The Senior Mentor Program at Duke University School of Medicine.

Full Abstract

The Duke University School of Medicine has a unique curriculum in which students complete basic sciences in year 1 and clinical clerkships in year 2, making way for an entire year of independent study in year 3. Into this compact curriculum, education in geriatrics has been successfully introduced through focused exercises and activities strategically integrated in all four years. The most popular of these educational strategies is the Senior Mentor Program (SMP), through which second year students meet with a senior volunteer from the community. In addition to improving students' knowledge and skills in geriatric assessment, a central goal of the SMP is to increase students' appreciation for the heterogeneity of health and function among the older adult population. Students meet one-on-one with their senior mentor to practice communication skills and performance of key components of geriatric assessment. Afterward, students convene in small groups with division faculty to debrief. Successful implementation of the program has required a combination of rigorous logistical management and communication with key stakeholders. The program has spawned a number of different benefits beyond the curriculum, including faculty development in teaching skills and enhanced relationships with individuals and agencies from the community. We aspire to continue to improve the structure and content of the program to reflect the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of the community and to offer students a longitudinal experience.

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Author information

Author/s: Hefflin, Mitchell (M);

Affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3003, Durham, NC 27710, USA. hefli001(-atsign-)mc.duke.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Gerontology & geriatrics education (Gerontol Geriatr Educ), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 27 (issue 2) : pp 49-58

Dates: Created 2006/10/06; Completed 2006/12/20;

PMID: 17023383, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Clinical Clerkship - methods
Curriculum
Education, Medical, Undergraduate - methods
Geriatrics - education
Humans
Intergenerational Relations
Mentors

Mentors
North Carolina
Organizational Case Studies
Organizational Innovation
Physician-Patient Relations
Prejudice
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Schools, Medical - organization & administration
Students, Medical - psychology

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