Reynolds Center Geriatric Medicine Student Scholars

The UC Physician Geriatrics Training project is building on the existing required medical student geriatrics curriculum by establishing a four-year “Geriatric Medicine Student Scholars” Program (GMSS) for eight students per class.  This enrichment program includes special clinical experiences, elective courses, extra-curricular seminars and other activities.  The full scope of the American Geriatric Society medical student competencies guides the evolution of the GMSS program.  Members of the geriatric medicine faculty are assigned to mentor one or two of the GMSS.
 
Seven first year medical students were selected to become Geriatric Medicine Student Scholars (GMSS) in September 2005.  These GMSS join 19 other GMSS in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year classes. The new students have been assigned to faculty mentors. The first group of 4th year GMSS completed their 1-month senior geriatric medicine rotations during this past year, and graduated in May 2006. 
 
Student reflective journals are used as both a learning activity and the primary method for evaluating the effectiveness of the GMSS program.  All of the GMSS are required to keep a journal about their experiences. The information kept in the journals is divided into five sections: age-related didactics; age-related extra curricular activities; aging related interest areas; aging-related personal experiences, and general thoughts/ideas /reflections on aging.