Melanie D. Eaton of Bowling Green, a new employee of WKU Aging, was recently advanced to Fellow of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA), in recognition of professional achievement and continuous adherence to the ethical and professional standards of ACHCA.

Advancement to Fellow represents the highest level of membership in ACHCA and requires a record of participation in professional continuing education, suitable formal education, community service and at least two years of voting membership.

Eaton recently began her employment with WKU Aging after a professional career of more than 12 years in aging services and health care leadership and management. At her previous role with Christian Care Communities, Inc. in Bowling Green, Eaton was Executive Director of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) that included nursing facility, transitional care, outpatient rehab, independent living, personal care, geriatric case management, home health and plans for expansion to include memory care and assisted living. As a MBA and Health Care Administration graduate of WKU, Eaton also was a part-time instructor for the Department of Public Health.

In addition to this recent achievement of Fellow status, Eaton has achieved national certification as a Nursing Home Administrator, is a graduate of the prestigious National Emerging Leadership Summit (NELS) and was recently appointed to a national professional practice analysis task force for the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB), the nation’s leading authority on licensing, credentialing and regulating administrators of organizations along the continuum of long term care.

When asked what brought her to WKU, Eaton said: “I’ve always had a passion for working with students that want to enter the field of aging services, particularly in leadership or management roles. After over 10 years of success in my professional career, my current role with Dr. Dana B. Bradley, Director of the Center for Gerontology, allows me to spend more time working

with students in a way that helps them to network and hopefully provide the tools and guidance they need to develop into successful individuals in this profession. Right now, I am still able to stay connected professionally while also being a resource to WKU and doing something I truly enjoy.”

Eaton said plans are under way to begin a pilot program at WKU that is associated with the ACHCA for which she is an adviser.

Founded in 1962, ACHCA is the only professional association devoted solely to meeting the professional needs of today’s long-term care administrators. ACHCA’s mission focuses on advancing leadership excellence in long term care through the provision of leadership education, promotion of professional advancement programs such as Fellowship and Certification, and facilitation of leadership development.