The Long Island Geriatric Education Center (LIGEC) was established to help address the healthcare needs of an aging population. Approximately 13% of Long Island residents are 65 years of age or older. By the year 2030, the number of older people is expected to double from 35 to 70 million nationwide. In an effort to improve and maintain the health and wellbeing of this population, LIGEC provides educational opportunities to healthcare professionals and social service providers in the areas of geriatrics and gerontology. The creation of LIGEC was made possible by a five-year grant by the Bureau of Health Professions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to the Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center. Initially, participating organizations included the Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the Long Island State Veterans Home, and the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In 2007, LIGEC was re-funded by HRSA as a consortium, with Stony Brook as the lead organization. New partners include Eastern Long Island Hospital, St. John’s University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, and Winthrop-University Hospital The grant provides support to develop innovative interdisciplinary educational programs for the faculty, residents, and students of the Stony Brook University Schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine, Health Technology and Management, Nursing, and Social Welfare. Voluntary and salaried faculty of Stony Brook University and its affiliates as well as faculty and educational leaders of other healthcare schools, institutions, and agencies on Long Island are eligible to become LIGEC associates. Specifically, the programs are designed for dental hygienists, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, and social workers. Associates receive 40 hours of training in new educational techniques (6 hours), the interdisciplinary core curriculum (16 hours), and discipline-specific geriatric courses (18 hours). Completion of the program earns associates a certificate and continuing medical education/continuing professional education credit. The education and training programs focus on primary and transitional care, health promotion and disease prevention, multicultural aging, patient safety, and outreach to medically underserved communities.

The Center will:

• Enhance interdisciplinary training in the schools at Stony Brook University’s Health Sciences Center through the creation of an innovative geriatric core curriculum and other interdisciplinary courses, retreats, and clinical rotations.

• Provide faculty development in geriatrics and gerontology through discipline-specific clinical updates, interdisciplinary courses, team training, distance learning, and workshops.

• Offer a 24-hour course in Health Literacy geared to geriatric professionals.

• Conduct continuing professional education courses on geriatric topics for community healthcare professionals.

• Provide assistance to other healthcare institutions and professional schools interested in developing or expanding their geriatric curricula.

• Maintain a Speakers Bureau and a Geriatric Resource Center that provides print-based, audio-visual, and electronic resources on a variety of aging-related topics.