CU Anschutz Palliative Care Education had a strong presence at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) conference this November. The conference is an international gerontological research, education and clinical gathering of about 4,500 people working in the field of aging adults. GSA is the largest and oldest interdisciplinary national organization on aging. Palliative care and gerontology are sister fields, with a great deal of overlap. As the population ages, it is important to find ways to provide healthcare professionals education and skills training. Care partners continue to need support and guidance as they care for their loved ones.
Melissa Palmer, program director of the Master of Science in Palliative Care (MSPC) and Interprofessional Palliative Care Graduate Certificate (IPCC), met many people wanting to connect and learn more about the relationship between gerontology/geriatrics and palliative care. Folks working in the gerontology field shared stories and ways they are working to find meaningful solutions for the increasing older adult population in the US and internationally. Palmer had many people share stories of how the bamboo backscratcher, a popular Palliative Care Education swag item giveaway, reminded them of their grandmothers and ways that their families cared lovingly for them as children.
CU Anschutz geriatric/gerontology specialists in attendance included Jenni Portz, PhD, Cari Levy, and Hillary Lum. Portz is a social work researcher on faculty at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine who attended the MSPC certificate program and has published a manuscript on long term care and the effects on older adults. Cari Levy, MD, PhD, is the Director of the VA Center for Healthcare Evaluation, Research, and Promotion. Hillary Lum, MD, was the principal investigator for the national Alzeimer's Disease and Related Dementias - Palliative Care study at CU Anschutz, and she is currently the associate division head of geriatrics and the associate division head and Training, Education, and Mentorship (TEam) Core director of the Adult & Child Center for Outcomes Research & Delivery Science (ACCORDS) program.
For more information on CU Anschutz leaders in geriatrics/gerontology who overlap/partner with the palliative care community:
Cari Levy, MD, PhD | Profiles | School of Medicine | University of Colorado
Veteran Experience Center Staff - Center for Healthcare Evaluation, Research, and Promotion
Hillary Lum, MD, PhD | Profiles | School of Medicine | University of Colorado
Jennifer Portz, PhD | Profiles | School of Medicine | University of Colorado
For more information on the GSA conference and upcoming events:
GSA 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting: Welcome
Gerontological Society of America - GSA