SWAGÊÓƵ

Dr. Marilyn R. Gugliucci is a Professor and the Director for Geriatrics Education and Research, as well as the Director of U-ExCEL (SWAGÊÓƵ~Exercise and Conditioning for Easier Living) Fitness/Wellness Program for older adults. Her faculty appointment is within the SWAGÊÓƵ College of Osteopathic Medicine (SWAGÊÓƵ COM) Division of Geriatrics. Her unique "Learning by Living" research projects, advances medical and health professions students' learning through the application of ethnographic/ autobiographic immersion research methods.  Learning by Living: Nursing Home Immersion involves "admitting" medical students into nursing homes to live the life of an older resident for 10-14 days complete with a diagnosis and standard procedures of care.  The Learning by Living: 48 Hour Hospice Home Immersion research project immerses pairs of students into an 18-bed acute care in-patient hospice home (referred to as the ICU of hospice care) to work with an interprofessional staff team to provide patient care, family support, and post mortem care. Both projects have been recognized with national medical education awards. She also conducts research on older adult falls prevention and the use of Virtual Reality as a learning modality. 

Her research mentorship with students is broad and diverse; focused on clinical and person-centered approaches in geriatrics, LGBTQI+ issues, Substance Use Disorders, etc . Projects are either directly mentored by Dr. G or she connects students with mentors at other higher education institutions, hospitals, or labs.

Dr. Gugliucci is a Fellow of the National Association of Osteopathic Medical Educators (NAOME), the American Geriatrics Society (AGS), the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), and the Maine Gerontological Society (MGS). 

Her expertise and passion in the field of aging has resulted in numerous presentations nationally and internationally. Her international presentations were conducted in England (2022 & 2003), Greece (2020), Ireland (2018), San Francisco (IAGG 2017), Germany (2016), Norway (2015), Ireland (2015 & 2012), Italy, (2013), and Austria (2004). 

She was elected to serve as The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) vice-president in 2024, president in 2025, and board of directors’ chair in 2026. The GSA is the oldest international society dedicated to cultivating excellence in interdisciplinary aging research and education to advance innovations in practice and policy. Her former work with GSA includes:  serving on the inaugural board of directors (2019-2020), GSA Council member for 8 years, Chair of the GSA Health Sciences Section (1750 members, 2012-2013) and a number of GSA committees. Dr. Gugliucci served on the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) board for 11 years and was elected AGHE president serving from 2008-2010. In this role she led the organization to create and endorse reframed/positive language and definitions for geriatrics and gerontology. 

She is a reviewer for BioMed Central- Geriatrics Journal, The Gerontologist,  International Journal of Clinical Medicine, Journal of Hospital Medicine, Journal of Veteran Studies, among others. She serves on the Review Boards for the Aging International Journal and Gerontology and Geriatrics Education journal. Although not a nurse, she was a mentor in two cohorts for the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nurses/Hartford Foundation Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy. In Maine, she has and continues to serve on a number of boards related to aging and health. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Maine Council on Aging (founding board member and former executive officer), Piper Shores Life Care Retirement Community, Hospice of Southern Maine Ethics Board, and Heart to Heart Age Friendly Community in Maine.  She was a founding board member of SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) Maine, an executive officer and board member of the Maine Dirigo Geriatrics Society (Maine Chapter of the American Geriatrics Society), and the Maine Gerontological Society (president, 2010-2012, founding board member).

In March 2018, the Association for Gerontology/Geriatrics in Higher Education (AGHE) bestowed their highest honor, the Clark Tibbitts Award, to Dr. Gugliucci in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the advancement of gerontology and geriatrics as a field of study in institutions of higher education. Additionally, in 2018, she was awarded the Pope Leadership Award by the Hospice of Southern Maine to recognize visionary leadership, a passion for the hospice mission, active involvement in all stages of hospice development, and the willingness to forge together partnerships for the betterment of the community. Other awards include the Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators (SOME) Innovation in the Development of Enduring Medical Education Award (2017) by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine for the 48 Hour Hospice Home Immersion Life Altering Medical Education & Research Project. In 2014 she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society recognizing her as an exemplar of humanistic person care and as a role model, mentor, and leader in medicine.  In 2013, Dr. Gugliucci was awarded the Marguerite Elliott Innovations in Clinical Medical Education Award from the Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators for the Learning by Living Nursing Home Immersion project. Other recognitions include the 2012 Association for Gerontology in Higher Education Hiram Friedsam Mentorship Award for her excellence in mentoring students, faculty, and administrators in the field of aging; and the 2012 Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and MaineToday Media, Inc. Healthcare Hero Award for her excellence, dedication, innovation, compassion and exemplary achievements as a Health Care Educator in Maine.