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Education

Senior Mentor Program 

The Senior Mentor Program, developed and directed by Ellen Roberts, PhD, MPH, is a required program for all first-year medical students at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. The program’s purpose is to improve the quality of care of future doctors when treating older persons. Through a series of visits with seniors, medical school students gain a broader understanding of the health impacts of aging. The program aims to:

  • counter stereotypes about aging
  • foster positive connections to older adults
  • develop effective skills for working with older patients

All first-year medical school students participate in the Senior Mentor Program during their spring semester Patient-Centered Care Course.

Care of the Older Patient Scholarly Concentration

The Care of the Older Patient Scholarly Concentration helps prepare medical students to care for older adults in their professional careers, regardless of what clinical specialty they ultimately pursue. Students participate in patient care in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. Faculty members work with students throughout the four-year program and assist in designing and completing a project. Completion of the concentration will be recognized on the student’s official transcript, in the commencement program, and in a letter of accommodation placed in the student’s academic file.

Goals of the scholarly concentration include:

  • Provide an integrated 4-year elective program of geriatric experiences.
  • Increase knowledge base and sensitivity to the issues of aging adults.
  • Introduce the principles of inpatient, outpatient, nursing home, and home care for the elderly.
  • Learn function, social, cognitive, and physical assessment skills.
  • Facilitate research activities and critical thinking.

American Geriatrics Society (AGS) UNC Student Chapter

The mission of the American Geriatrics Society – UNC-CH Student Chapter is to interest physicians-in-training in the field of geriatrics, to enhance the visibility of geriatric medicine at the UNC School of Medicine, and to provide educational programs on geriatric medicine. The chapter aims to educate all medical students in relevant aspects of aging, especially those who do not specifically plan to enter the field of geriatrics. For those students specifically interested in geriatrics, the chapter seeks to develop leadership skills in geriatric medicine by sponsoring interdisciplinary programs, encouraging and funding research participation, and creating geriatric-related community service opportunities.