West Virginia Geriatrics Society Hosts 11th Annual Scientific Assembly
The West Virginia Geriatrics Society 11th Annual Scientific Assembly, “A Tragic Story of Elder Abuse and Addiction: The Case of Lila Perkins” was held on September 17th, 2015 at the University of Charleston and co-sponsored by the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy, the WV Geriatric Education Center and CAMC Institute.
This year’s Assembly was designed for healthcare providers and others interested in learning and recognizing elder abuse and addiction in our aging population. Sessions addressed a variety of elder abuse issues facing providers, patients, and family caregivers. Each session incorporated segments from a video case study of Lila Perkins. Speakers referred to the video as an example which illustrated concerns of abuse and addiction. Dr. Laura Mosqueda from the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine and Director of the National Center on Elder Abuse kicked off the day with “Elder Abuse: What, Why and Who?” Other presenters were Anita Lorenzo, PharmD, CGP, Cara Ellis, BS, RD, CDP, Mandy Weirich, LSW, MSW, Catherine McConnell, Esq., Suzanne Holroyd, MD, and Eric Rankin, PhD.
The Assembly was well attended by a variety of health disciplines including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, students, and residents. Other attendees included educators, policy advocates, researchers, and administrators. Exhibitors from across the area provided valuable information to the attendees about their products and services. Represented were AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, Genesis HealthCare, Amedisys Home Health Services, Edgewood Summit, Hospice Council of WV, Janssen Pharmaceutical, ResCare HomeCare, River Park Hospital, and WV School of Osteopathic Medicine Center for Rural and Community Health.
WVGS welcomes Teresa Sexton, RN, MSNeD as a member of the 2016 WVGS Board of Directors. Teresa is Director of Senior Services and Nursing at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington. We look forward to working with Teresa in the coming years!
WVGS Assembly Poster Competition
Congratulations to Leah Harrell, Marshall University Medical Student, for her wining poster A Unique Case of Accidental Ingestion of Potassium Permanganate
Each year the Assembly hosts a poster competition for students and recent graduates. This year six posters were accepted into the competition. A team of judges evaluated the poster on appearance, organization and preparation, originality and merit, knowledge, and presentation, with a possible total score of 100 points. The prize for the winning poster is up to $1,200 to offset costs to attend and exhibit the winning poster at the American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California in 2016.
David Z Morgan Award for Excellence in Geriatrics to Nancy Daugherty!
Over the past five years, the WV Geriatric Education Center (WVGEC) has had the honor of presenting the David Z. Morgan Award in recognition of exceptional leadership and devoted service to geriatrics education in our state. Dr. Morgan was a native son of WV, a faculty physician at West Virginia University in the Department of Internal Medicine, Director of the first geriatrics program at WVU, and involved with the first GEC, the Mountain State GEC. Dr. Morgan was an advocate for older adults and mentor to many students over the years of his tenure.
In 2015, WVGEC lost federal funding. As tribute to Dr. Morgan and to continue the work of the WVGEC, WV Geriatrics Society will be presenting this award as its annual scientific assembly.
Nancy Daugherty received the David Z. Morgan award for her outstanding contribution to Geriatric Education in the state. We thank Nancy for her tireless effort to promote Geriatrics in West Virginia. Nancy served as Associate Director of the WVGEC for the past eight years and WVGS board member for the past four years. Congratulations to Nancy for this well-deserved award!