Eileen Doherty, M.S.
Instructor
Eileen
Doherty received her master's degree in counseling in 1977 and
a bachelor's degree in sociology from Fort Hays State University
in 1974. She has completed post graduate work in sociology at
the University of Denver, Denver Colorado.
Her areas
of expertise are in non-profit management, counseling, gerontology,
and health care policy. Since 1982, Ms. Doherty has been responsible
for the overall management and administration of the Colorado
Gerontological Society and Senior Answers and Services, two non-profit
agencies, including board development, staffing committees and
task forces, writing position papers, media relations, membership
development, marketing, volunteer management, service delivery,
advocacy, research, program development, fundraising, grant writing,
and product development. She frequently meets with legislators,
congressman, the Governor, and other federal, state and local
officials to work on policy related to senior issues. She has
been involved in the development and implementation of most major
legislation in Colorado that affects seniors during the past twenty-five
years.
She has been
the Executive Director of the Colorado Gerontological Society
and Senior Answers and Services since 1982 doing clinical practice,
education and training, information dissemination, public policy,
and research. Prior to that she was on the staff of the Institute
of Gerontology at the University of Denver from 1979 to 1982 supervising
student placements in service learning, managing information systems,
and community relations. From 1977 to 1979 she was the Program
Director at Mile High United Way in Denver working in the area
of resource development, information and referral, and case management
for persons over 60. She has also worked as a research assistant
on a national grant using nurse practitioners and physicians to
deliver health care to the elderly; as well as program development
for health maintenance and prevention services for seniors from
1974-77.
She has authored
numerous training manuals and guidebooks on senior issues. Her
major publications include Benefits for Seniors - A Sourcebook
for Practitioners and Senior Resource Guidebook. These publications
are updated annually and include information on government benefits
and community resources for Colorado seniors. These books are
sought after publications by professionals, as well as seniors
and their families. She writes a monthly column for twelve senior
newspapers in Colorado with a distribution of more than 200,000
copies on issues related to the field of gerontology.
Her work includes
a wide variety of educational programs and information dissemination
tools including a website that has more than 250,000 hits a year.
On the clinical side, approximately 1800 seniors are served through
counseling, benefit claims assistance, dental services, Holiday
baskets, and other services to improve the quality of life for
seniors.
Each year
she manages and works with more than 150 volunteers on service
projects, Boards and Committees. Volunteer management is critical
to accomplishing the goals of the organization.
She has received
numerous awards including most recently the Regional Director's
Citation for Medicare and Medicaid Beneficiaries by the US Department
of Health and Human Services Region VIII in November 2004. She
also received the Alumni Achievement Award from Fort Hays State
University in October 2002.
She is married
to Roger, has two sons and two grandchildren. They live in Denver
and enjoy traveling both in the United States and abroad. She
also has an interest in genealogy, especially the Volga Germans
settlement in Russia and Western Kansas.