Education & Training – Medical StudentsAmerican Geriatrics Society Student Chapter/BUSM Student Interest Group in Geriatrics | |
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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. AGS BU Student Chapter - Current Leaders 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:
AGS BU Student Chapter Leaders for 2012-2014:
Faculty Advisor: Megan Young, MD, megane.young@bmc.org "Geriatrics Lunch & Learn: Mental Health and the Elderly Panel." Co-hosted by psychiatry and AGS Student Interest Groups. Since a large part of medical care and outcome depends upon a patient's motivations, we wanted to discuss the effects of mental illness as it affects the patient's medical care. On a panel, we will have a geriatrician, a geriatric psychiatrist, and two fellows in geriatric psychiatry. They will speak to the challenges and implications of such care with the elderly population. Lunch will be provided. When: Wednesday, March 13th, 12:00-1:00 pm "Breaking Bad News" Co-hosted by AGS and Family Medicine Interest Groups. Breaking bad news is one of a physician's most difficult duties; however, medical education typically gives little formal preparation for this daunting task. Without proper training, the discomfort and uncertainty associated with breaking bad news may lead physicians to emotionally disengage from patients. Dr. Wilkinson speak about how to break bad news to patients, especially the elderly and their families. When: Monday, April 1st, 11:30-12:30 pm ______________________________________________________________________ Older Adult Companion ProgramBUSM's AGS student chapter is piloting a new service learning opportunity, The Older Adult Companion (OAC) Program, in which first and second year medical students are paired with nursing home residents in the commuity. Students participating in the program commit to visiting their companions 3-4 hours every month to spend time together (sharing stories, palying games, or watching movies) and attend lunchtime meeting once a month to reflect on their experiences. This exciting opportunity gives each student the chance to develop a longitudinal relationship with an older adult with a variety of sensory or cognitive impairments while also gaining exposure to the interdisciplinary approach to caring for older adults with chronic illness seen in nursing homes. If you are interested in getting involved or want more information on the OAC program, please contact Liz Sienkiewicz, (lizsienk@bu.edu). _______________________________________________________________________ Past Events:December 2012: We partnered with MedGLO, the BUSM's Gay/Lesbian Organization to host a panel discussed the topic of LGBT* Aging: Addressing Disparities and Health Care needs of Older Adults (*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender). During the session, excerpts from the powerful and critically acclaimed documentary "Gen Silent" were shown. The panelists included:
October 2012: Geriatrics "Lunch & Learn" talk on elder abuse. Clare Wohlgemuth RN, GCNS-BC, Director of Nursing for the geriatrics section at BMC, spoke on identifying elder abuse, the various forms of abuse (verbal, emotional, psychological), neglect and related consequences as it relates to abuse, detection of abuse, and treatment of elders who have been abused. She shared examples from her personal experiences in home health care in Boston. 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.
December 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.
November 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.
December 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 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.
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