Who we are:

Established in 1987, the Geriatric Education Center of Michigan (GECM) is a federally funded, statewide consortium administratively located at Michigan State University (MSU) that includes: MSU College of Human Medicine; MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine; MSU College of Nursing; MSU School of Social Work; MSU College of Communication Arts; MSU Extension; Grand Valley State University; University of Michigan School of Dentistry; Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology; and the Michigan Public Health Institute. The GECM also collaborates with other organizations and agencies within the state such as Michigan Center for Rural Health, Michigan Dementia Coalition Primary Care Dementia Network; Michigan Department of Community Health, Sparrow Health System, Lansing Community College, and Area Agencies on Aging.

The GECM is a member of the nationwide network of 49 GECs, offering education and training opportunities for health professions faculty, practitioners, students, and others to enhance the quality and availability of health care for older adults. The GECM is funded from the Bureau of Health Professions of the Health Resources and Services Administration. This support is authorized through Section 777(a), Title VII of the U.S. Public Health Service Act, as amended.

What we do:

The mission of the GECM is to advance geriatric education within the State. The GECM works with its partners to plan, develop, implement and evaluate training programs for multidisciplinary groups of practitioners who provide health care to older adults in a variety of settings including primary care offices, foster care, assisted living, nursing homes, and the community. Training programs are also targeted to faculty in geriatrics and gerontology and health professions students in Michigan’s academic institutions. The GECM initiatives are intended to strengthen geriatric care in medically underserved communities and to improve the organization and delivery of unique services for older adults.