GEMS Geriatric Experience for Medical Students

Geriatric Experiences for Medical Students (GEMS)

What is GEMS? Geriatric Experiences for Medical Students (GEMS) is a year-long program comprised of monthly visits with an assigned older adult and corresponding monthly group meetings. Open to both MS-I’s and MS-II’s, GEMS aims to help medical students learn about the experience of aging, gain interview and evaluation skills targeted at older adults, and understand how to use health system services on behalf of senior citizens. Students will meet 3 times (or more) with their elderly friend at his or her home. After each monthly visit, students will have the opportunity to discuss their experiences with other GEMS students at 6 monthly lunchtime (read: lunch provided!) sessions. The 6 topics for each GEMS visit/lunchtime discussion are:

1. Introduction, Signup, & Overview of GEMS 2. Life Review & Health Care Use 3. Functional Assessment (i.e. ADL and IADL) & Medication Review 4. Cognitive Assessment 5. Mobility & Sensory Assessment 6. How to Say Goodbye

All lunchtime sessions will occur from noon-1 p.m., and the locations will be announced later via website postings and e-mails. When necessary, students will receive handouts (also posted website for GEMS) that will help guide their visits with their GEMS buddies. A minimum of 3 home visits and 3 group discussion sessions is required for successful completion of GEMS.

Why Should I Join GEMS?  You get the invaluable opportunity to befriend a senior citizen and better understand what life is like as an older adult in the community (vs. nursing home).  GEMS is a fantastic way to satisfy the Clinical Experiences 3 (CE3) requirement, a community service course that must be completed by December of your second year.  Participation in GEMS is a required component of the Geriatrics Area of Concentration (AOC).

Subscribe to the GEMS Mailing List! Stay current with GEMS events by subscribing to our mailing list. Go to the Zone > Student Groups > Mailing List Subscription. Check the box for GEMS, and hit Update. Questions? Contact Us! Kevin Keppel - [email protected] Brian Griffith - [email protected] Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Elizabeth Metrovich ([email protected]) Website: https://groups.medschool.pitt.edu/gems/