Overview of the John A. Hartford Foundation Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Initiative

This introductory article explains the entire Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity initiative and briefly describes its various components such as: the John A. Hartford Foundation Centers of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (HCGNEs); the scholars program; the coordinating center and the evaluation program. The article then focuses on the HCGNEs, describes their purpose and goals as well as outcomes. Setting the context for specific activities of the HCGNEs, this article presents a historical perspective for the Center movement in medicine and nursing and sets the stage for the articles in this special issue. While the HCGNEs shared many goals and achievements each of them has distinct characteristics, as described in the articles that follow.