GeriScholar Accomplishments
GeriScholars at Work
Many GeriScholars have shared the impact of their projects, which focus on improved care for aging patients. Here are some of their accomplishments.
Establishing Dementia Screening in Tribal Clinics
GeriScholar Dr. Raphael Francisco, from the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, developed a dementia screening process for his clinic. Before his project, there was no formal system for screening and tracking dementia diagnoses.
Key outcomes:
- Implemented a structured dementia screening process
- Established accurate documentation for clinical and statistical use
- Improved early detection and support for elders with memory and thinking concerns
Dr. Francisco's work ensures dementia screenings are a standard part of elder care, which will continue to benefit patients and families moving forward.
Building a Strong Elder Care Network
GeriScholar Dr. Mia Lozada, from Gallup Indian Medical Center, regularly consults with fellow scholars to improve local elder care and medication use and implement best practices.
Key outcomes:
- Strengthened professional networks for sharing elder care strategies
- Promoted in-depth elder assessments focused on brain function and lifestyle habits
- Encouraged culturally sensitive care, such as incorporating language preferences and family-centered approaches
Dr. Lozada's practices highlight the importance of peer collaboration in improving health outcomes for elders.
Expanding the Reach of Geriatric Training
The GeriScholars Program continues to gain national recognition for its impact on elder care. In 2022 and 2023, the program received the IHS Director’s Award, honoring its contributions to dementia care and geriatric training.
The awards were given for the program's effectiveness in:
- Training primary care providers across multiple IHS Areas to improve elder health services.
- Increasing access to mentorship, clinical practicums, and peer coaching in geriatric care.
- Developing and implementing local elder care improvement projects that address community-specific needs.
These recognitions highlight the contributions of each GeriScholar in improving dementia care, early detection, and elder health services in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Locations of GeriScholars Across the U.S.
The IHS Alzheimer's Program's Indian Health GeriScholars Program is an interconnected nationwide effort, with IHS-operated, Tribal, or Urban grantee locations at three types of health centers across many of the areas IHS serves. This allows the program to accomplish the key goals of Celebrating Leadership in elder care, demonstrating reach and diversity, providing transparency, and making an impact.
- Alaska Area: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium – Tribal
- Albuquerque Area: Ysleta del Sur Pueblo – Tribal
- Bemidji Area: Cass Lake Hospital, Red Lake Hospital – IHS, Gun Lake Tribe Health and Human Services – Tribal
- Billings Area: Indian Family Health Clinic of Great Falls, Butte Indian Wellness Center – Urban
- California Area: Warner Mountain Indian Health – IHS, Sonoma County Indian Health Project – Tribal
- Great Plains Area: Cheyenne River Health Center, Sisseton – IHS, Lincoln Health and Wellness Center – Tribal, Quentin N Burdick Memorial Health Care Facility – Urban
- Nashville Area: Catawba Health Center – IHS, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority – Tribal
- Navajo Area: Gallup Indian Medical Center, Tohatchi Health Center, Chinle Health Care Facility, Tsaile Health Center, Four Corners Regional Health Center – IHS
- Oklahoma Area: Clinton Service Unit, Lawton Indian Hospital – IHS, Choctaw Nation Health Care, Oklahoma City Indian Clinic – Tribal, Kickapoo Tribal Health Center, Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System, OKC Indian Clinic, Hunter Health – Urban
- Phoenix Area: Phoenix Indian Medical Center, Whiteriver Indian Hospital, Hopi Health Care Center – IHS, Salt River Pima Maricopa Tribal Community – Tribal
- Portland Area: Warm Springs Health & Wellness Center, Yakama Indian Health Center – IHS, Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services, Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, Quileute Health Center, The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation Wellness Center, Oyate Health Center, Squaxin Island Health Clinic & Family Services – Tribal
