Courtney Lyder


Courtney Harvey Lyder is a Trinidadian-American nurse and educator who is recognized internationally for his work in the field of gerontology.
Lyder served as dean of the UCLA School of Nursing from 2008 till 2015.

Early life and education

Courtney Lyder was born in Trinidad and Tobago before immigrating to the United States.
Lyder received his Bachelor of Arts from Beloit College. He attended Rush University nursing school, one of only five males in a class of two hundred, where he received his Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Lyder studied under Luther Christman, the first male dean of a nursing school in the United States, who changed the perceptions and biases people held against males and minorities seeking to enter the field of nursing.

Career

In August 2008, Lyder was appointed as dean of UCLA School of Nursing, the first male minority head of any such institution in the United States. Lyder's tenure at the school ended on July 1, 2015.
Lyder is internationally recognized for his expertise in gerontology and chronic care issues affecting older adults. He has addressed pressure ulcer prevention, identifying erythema in dark skin, wound healing and quality improvement in skilled nursing facilities, calling attention to the dangers of unnecessary bedsores received by elder patients in hospitals with inattentive staff. According to Lyder and his research team, individuals with chronic conditions such as congestive cardiac failure, pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and those on steroids who acquire pressure ulcers in hospital were at the highest risk of premature death.
Lyder is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the New York Academy of Medicine. In 2011, he was appointed by United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research.

Seating upgrades criticism

Lyder has been cited as one of six deans who leveraged UCLA's lenient medical exemptions in order to upgrade to business class when flying on official college business. Enacted in order to facilitate travel to meetings with wealthy UCLA donors, the travel policy normally required employees to fly coach, except in the following circumstances: when there is a medical need, when coach is unavailable, when using coach would be more expensive or time consuming, or when the trip involves overnight travel without time to rest before work begins.
UCLA paid at least $75,000 for premium flights for Lyder during his tenure. He used a doctor’s note—redacted by UCLA—to justify almost half of these trips. Other times he skirted the restriction because he said he needed extra rest on the plane before a busy schedule of meetings.

Awards and honors

There are a number of cocktails and culinary dishes named for Lyder, due to him being a regular patron of various Los Angeles restaurants:
NameTypeDescriptionEstablishment
Black DeanCocktailMartini with jalapeñoHotel Angeleno, Sunset Boulevard
Doctor's DaiquiriCocktailN/aHotel Palomar's Blvd 16, Wilshire Boulevard
Layla's TreatCocktailNamed for Lyder's French BulldogHotel Palomar's Blvd 16, Wilshire Boulevard
Dean LyderCocktailPerfect Manhattan with orange bitters and zestNapa Valley Grille, Glendon Avenue
The CourtneyPizzaSpicy chicken, cheeses, basil and avocadoGlendon Bar & Kitchen, Glendon Avenue

Selected publications