Medical Student Program
The John A. Burns School of Medicine has demonstrated that it considers geriatrics very important to medical student education, by inserting geriatrics content into the Problem-Based Learning curriculum of every year of the medical school. The capstone course is a 4-week required clerkship in Geriatric and Palliative Medicine for 4th year medical students which began in July 2005 and has successfully continued since.
Contact: Misty Yee at mistyy@hawaii.edu.
WISH
The Wellness Initiative for Seniors in Hawaii (WISH) Community Health Program for First Year Medical Students was initiated in July 2011, with a mission to promote wellness among seniors by enhancing their quality of life through companionship, compassion, and support. WISH exposes first year medical students to the unique health and wellness needs of Hawaii’s elderly population through direct interactions with the residents at residential care homes for the elderly. Students are introduced to various aspects of geriatric medicine including in-patient hospital care, community healthcare, palliative care, and long-term residential care by engaging in one-on-one shadowing experiences with physicians, and regular interactions with interdsiciplinary team members. Students in the program implement several community events at local long-term care facilities throughout the year. This program was initially conceptualized by two medical students (who have since graduated), with guidance from Geriatric Medicine faculty. It is one of several community health options for first year medical students.
Courses
GERI 541 Geriatric and Palliative Care (V) This four-week rotation provides medical students with an overview of geriatric and palliative medicine in outpatient, inpatient, home care and nursing home settings. Students will receive one half-day per week of geriatric medicine didactic seminars and one half-day per week of palliative medicine didactic sessions. The clinical placements will be provided at several teaching sites including Kuakini Medical Center, Queen’s Medical Center, the VA, several nursing homes on O‘ahu, Kaiser Permanente, Hospice Hawai‘i, St. Francis Hospice, Kapiolani Hospital, Straub Hospital, and the Pain & Symptom Management Program at Queen’s Medical Center.
GERI 542 Geriatric Medicine Research (V) Medical students will have the opportunity to complete a research project in the field of epidemiology of aging, and present an abstract at a local meeting. Basic principles of epidemiology and statistics will be taught. Repeatable one time. CR/NC only. Pre: departmental approval.
GERI 545 Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Elective (V) Four-week elective provides medical students with an overview of geriatric and palliative medicine in outpatient, inpatient, home care and nursing home settings. Students receive one half-day per week of geriatric medicine didactic seminars and one half-day per week of palliative medicine didactic sessions. CR/NC only.
GERI 595 Medical Student Training in Aging Research Program (2) Introduces medical students to clinical, research, and academic experiences in geriatrics, under the mentorship of faculty members. MD majors only. CR/NC only. Pre: MDED 554 or consent. (Fall only)