Developing Longitudinal
Geriatrics Programs for Medical
Students
Kevin Craig, MD,
Lisa Royse, MEd
Peggy Gray, BS
2012 Reynolds Grantee 10th Annual Meeting
October 22, 2012
Pilot Year at MU
Class of 2014
Class of 2015
Application Process
1. Join STEP
3. Complete Application
2. Join GIG
4. Interview
STEP: Senior Teacher Educator Partnership
 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.
GIG – Geriatrics Interest Group
 Great opportunity for Geriatric Scholars to develop
and demonstrate leadership skills
Student Application Questions
 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?
Interview 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.
 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
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
Interblock (between years 1&2)
Year Two
 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 Three
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 Four
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
Evaluation/Feedback
 In July, we conducted a focus group with the pilot
year (2011-12) participants