ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND GERIATRIC EDUCATION CENTER:

To meet the health and social needs of a growing national geriatric population, the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) funds a national network of interdisciplinary Geriatric Education Centers. The Long Island Geriatric Education Center was established at Stony Brook University in July 2001 to provide educational opportunities to Long Island healthcare professions, and social service providers in the areas of geriatrics and gerontology.

Innovative interdisciplinary educational programs are offered for faculty, residents and students of the five health sciences schools at Stony Brook, which include the Schools of Dental Medicine, Health Technology and Management, Medicine, Nursing, Social Welfare and community professionals who teach our students.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME A LIGEC ASSOCIATE?

Clinical faculty of Stony Brook University, full-time faculty from affiliated institutions, Stony Brook volunteer faculty, educational leaders of other healthcare professional schools of Long Island and teaching affiliates are eligible to become associates.

REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A LIGEC ASSOCIATE:

To receive a GEC Associate Certificate, enrollees must complete 40 hours of GEC course offerings: 6 hours of educational course offerings, 16 hours of interdisciplinary course offerings and 18 hours of discipline-specific course offerings. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit is available through the Office of Continuing Medical Education, School of Medicine/Health Sciences Center of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Continuing education units and certificates of completion are offered where applicable.

LIGEC COURSES:

A combination of educational courses, interdisciplinary courses and discipline-specific courses are offered. Official course listings are sent to associates in the beginning of each academic year. The schedule for Year 2003/2004 will include courses on evidence-based medicine, health promotion, palliative care, behavioral management in the LTC setting and quality of care in the SNF.

LIGEC EVENTS FOR ASSOCIATES:

A kick-off party is held prior to the beginning of the academic year for new associates to meet LIGEC staff and each other. An overview of LIGEC is presented and associates are given an opportunity to ask questions about the program.

A wrap party is held at the end of each academic year to celebrate completion of the program and to provide an opportunity for associates to give feedback about the program. Associates who have completed the 40 hour program by this date are awarded their LIGEC certificate of completion.

Upon completion of the program, associates are given a manual containing teaching tools for all the courses offered while an associate in the program.

TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATES PROGRAM:
Contact the LIGEC office at 631-444-8279 and request an application.

LIGEC STAFF:
Suzanne D. Fields, M.D., Director
Peter D. Kuemmel, MS, RPAC, Associate Director
Barbara R. Chandler, MPA, Program Coordinator
Arnold S. Jaffe, Ph.D., Education Consultant
Catherine Jannace, Administrative Assistant

FACULTY COORDINATORS:
Beverly P. Horowitz, Ph.D., OTR/L, School of Health Technology & Management
Kathleen Shurpin, Ph.D., RN, School of Nursing
Lisa Strano-Paul, M.D., School of Medicine
Mary Truhlar, DDS, School of Dental Medicine
Carlos Vidal, Ph.D., School of Social Welfare