It is with great pleasure that the UAMS Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative (AGEC) announces its 2021-2022 selection for the Geriatric Student Scholars program – Erica Dewey (College of Medicine), Anna Harrison (College of Health Professions), Tenia Marshall (College of Nursing), and Gale Menotti (College of Pharmacy).
The purpose of the Student Scholars program (sponsored by AGEC) is to increase health professions students’ interest and exposure to older adults, to improve knowledge of older adults and the specialized care they need and to promote interprofessional collaboration among health professions students.
We are so excited to announce the Geriatric Student Scholars for FY 2022 to support emerging health professionals education and participation surrounding specialized needs for older adults, and to foster interprofessional collaboration in academic and clinical geriatrics. The goal of the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is to enhance the quality of health care for elderly Arkansans through research, education and training. The Geriatric Student Scholars program is an excellent way to achieve this goal and mentor future healthcare team members.
AGEC Director, Robin McAtee, Ph.D., RN., FACHE
UAMS’ Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative is a program of the University Of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. The collaborative is funded by a Health Resources and Services Administration grant of $3.7 million for a Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program.
Geriatric Student Scholars – Congrats!
Erica Dewey, Fourth-Year College of Medicine student
Anna Harrison, Second-Year College of Health Professions student
Tenia Marshall, Fourth-Year College of Nursing student
Gale Menotti, Third-Year College of Pharmacy student
Erica Dewey is a fourth-year MD student in the College of Medicine at UAMS. She is originally from Lonoke, AR. She received a B.A. Degree in Psychology with a minor in biology from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Erica now resides in North Little Rock with her husband, two dogs, and soon to be son, Bennett. Early on in medical school, she realized from conversations in patient interactions that she enjoyed learning and taking care of the growing geriatric population. She is honored to be an AGEC Geriatric Student Scholar and excited to take part in the opportunities the program has to offer. Erica’s future goals include working in a rural setting as a family medicine physician to be an integral part of a community, manage and reduce chronic conditions, provide continuity in care, and build longstanding relationships with patients of all ages. In her free time, she likes to travel, cook/bake, and spend time with family and friends.
Anna Harrison is a second-year Speech-Language Pathology student in the College of Health Professions at UAMS pursuing her Masters degree. Anna was born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas and received her Bachelors of Science degree at the University of Central Arkansas in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Her interest in working with the geriatric population sparked when she was employed as a home-health caregiver for chronically ill and disabled geriatric clients. Her passion for providing care for this population grew during this time and she hopes to continue to refine her skills as a clinician through the AGEC Scholar Program. Anna has sought to better equip herself by becoming a Certified Dementia Care Practitioner through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Anna has served in various leadership roles, most recently serving as the 2020-2021 vice president of the UAMS chapter of the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association. Anna is honored to be selected as AGEC student scholar and looks forward to collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of health professionals to provide comprehensive and quality care to geriatric patients.
Tenia Marshall is a senior BSN student in the UAMS College of Nursing from Nashville, Arkansas but she currently resides in Bryant, AR. She attended college at Henderson State University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She went on to attend University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and received a BS in Medical Technology. She has spent the past 11 years working as a Medical Technologist. She has volunteered with Arkansas Hospice and The American Cancer Society, where most of her clients were older adults. It was due to this volunteerism, she discovered how much she enjoys working with the geriatric population. She is very thankful to have been chosen as a Geriatric Student Scholar and she’s looking to gaining insight on how to help aging adults live independently, promote their health, and maintain a good quality of life. She is excited to further work with an interdisciplinary team and gain knowledge on how to effectively work with other healthcare professionals to deliver the best possible care.
Gale Menotti is a third-year pharmacy student at UAMS. She is from Monticello, Arkansas and attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She currently works at Walmart Pharmacy and Drew Memorial Hospital Pharmacy. When she is not working or studying, she enjoys going to the gym and spending time with her husband, two step-children and their two dogs. For as long as she can remember, pharmacy has always been her dream profession; she has never wanted to pursue anything else. Her interest in geriatrics began in middle school when she volunteered many hours at a transitions facility where her mom was the director. As she worked closely with this amazing population, assisting in meal preparation and group activities, she grew a deep connection and love for them. She plans to practice in both the clinical and retail settings throughout her pharmacy career, and hopes to also work as a long-term care facility consultant. She is thankful not only for the financial assistance this scholarship provides, but also for the opportunities to increase her knowledge about the geriatric population so she can provide the best care as a pharmacist.