AR-GEMS Summer Institute

Education Mentors & Scholars (AR-GEMS) Summer Institute is a continuing education program aimed at faculty who teach students in the health professions. The program provides current didactic education and clinical experiences in geriatrics to faculty members who wish to incorporate or update geriatric content in the courses they teach. Support for this program comes from a US Health Resources and Services Administration grant awarded to the Arkansas Geriatric Education Center (AGEC).

Locations for the training will be the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the DWR Center on Aging. Faculty teaching in such health professions as dietetics, nursing, physical therapy, psychology, social work and others are invited to participate in this program.

Summer Institute Goals

    • Complete 24 hours of didactic instruction in geriatrics/gerontology.
    • Complete an individualized 36-hour clinical program.
    • Evaluate didactic speakers and write a summary of the participant’s clinical  program.

Program Description

Each AR-GEMS Summer Institute participant will complete a brief comprehensive course in geriatrics/gerontology covering such topics as Palliative Care, OTC and Herbal Supplements, Exercise and Aging, Dementia Overview and Behavioral Interventions, Communication with Older Adults, Caregiver Issues, Elder Abuse and others. All printed materials for the course will be provided. Additional materials will be available at designated Internet sites.

For the clinical training, participants will be assigned mentors with experience in older adult care on the basis of individual interests and availability of clinical sites including but not limited to Long Term Care, Adult Day Healthcare, Diabetes Clinic, Home Healthcare Service, Out-patient and In-patient Consult Service.

Upon completion of all requirements, participants will receive continuing education credits as well as a certificate of completion.

Program Requirements

Participating faculty will:

  • Complete a comprehensive 3 day on–site course in geriatrics/gerontology.
  • Complete an individualized 36-hour clinical program.
  • Evaluate didactic speakers and write a summary of the participant’s clinical program.

Ronni Chernoff, PhD, RD, FADA
Director
Arkansas Geriatric Education Center

Soledad Jasin, PhD
Senior Education Specialist
Arkansas Geriatric Education Center

Kimberly H. Clement, BA
Education Specialist
Arkansas Geriatric Education Center