Terry Fulmer

Terry Fulmer, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, is president emerita of The John A. Hartford Foundation, a New York-based philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. She assumed an active role as president in 2015 and stepped down in 2025, when she was honored as emerita status. During her tenure, she served as the foundation’s chief strategist and spokesperson, leading national initiatives such as Age-Friendly Health Systems to advance high-quality, person-centered care for aging populations.

A nationally and internationally recognized expert in geriatrics, Fulmer is widely known for her leadership in nursing, aging, and health system innovation. She played a key role in the early development of Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) and has conducted extensive research on elder abuse and neglect. Her work has helped shape policy, education and clinical practice in geriatric care.

Fulmer has held prominent academic and administrative roles throughout her career, including dean of the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University and founding dean of the New York University College of Nursing. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and has served in leadership positions with major professional organizations, including the American Geriatrics Society and the Gerontological Society of America.

Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including designation as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing. Fulmer holds a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College, master’s and doctoral degrees from Boston College, and a post-master’s certificate in geriatric nursing from New York University.