GOWANDA – The Healthy Community Alliance is partnering with The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York to inform the community about geriatric education programs for rural health professionals. Coming up is the Geriatric Scholar Certificate Program. This five-day in-person program – one session per week for five consecutive weeks – provides professional training in interdisciplinary geriatrics and gerontology with an emphasis on rural geriatric care.

It is sponsored by SUNY Upstate Medical University, the Consortium of New York Geriatric Education Centers, Columbia University Morris W. Stroud III Center for Study of Quality of Life, the Research Foundation of SUNY – Center of Aging Research, Education and Services and the New York State Office of Mental Health. This program is held twice each year in Binghamton on Wednesdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 4 at SUNY Upstate Medical University Clinical Campus in Binghamton. Additional sessions will be held on Thursdays from September to October at Masonic Care Community in Utica. The program offers 29.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credits for physicians and 30 contact hours for nurses and social workers.

Also being offered is a course and certificate for guided care nursing. This six-week online course is offered in March-April, May-June, July-August, September-October and November-December.

Eligible applicants are required to submit a brief scholarship application to enroll in any of the programs listed above that best meets their individual training needs, interests, ability to travel and take time away from work.

Approved scholarships will cover course tuition for the programs. The completed application must be emailed to slee@hfwcny.org no later than 30 days prior to the start of the applicant’s desired course. Applicants will be notified of scholarship awards by phone and email within two weeks of application receipt.

The Health Foundation also offers the following upcoming programs: intensive board review course in geriatric and palliative medicine, and geriatric education for rural providers in western New York. To find out more about the Geriatric Education for Rural Health Professionals program and to apply go to hfwcny.org.