COM student receives highly competitive gerontology education award

Emily Tamimie (D.O., 鈥22) receives James McKenney Student Travel Award from the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education
Emily Tamimie (D.O., 鈥22) received the James McKenney Student Travel Award from the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) last fall

A student in the SWAG视频鈥檚 College of Osteopathic Medicine (SWAG视频 COM) was one of only 10 selected worldwide to receive the James McKenney Student Travel Award from the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), the educational arm of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the nation鈥檚 oldest and largest organization devoted to research, education, and practice of the field of aging.

Emily Tamimie (D.O., 鈥22) received the highly competitive honor last fall. Globally, there were 104 total applicants for the award, which is granted by the society based on aspirations to advance the field of gerontology/geriatrics. 

In November, Tamimie flew to Austin, Texas, to attend the GSA鈥檚 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting, where she was formally recognized for being selected as a McKenney Scholar. 

While at the conference, Tamimie presented a poster on the SWAG视频 COM virtual reality medical education training. Tamimie鈥檚 own research on the SWAG视频 COM 48 Hour Hospice Home Immersion Project was presented by Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D., professor and director for Geriatrics Education and Research at SWAG视频 COM.

The conference drew over 4,000 attendees, giving Tamimie the opportunity to network and attend a number of workshops, symposia, and paper and poster presentations. Of particular interest to her was a session about research being done on the use of smart devices 鈥 such as communication portals and virtual assistants 鈥 to decrease isolation among older adults. 

The technology, Tamimie said, helps cultivate a feeling of connectedness among older adults with their communities, families, and health care providers.

鈥淢y introduction to these additional forms of communication provides tools to promote the well-being of patients and decrease the risk of poor health outcomes of those in my care as a future health care provider,鈥 Tamimie said. 鈥淚 am grateful to AGHE and the James McKenney Award for providing this opportunity to attend the GSA annual meeting.鈥

As part of her award, Tamimie also receives a year membership to the both the GSA and AGHE. 

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