Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education

Intergenerational Engagement in Medical Education: The Pivotal Role of Older Adult Mentors

Chair(s)

• 

  Jennifer Severance, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Associate Professor
  Internal Medicine & Geriatrics
  University of North Texas Health Science Center
  Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Co-Chair(s)

• LW

  Leland Waters, PhD (he/him/his)

  Director, Virginia Geriatric Education Center
  Department of Gerontology
  Virginia Commonwealth University
  Richmond, Virginia, United States

Discussant(s)

• 

  Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA (she/her/hers)

  Professor and Chair, Department of Social Work
  Social Work
  George Mason University
  Fairfax, Virginia, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• LW

  Leland Waters, PhD (he/him/his)

  Director, Virginia Geriatric Education Center
  Department of Gerontology
  Virginia Commonwealth University
  Richmond, Virginia, United States
• 

  Mengru Wang, MD, MPH (she/her/hers)

  Clinical Assistant Professor
  Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine
  University of Washington
  Seattle, Washington, United States
• 

  Keri Christensen, PhD (she/her/hers)

  Assistant Director Education Programs
  Internal Medicine and Geriatrics
  University of North Texas Health Science Center
  Fort Worth, Texas, United States

  Slides

Medical education engaging older adults as mentors can broaden students’ perspectives about social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors influencing health; increase knowledge and skills in collaborative practice; and improve attitudes towards older patients. The Health Resources and Services Administration funded a national network of Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs (GWEP) to train health professions students in assessing and addressing the primary care needs of older adults. This symposium examines GWEP models of medical education involving older adults as mentors to promote person-centered, age-friendly, and dementia-friendly care. First, presenters from the University of Washington and University of Minnesota GWEPs will describe dementia education programs pairing medical students and individuals with memory loss. This is followed by a project at the Virginia Commonwealth University GWEP engaging older adults as mentors to medical student teams. Finally, presenters from the University of North Texas Health Science Center GWEP will describe strategies to expand and sustain an older adult mentorship program through volunteer engagement and interprofessional collaboration. Presenters will discuss partnerships to develop and sustain older adult mentorship programs as well as challenges and lessons learned. The symposium will conclude with an exploration of the input, feedback, and perspectives collected from older adults about their involvement in medical education as well as opportunities to adapt these intergenerational models to a local context.

Presentations:

• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST

  Exploring the Generativity of a Mentoring Program for Medical Students and Older Adults
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Leland Waters, PhD (he/him/his) – Virginia Commonwealth University
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST

  Partners in Dementia – Northwest: New Approaches in Medical Student Service Learning
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Mengru Wang, MD, MPH (she/her/hers) – University of Washington
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST

  Sustainability of Older Adult Volunteers in a Medical Education Program
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Keri Christensen, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of North Texas Health Science Center
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM PST

  Medical Student Observations and Reflections From a Memory Disorders Buddy Program
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Michael H. Rosenbloom, MD, FAAN – University of Washington