COM student receives highly competitive gerontology education award

Emily Tamimie (D.O., ’22) receives James McKenney Student Travel Award from the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education
Emily Tamimie (D.O., ’22) received the James McKenney Student Travel Award from the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) last fall

A student in the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM) was one of only 10 selected worldwide to receive the James McKenney Student Travel Award from the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), the educational arm of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to research, education, and practice of the field of aging.

Emily Tamimie (D.O., ’22) received the highly competitive honor last fall. Globally, there were 104 total applicants for the award, which is granted by the society based on aspirations to advance the field of gerontology/geriatrics. 

In November, Tamimie flew to Austin, Texas, to attend the GSA’s 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting, where she was formally recognized for being selected as a McKenney Scholar. 

While at the conference, Tamimie presented a poster on the UNE COM virtual reality medical education training. Tamimie’s own research on the UNE COM 48 Hour Hospice Home Immersion Project was presented by Marilyn R. Gugliucci, Ph.D., professor and director for Geriatrics Education and Research at UNE COM.

The conference drew over 4,000 attendees, giving Tamimie the opportunity to network and attend a number of workshops, symposia, and paper and poster presentations. Of particular interest to her was a session about research being done on the use of smart devices — such as communication portals and virtual assistants — to decrease isolation among older adults. 

The technology, Tamimie said, helps cultivate a feeling of connectedness among older adults with their communities, families, and health care providers.

“My introduction to these additional forms of communication provides tools to promote the well-being of patients and decrease the risk of poor health outcomes of those in my care as a future health care provider,” Tamimie said. “I am grateful to AGHE and the James McKenney Award for providing this opportunity to attend the GSA annual meeting.”

As part of her award, Tamimie also receives a year membership to the both the GSA and AGHE. 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.