Dr. Patricia Kolb
Professor Patricia J. Kolb (Social Work) was recently selected as a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization in the nation devoted to studying and understanding the aging process.
“It is a great feeling to be recognized by your peers for your contribution to your field,” said Dr. Kolb, whose latest book, Understanding Aging and Diversity: Theories and Concepts (Routledge), will be out next year.
A recognized expert on the subject of “cultural competence”—or how ethnicity and background impacts the care of elderly patient in nursing homes—she has written and lectured extensively on the subject.
“The better we understand the cultural background of patients—and their culture’s traditional notions of caring for the elderly—the better care they can receive,” she says. “It also helps the families and healthcare providers to better understand one another.
Dr. Kolb has taught at Lehman since 1999. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Butler University, a Master of Science in social administration from Case Western University, and a M.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the New School for Social Research.
