In 2010, an estimated 400,000 Nebraskans will be over the age of 65. Thanks to a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, UNMC is increasing the amount of training in geriatrics for physicians in Nebraska. The four-year, $2 million grant has enabled the UNMC College of Medicine to offer the following new resources for faculty, residents and students:
- A revamped geriatrics Web site (http://geriatrics.unmc.edu)
- Aging interest group for students
- Faculty journal club
- End-of-life care seminar
- Photo contest open to all Nebraska residents
UNMC was one of 10 schools in the United States to receive a Reynolds grant last May for education in geriatrics medicine. Jane Potter, M.D., is director of the Reynolds Grant project.
“The purpose of the Reynolds grant was to increase other physicians’ knowledge and interest in geriatrics,” said Jill Brown, Reynolds grant coordinator.
The Web site will provide faculty, residents and students access to an array of information related to geriatrics, including case studies, lectures and GeriPearls, or concise reviews of different geriatric topics.
In August, an aging interest group was formed with the intent of piquing student curiosity in geriatrics.
“Our mission is to bring people together to have fun and learn about the positive aspects of aging,” said Justin Endo, co-president of the aging interest group.
Educating Physicians on End-of-life Care (EPEC) is a new program to teach faculty, residents and other health-care providers across the state what to do in difficult circumstances. Through seminars conducted by UNMC faculty, EPEC will discuss how to talk to a patients’ family members, how to help patients deal with pain management and how to care for a patient during their final hours.
An expansion in UNMC’s grant increased resources to residents and physicians practicing in rural training sites in Norfolk, Kearney, Grand Island, North Platte, Lincoln and Scottsbluff.
The aging interest group is sponsoring an “Images of Aging” photo contest, which is open to all Nebraska residents. Entries must be received by Feb. 15. First place will receive $100.
For more information or details on entering the photo contest, contact Brown at 559-4410 or jrbrown@unmc.edu.
Photo cutline: Visiting professor John Morley, M.D., discusses the benefits of specializing in geriatrics. Dr. Morley was a guest speaker for the Aging Interest group.