Geriatrics

Education – Medical Students

American Geriatrics Society Student Chapter/BUSM Student Interest Group in Geriatrics

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is the premier professional organization of health care providers dedicated to improving the health and well being of all older adults. Through panels, discussions and residency advising, the BUSM Student Chapter seeks to educate all medical students about the clinical needs and health care concerns of older patients, to encourage and provide opportunities for medical student clinical and basic science research in geriatrics and to interest physicians-in-training in the field of geriatrics.

All BU medical students are invited to join the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Student Chapter.

Through quarterly lunch meetings that include panels, discussions and residency advising, the BUSM Student Chapter seeks:

• To educate all medical students about the clinical needs and health care concerns of older patients
  
  
• To increase awareness of end-of-life care issues such as palliative care and hospice care
  
  
• To encourage and provide opportunities for medical student clinical and basic science research in geriatrics
  
  
• To interest physicians-in-training in the field of geriatrics
  
  
• To develop relationships between geriatrics faculty and medical students

AGS Student Chapter President  for 2010-2011: 
Ashleigh Menhadji (amenhadj@gmail.com)

Please check back soon for the next scheduled AGS Student Chapter events 

2009-2011 Events:

November 2010: We were pleased to have about 15 people in attendance for our first event of the academic year. Dr. Won Lee  helped the students understand physical and sensory changes that many people experience with age. Four stations were set up for this interactive event. At the first station, people tried to button a collared shirt while their fingers were taped together and their fingertips were taped over to represent arthritis and neuropathy. At the second station, students tried to fill out forms while wearing lenses to represent diminished sight. Another station was for following commands while wearing the same glasses and putting cotton balls in their ears. There was also a pillbox station where the students tried to fill up the boxes up according to written directions while wearing corrective lenses. Students seemed to enjoy the activities and to gain some appreciation for the difficulties associated with older age. Dr. Lee also fielded questions about Geriatrics while students enjoyed dinner. Overall it was a very successful event and everyone seemed to really enjoy and benefit from it.

2009-2010 Events

December 8, 2009: Many thanks to our guest speakers Willie and Janet from the PAIRS program (Partnering Alzheimer's Research Instruction Study). Willie, an Alzheimer's patient, presented with his wife and caregiver, Janet, to about 20 students. Our speakers were very generous in sharing their experience with Willie's diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease one year ago. The couple discussed the impact that the disease has made on their lives and were very open to answering questions and providing information. Willie and Janet discussed many steps they have taken to cope with the diagnosis, including volunteering and spending time with other Alzheimer's patients and caregivers. 

A slide show was also presented to the students of a recent trip to the DeCordova museum to view an exhibit by ARTZ, or Artists for Alzheimer's. We are very grateful to Willie and Janet for taking the time to speak with us and share their stories.

November 6, 2009: Our first talk of the year was a success with about 30 students in attendance! Patricia Kimball, MS, RN, BC hosted aa seminar entitled "Sex and the Older Adult". Students learned how the aging process affects sexual behavior and functioning. Examples of barriers to a healthy sex life for seniors included physiological changes, psychosocial factors, and psychiatric illness. Students learned about effective approaches to screening and assessment of aging-related issues in a senior's sex life, as well as how to provide treatment for these problems. The presentation was complete with dolls to model safe approaches for seniors to use during intimacy.

 

2008-2009 Events:

December 2, 2008: Dr. Eric Hardt gave a group of roughly 15 students their first glimpse into the exciting field of geriatrics. Dr. Hardt took them through his early life following his father on house calls to his time at Yale as an anti-war activist to his time in Harlem as a hematologist/oncologist. The passion Dr. Hardt showed about his job and life was evident throughout the talk. He stressed not to follow money or fame but to select geriatrics based on the intellectual appeal, flexible hours, challenge and most importantly the bond he has formed with patients he has seen for the last 25 years working for Boston Medical Center which leaves him satisfied each and every day.

October 14, 2008:The President of the AGS Student Chapter, Emily Gorman, with the help of Dr. Won Lee, hosted a seminar entitled "How well will you function at age 85?"  Students got a hands on look at the restrictions on daily living of a senior citizen.  Cotton balls were placed in the ears to simulate loss of hearing, medical tape around the finger joints to simulate loss of motion, and reading glasses to simulate vision impairment.  The participants were then asked to perform the daily tasks of a geriatric citizen: buttoning a shirt, filling out medical forms, and most challenging placing pills in a weekly pill box from a physician's list.  Special thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Nowak and Dr. Dan Chandler for their assistance.