and compliance with all government mandates.

“With these outstanding industry experts overseeing our finance operations, we have positioned the HDG team to support the expansion of our organization as well as our clients’ growth,” said Rogotzke. 

Health Dimensions Group  is a management and consulting organization serving senior living, post-acute, and long-term care providers, as well as hospitals and health systems.

“The Christian Horizons board of directors and I are pleased to name Kate as our next president and chief executive officer,” said Christian Horizons Board Chairman, Nicolas Filing. “We are confident that her experience, character, and leadership will usher in a bright future for Christian Horizons.”

Bertram joined Christian Horizons in March 2022 as chief operations officer, building on 20 years of experience in senior services. She has an MBA from Mount Mary University and has been an active participant in the aging services industry including LeadingAge Wisconsin and the National MS Society – WI Chapter.

While serving as COO at Christian Horizons, Bertram spearheaded culture development and post-pandemic recovery. Under Bertram’s leadership on the executive team, Christian Horizons has shifted its focus into growing its life plan community portfolio. 

Bertram has previously served as a board member on the Wauwatosa Montessori PTSA and Wauwatosa YMCA. A passionate educator, Bertram has also acted as an adjunct professor at Mount Mary University, according to Linkedin. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Christian Horizons owns and operates a portfolio of seven life plan campuses and five stand-alone older adult communities offering independent, assisted and supportive living.

A 27-year industry veteran, Carpentieri most recently acted as administrator at White Oaks Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Woodbury, NY.

Carpentieri graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a bachelor’s in social work. She then pursued her master’s in social work from Stony Brook University, according to Linkedin.

Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a not-for-profit, 460-bed skilled nursing care facility part of the Gurwin Healthcare System. Services provided at the Center include skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, and both medical and social adult day programs.