Gail Towsley, Ph.D., is a gerontologist and nursing home administrator. She joined Polisher Research Institute as a Post-doctoral Fellow for the year 2009. She is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing and member of the Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence. Dr. Towsley is looking forward to collaborating with Dr. Van Haitsma as well as concentrating on her own research examining social interactions among nursing home residents, family members, and staff members. Dr. Towsley’s dissertation examined the financial viability and quality care of Mountain West rural nursing homes using a mixed methods approach, which provided a foundation for future outcomes or intervention research of rural nursing homes, as well as the potential development of policies to improve and sustain resident care. Through applied research projects, Dr. Towsley strives to develop partnerships and bridge the gap between nursing home providers, families, other health services, and researchers in order to enhance the quality of nursing home care. Her curriculum vitae is available.