UND-led Dakota Geriatrics program announces ‘Meet the Professor’ series to promote age-friendly care
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — The Dakota Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), located at UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS) Department of Geriatrics, will begin hosting a “Meet the Professor” series starting in 2026.
This monthly educational initiative is designed by area geriatricians to help older residents in the Dakotas better understand their health goals and actively plan for their own care. This series reflects Dakota GWEP mission to strengthen healthcare for older adults through collaborative and inter-professional education.
“North Dakota has one of the highest percentages of residents age 85 and up in the country,” said Dr. Don Jurivich, chair of UND’s Department of Geriatrics. “This means that we have to focus on boosting not only the workforce trained to care for older adults but on building age-friendly communities across the state. These presentations bring UND faculty into the community to share the latest best practices for promoting healthy aging.”
The series also builds upon UND President Andrew Armacost’s campaign to focus the University’s 2025-26 academic year on community. “Meet the Professor” sessions feature expert presentations from UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences faculty who will address the five principles of Age-Friendly Healthcare (the “5Ms”) as they engage area seniors:
- What Matters Most
- Medications
- Mind
- Mobility
- Multicomplexity
Funded through a grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the GWEP sessions provide practical content that supports healthy aging, including brain health.
Partnering with the SMHS on the original GWEP were the North Dakota State Division on Aging Services and Health Promotion, UND’s Center for Rural Health, Good Samaritan Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Memory Café, North Dakota State University, and South Dakota State University. Joining this list of partners since the grant was renewed include the University of South Dakota, Indian Health Service (IHS), and Spirit Lake Nation.
Sessions will be held monthly at Edgewood Healthcare Grand Forks, the Grand Forks Senior Center, and Unity Medical Center in Grafton, N.D.
For more information about the “Meet the Professor” series or to get involved, contact: dakotageriatrics@UND.edu.
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Brian James Schill
Director, Office of Alumni & Community Relations
UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
701.777.6048 direct | 701.777.4305 office
brian.schill@UND.edu | www.UND.edu