Developing Longitudinal Geriatrics Programs for Medical Students

Kevin Craig, MD,Lisa Royse, MEd Peggy Gray, BS

2012 Reynolds Grantee 10th Annual MeetingOctober 22, 2012

Pilot Year at MUClass of 2014 Class of 2015

Application Process1. Join STEP 2. Join GIG

3. Complete Application 4. Interview

Innovative program linking first-year medical students with elderly patients in the community.

Partners attend group educational sessions led by program faculty and attend social activities, physician office visits, and even exercise dates.

Catalyst Institute's national award for excellence and innovation in 2002; recognized as a model program for education in geriatric medicine 2004

Our student participants have expressed that they feel more aware of the needs of older patients and feel they will be better able to provide them with good health care.

STEP: Senior Teacher Educator Partnership

Great opportunity for Geriatric Scholars to develop and demonstrate leadership skills

GIG – Geriatrics Interest Group

What inspired you to apply for the MU Geriatrics Scholars Program?

What qualities do you have that would be an advantage in working with elders?

What are you hoping to get out of the Geriatrics Scholars program?

Student Application Questions

1. Which of the planned activities for the Geriatrics Scholars Program participants interests you? 

2. What can you contribute to geriatrics education? 

3. How would you like your parents/grandparents to be cared for? 

4. How would you assess the current health care system in meeting the needs of elders?

5. Describe a relationship and/or interactions you have had with an older person.

Interview Questions

For Interviewer: Rank applicant on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = poor; 5 =

outstanding) in each of these categories:

Poor Outstanding__

Compatibility with Geriatrics Scholars Program: 1 2 3 4 5 

Commitment to geriatrics: 1 2 3 4 5 

  Geriatric experience to date:

1 2 3 4 5

Year One

Participate in STEP and GIG.

Participate in 2-3 Journal Clubs

Work with geriatrician advisor

Make arrangements for summer experiences• Optional geriatrics-related research• Optional clinical experiences in geriatrics clinic,

geriatrics consults, nursing home, transitional care, hospice home visits

Year One

Interblock (between years 1&2)

Serve as leaders in GIG and geriatrics journal clubs

• Work with family medicine librarian and geriatrician to prepare journal club presentation

Optional ACE experience with geriatrician in clinic or nursing home

• Ambulatory Care Experience

Work with geriatrician during Advanced Physical Diagnosis class if not in ACE experience

Year Two

Year Three

Work with geriatrician in clinic during family medicine rotation

Transitional care visit, including skin care rounds, with geriatrician at skilled nursing facility

Plan/arrange M4 geriatrics elective

Year Three

Year Four

Four general electives are required for all students. Scholar select two from the geriatric electives which

demonstrate interdisciplinary teamwork: • Palliative care• Clinical ethics consultation• Rural geriatric medicine• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation• Gynecology elective in the care of the elderly female

patient• Geriatric fracture service in orthopedic surgery

Graduate with certificate of completion of

Geriatrics Scholars Program

Year Four

In July, we conducted a focus group with the pilot year (2011-12) participants

Evaluation/Feedback