DAVID J. GENTNER, ED.D.

David J. Gentner, Ed.D., is the 10th President of Wartburg & Wartburg Foundation, located in Mount Vernon, NY.  David joined Wartburg in 2004 as Vice President for Health Services.  As President & CEO, David has positioned Wartburg for unprecedented growth with the opening of a new state-of-the-art, 71,000 square foot Rehabilitation and Adult Day Services Center and a 51-apartment affordable housing facility lauded by The New York Times, both buildings are environmentally progressive and LEED Certified.  During his tenure, Wartburg’s nursing home has maintained a CMS 5-star rating since the inception of the rating system and is one of New York’s top performing facilities.  David also expanded Wartburg’s home and community-based services to include a Certified Home Health Agency and an Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, which opened in 2016.  Under his leadership, Wartburg’s Council for Creative Aging and Lifelong Learning was born.  Leveraging Westchester’s community resources and eager volunteer network, this award-winning, internationally recognized arts-based program provides seniors with opportunities for self-expression, and increased self-esteem.

Dr. Gentner dedicated his career to the care and well-being of older adults, he is a licensed nursing home administrator in three states and is the recipient of numerous industry awards for leadership and innovation: In 2005 he was awarded the New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (NYAHSA)’s Thomas Clarke Memorial Award for personal integrity and professional dedication.  In the same year he was named the American College of Health Care Administrator (ACHCA)’s New Administrator of the Year.  In 2010, he was a Fellow in the American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (AAHSA) Leadership Academy, a one-year program for leaders in the field of aging services.  In 2017, he was presented with the Humanitarian Award from The Grace-Ujamaa Development Corporations.  In 2019 he received the Community Visionary Award from the Youth Shelter of Westchester.  His contribution to the field of research focuses on music, dementia, and quality of life in assisted living environments and he is a graduate of St. John Fisher College.