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Mentors prepare students in geriatric care by Cindy Abole Public Relations Creating meaningful relationships to gain knowledge about today’s senior population and their needs while guiding the next generation of physicians describes the goals of MUSC’s Senior Mentor Program.      The program, jointly sponsored by MUSC’s College of Medicine, Center on Aging and community senior resources, pairs medical students with healthy mentors at the Bishop Gadsden Retirement Center throughout the next four years. A total of 150 first-year medical students and 75 senior mentor participants, ages 65 and older, met for the first time on Jan. 26 at the Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community on James Island. Participants heard more about the program from MUSC sponsors and were introduced to their student and/or mentor.      First-year medical student Aundrea Eason chats with her mentor Thomas Mann at the Jan. 26 Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community luncheon. Now in its second year, this collaborative program also continues for second-year medical students. A year ago, students and healthy seniors in the Lowcountry community met to begin activities that included regular visits, communications and program assignments. The  mentors are paired with two medical students throughout the duration of their medical schooling.   Both first-and second-year medical students will complete assignments related to their program’s curricula. New students to the program will learn to conduct a medical history or perform a fall-risk assessment. Second-year students currently are working on a behavior/attitude modification change elements with their mentors.      “We gained so much experience during that first year,” said David Bachman, M.D., professor of neurology and the grant’s principal investigator. “Aside from preparing students with the tools and information they need to complete assignments and regularly meet with their senior mentor, students experienced some real-life issues with their mentor such as learning to respond to a death of a spouse or provide supportive care for a senior diagnosed with cancer or a severe illness. We’ve prepared students and provided them with valuable resources that can help them in their role as an active, responsive future practitioner.”      The effort is part of a $410,000 Duke Endowment grant to improve geriatric education within medical education. Now in its final year of funding, the program has the ability to reshape stereotypes associated with aging while preparing future medical practitioners in much-needed specialties such as geriatrics and gerontology research. MUSC’s effort models a similar, collaborative program established at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine that provides a long-term experience with older adults.   Reports estimate that about 10,000 people from the baby boomer generation (1940s to 1960s) will turn 65 each day for the next 20 years resulting in a population increase of 78 million senior citizens in the United States. The challenge in medical education and health care is to adequately prepare future physicians and health care practitioners to care for this rapidly increasing population in South Carolina and other states.   “It’s been a great experience,” said Deronda Corbin, education program coordinator, Senior Mentor Program, MUSC Center on Aging. “Our mentor-participants represent a true picture of today’s South Carolina seniors. We hope that this program provides everyone involved with a greater understanding of older Americans while encouraging people involved in geriatric research and clinical care to find ways to improve the quality of life of older people.”      For more information on the MUSC Senior Mentor Program, contact Deronda Corbin at 792-3699 or visit the Center on Aging Web site, http://www.musc.edu/aging/ Friday, Feb. 2, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.