The Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Program (GGEAR) is a state funded program located in the Office of Academic Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore. GGEAR, initiated in 1987, was funded in order to better prepare Maryland's health care professionals to care for frail, older individuals and to sponsor research projects which will ultimately produce interventions on behalf of this population. In order to promote this overall mission, GGEAR regularly sponsors educational outreach programs for health care professionals and caregivers; interprofessional clinical education for health care professional students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore; and supports opportunities for interprofessional research among faculty at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Continuing Education and Educational Outreach Programs
GGEAR cosponsors conferences throughout the state of Maryland with state agencies, county agencies, and private non-profit associations serving the elderly as well as with the Western Maryland and Eastern Shore Area Health Education Centers. Conferences are sponsored for health care professionals and family caregivers. In addition, GGEAR sponsors a variety of programs for health professional students which will be described below. GGEAR is a partner with the Johns Hopkins Geriatrics Education Center Consortium. The consortium partners include Hopkins, the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center and the Mental Health Association of Maryland. As a result of the partnership, GGEAR is developing a new educational web site which will be available beginning in the summer, 2008. The web site will include web based learning modules, Video Press geriatric training productions, GGEAR educational calendar and links to campus programs and our consortium partners. Interprofessional Educational Opportunities for Health Professional Students Interested in Aging
Several short-term, interprofessional educational classroom and training opportunities are available to students attending the Schools of Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Geriatric Imperative Minimester (GIM)
GIM is a one week long course scheduled each January which offers a review of current clinical, policy and research trends in the field of aging. Presentations are made by faculty, national and regional leaders in the field of aging and family caregivers. Lectures, case simulations, panel discussions and videos are the teaching methodology utilized during the week. Field trips are taken to exemplary health care sites such as continuing care retirement communities, adult medical day care centers, and to observe an intergenerational program implemented at area nursing homes. Each site chosen provides care through interprofessional team planning. Contact: Reba Cornman, GGEAR Director, 410-706-4327, rcornman@umaryland.edu. Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Team (GAIT)
GAIT is a project funded by the University System of Maryland Redeployment Grant System and is located in rural Maryland at the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center (Cumberland, Md.) and the Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center (Cambridge, Md.). A series of two day rotations brings students from the six University of Maryland, Baltimore Schools, Towson University's Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Disorder Departments, Frostburg State University's Departments of Social Work and Psychology, and Salisbury State University's Department of Social Work. Students are introduced to the comprehensive geriatric assessment and the fundamentals of interprofessional collaboration through both didactic and clinical sessions. A variety of sites are used throughout Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore. Each site is chosen because it emphasizes the benefits of interprofessional collaboration in caring for frail older individuals. Contacts:
Reba Cornman, 410-706-4327, rcornman@umaryland.edu. Terri Socha, GAIT Coordinator, Western Maryland Area Health Education Center: 301-777-9150x107, tmsocha@allconet.org. Donna Wilson, GAIT Coordinator, Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center, 410-221-2600, esahecgait@yahoo.com Geriatric interest Group/Student Chapter of the American Geriatrics Society
GGEAR in partnership with UMB faculty and students plans and provides monthly luncheon and lectures on geriatric-clinical topics. In addition, the student group meets at least once a year with its Johns Hopkins University counterparts. Contact: Reba Cornman, rcornman@umaryland.edu Educational Products
The GGEAR Program has funded the development of a variety of educational videos and web sites to assist licensed health professionals, health professional students and family caregivers. Video Productions
Brush Those Teeth and Dentures
Mouth Care for the Dependent Elderly a 22 minute video tape developed by Janet Yellowitz, DMD, MPH, Director of Geriatric Dentistry, University of Maryland Dental School and produced by Video Press. The tape was developed for caregivers, nursing assistants, home health aides and family members of individuals who may be unable to follow directions and for those with behavior disorders. Available through Video Press, 1-800-328-7450 or 410-706-5497 Hi, Buddy: The Developmentally Delayed Individual with Alzheimer’s Disease This program introduces, Roger, a 53 year old man with Down’s Syndrome and a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Despite Roger’s decline, he still retains the ability to win over the world with his smile and cheerful nature. Observe Roger at home, at work, and at doctor’s appointment where you will see areas of independence and where he now requires assistance. Debra Wertheimer, MD and Andrew Warren, PhD provide commentary. top | 
