Eileen Doherty, M.S.
Adjunct 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.