The Design and Early Results of a Structured Longitudinal Training Program for Undergraduate Students to Increase Diversity in Aging-Research.

The Cultivating Health and Aging Researchers by Integrating Science, Medicine, and Aging (CHARISMA) program at the University of Chicago (UC), is an NIA-funded longitudinal clinical research training program for undergraduate students from groups underrepresented in the sciences and medicine. CHARISMA students participate in an aging-focused: 1) realistic research career experience, 2) didactic curriculum, and 3) multi-tiered mentorship program. This manuscript describes CHARISMA and early quantitative data demonstrating its success.

Exploring the Impact of Dementia in Samoan Culture: A Qualitative Study on Community Perspective.

Explore if and how American Samoan cultural norms influence caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and care choices for person's living with Alzheimer's Dementia (AD). This pilot study used mixed methods. 1) Quantitative survey: measuring knowledge/attitudes towards AD (n = 80); 2) Qualitative techniques: a) Focus groups (n= 54) with caregivers; b) Semi-structured interviews (n=26) with health professionals; and c) In-depth interviews (n=3) with key informants.

Advance care planning among African American patients on haemodialysis and their end-of-life care preferences.

Background: African Americans in the general population have been shown to be less likely than White ethnic groups to participate in advance care planning; however, advance care planning in the population receiving dialysis has not been well explored.

Objective: We examined the prevalence of African American patients receiving haemodialysis' advance care planning discussions, and whether advance care planning impacts end-of-life care preferences.

Design: In-person interviewer-administered surveys of African American patients receiving in-centre haemodialysis.

Incorporating Older Adults as "Trained Patients" to Teach Advance Care Planning to Third-Year Medical Students.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is a critical component of end-of-life (EoL) care, yet infrequently taught in medical training.

Objective: We designed a novel curriculum that affords third-year medical students (MS3s) the opportunity to practice EoL care discussions with a trained older adult in the patient's home.

Design: Volunteers were instructed as trained patients (TPs) to evaluate MS3s interviewing and communication skills.

Collaboration between a US Academic Institution and International Ministry of Health to develop a culturally appropriate palliative care navigation curriculum.

Implementation lessons: (1) The development and testing of a culturally appropriate palliative care navigation curriculum for countries facing high cancer and non-communicable diseases burden requires collaboration with the local Ministry of Health. (2) Lay volunteers from non-governmental and faith-based organizations are potential candidates to provide patient navigation services.

Knowledge and attitudes about geriatrics of medical students, internal medicine residents, and geriatric medicine fellows.

Objectives: To evaluate the attitudes and knowledge of medical students (MS1-3), internal medicine residents (postgraduate years 1 to 3 (PGY1-3)), and geriatric medicine fellows about elderly patients before implementation of a new geriatrics curriculum.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: An academic medical center.

Using standardized patients to assess the geriatrics medicine skills of medical students, internal medicine residents, and geriatrics medicine fellows.

Purpose: Medical schools and residency programs are placing additional emphasis on including clinical geriatrics competencies within their curricula. An eight-station, Geriatric Medicine Standardized Patient Examination (GSPX) was studied as a method to assess bedside geriatrics clinical skills over the continuum of medical education from medical school through residency and fellowship training.

Method: The GSPX was administered to 39 medical students, 49 internal medicine residents, and 11 geriatrics medicine fellows in 2001-02.