Thank you for visiting the OkGEC web site.
Oklahoma is a good place to provide training and education in geriatrics and gerontology!
Oklahoma has (1) a numeric increase in our older population that is out-pacing the number of health care professionals trained in geriatrics, (2) older Oklahomans presenting with complex problems that challenge the expertise of current providers, and (3) inadequate numbers of high-quality educational programs for clinical providers.
Oklahoma is a rural state with the largest number of Native American elders among the 50 states, a unique population of African Americans elders living largely in isolated rural black communities, and a growing number of elderly Hispanics and Asians.
New and existing health professionals require sophisticated knowledge and skills to address the healthcare needs of culturally diverse elders, particularly those with long-term physical or mental disability and co-morbidities.
The OkGEC has two specific aims:
#1: To train health professions faculty, health care trainers, health care providers, and health care students throughout the state of Oklahoma using evidence-based education specific to gerontology and geriatrics.
#2: To develop, evaluate, and disseminate curricular materials relating to the treatment of health problems of elderly individuals and their caregivers.
I invite you to take advantage of OkGEC educational offerings through your local contact or this main office.
Tom Teasdale, DrPH
OkGEC Director
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