UAA's Geriatric Education Center receives $1.2M grant

A recently awarded three-year $1.2M grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration will allow experts at the University of Alaska to continue to train health care providers in the special needs of Alaska's aging population.

 

This new three-year grant refunds the Alaska Geriatric Education Center (AKGEC).  The main site will continue to be housed at UAA in Anchorage with satellite branches located at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Sitka campus and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).  A new partner for this grant cycle includes the Alaska Rural Behavioral Health Training Academy at UAF.  These three consortium partners will operate the center.

The center will help Alaska's health care providers cope with a surge in the number of elderly expected in the years ahead.  Alaska's aging population is growing at a higher rate than every state except Nevada.  Within Alaska, growth is expected to increase by 60 percent over the next 20 years creating critical shortages in the health care workforce.  

"We are certainly relieved that funding was re-established for the Geriatric Education Centers and are excited about Alaska's new emphasis upon health literacy and promotion, and interdisciplinary team clinical practice within our health professions training venues," said Rosellen M. Rosich, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at UAA and AKGEC's statewide director.  "We will continue to support the study of aging and geriatrics as well as basic and applied research within these and closely related areas.  We look forward to expanding and enhancing relationships with statewide and national affiliations and assisting our health care industry to meet the challenges of an aging and culturally diverse 21st century populace."

For more information regarding the AKGEC, contact Rosellen M. Rosich, Ph.D., at (907) 786-1739 or afrmr@uaa.alaska.edu.