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The UNT Health Science Center’s (UNTHSC) Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and School of Health Professions will expand its SAGE program and partner with the UNT System College of Pharmacy, along with the Texas Christian University Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Department of Nutritional Sciences, to improve the ability of physicians to work in teams among health care disciplines. The four-year, $1 million grant funds the new NEXT STEPS Program that will employ three major innovations under the direction of Reynolds Fellow Janice Knebl, DO, Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians Endowed Chair in Clinical Geriatrics, and Professor of Internal Medicine at UNTHSC, to provide better team care for older adults:

• Expand the Seniors Assisting in Geriatrics Education (SAGE) program for students of various health professions, including physician assistants, physical therapy, pharmacy, nursing and nutrition;
• Create an Inter-professional, web-based Team Capstone (ITC) geriatrics experience for all senior-year health professions students at the participating institutions; and
• Develop inter-professional e-learning modules in collaboration with the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) for residents and practicing physicians.

UNTHSC will collaborate with Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grantee Virginia Commonwealth University to adapt its Virtual Classroom as the model for the ITC geriatrics experience, which matches older patients with students studying medicine, physician assistance, physical therapy, pharmacy, nursing and nutrition. Both students and Fort Worth Metroplex senior adults benefit from this innovative senior mentoring program.

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