The Geriatric Assessment Interdisciplinary Team (GAIT) project is a free program for health and social science undergraduate, graduate, and professional students enrolled in a University System of Maryland (USM) institution. GAIT introduces students to the comprehensive geriatric assessment and the fundamentals of interprofessional (interdisciplinary) collaboration through both didactic and clinical sessions. 

For the safety of the vulnerable populations with whom our GAIT participants interact, the GAIT projects remain virtual for the Spring 2022 semester using the Blackboard platform and Zoom conferencing services.

GAIT is made possible through a University System of Maryland (USM) Redeployment Grant to the Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Reasearch (GGEAR) inter-professional program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. View the GAIT powerpoint below for more information.

The project is designed by the Maryland Area Health Education Centers (MAHECs) in partnership with the Geriatrics & Gerontology Education and Research (GGEAR) Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Graduate School.

The GAIT project provides an opportunity for students to:

• Interact with students and professionals from a variety of disciplines;
• Participate in team-building exercises that focus on the value of an interdisciplinary approach to improve quality of care for older adults;
• Understand services provided to older adults; and
• Learn about the needs of underserved older adult communities within our state.

As an interprofessional learning experience, GAIT is designed to help students:

• Understand the uniqueness of interprofessional teams and its value in providing person-centered care;
• Recognize barriers to effective communication in health care teams and identify ways to reduce conflict and disagreement;
• Explain aging processes and the diversity of the older adult population;
• Evaluate best practices in honoring the autonomy of older persons; and
• Employ effective intergenerational communication skills (verbal, non-verbal, written) to recruit prospects and engage with members.