The GAIT Project: Fall 2026 Program for Health & Social Science Students

About the GAIT Project

The GAIT project is a FREE PROGRAM available to health and social science undergraduate, graduate, and professional students enrolled in a University System of Maryland (USM) institution. This educational initiative is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of healthcare and social service students in assessing and managing the care of older adults. GAIT is funded through the University System of Maryland (USM) Redeployment Grant System.

GAIT introduces the comprehensive geriatric assessment and the fundamentals of interprofessional (interdisciplinary) collaboration through both didactic and clinical sessions. The clinical portion involves interprofessional teams of students and trainees from various disciplines, such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, dentistry, and physical therapy, working together on an assigned case.

During the Fall 2026 semester, both virtual and in-person GAITs are available. In-person GAIT projects are full-day, on-site events. Virtual GAITs use the Blackboard platform and Zoom conferencing services. All GAIT project participants receive a certificate of completion.

What Students Will Gain

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 interprofessional and intergenerational communication skills

Participants are expected to:

• Participate fully in the GAIT experience. Information about expectations will be sent after your registration has been processed.

FALL 2026 Topics & Dates

More Information: Dr. Diane Martin, diane.martin@umaryland.edu

Meals, project materials, and a travel stipend are provided for IN-PERSON GAITS. Overnight accommodations available to participants traveling more than 50 miles to the training site.

1.Virtual: Thursday, September 24, 2026-October 1, 2026  REGISTER HERE

Title: Older Adults at Risk: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Suicide Prevention

Blackboard Opens September 24 (~4 hours activities); Real-Time Zoom Meeting, Thursday October 1: 3:00pm-7:00pm. Facilitator: Diane Martin, PhD, MSL, MA

Description: Learn to recognize and respond to suicide risk among older adults, an often overlooked population in prevention efforts. Through case vignettes, discussion, and evidence-informed strategies, students will explore risk and protective factors, the importance of collaborative care, and how to balance safety with respect for autonomy in later life. REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, 9/18/26

2. In-person: Thursday, October 13, 2026 (8:00am-4:15pm)

Title: Hospice Care in Practice: An Immersive Interdisciplinary Clinical Experience

*Location: Hospice of Chesapeake, 90A Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122

Description: This one-day workshop invites attendees to participate in the interdisciplinary approach to caring for the seriously ill geriatric population during their final days. Participants can expect to learn assessment skills, interdisciplinary care planning and end of life interventions that lead to a peaceful death.

3. In-person: Wednesday, November 4, 2026 (8:00am-4pm) REGISTER HERE

Title: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Hearing Health in Older Adult Care

*Location: University of Maryland Hearing and Speech Clinic, Lefrak Hall, 7251 Preinkert Dr., College Park, MD 20742

Description: This GAIT will focus on recognizing and addressing hearing loss in older adults as a key component of whole-person, age-friendly care. Participants learn practical strategies to improve communication, support cognitive, social, emotional wellbeing, and coordinate hearing health and care across settings.

4. Virtual: Thursday, November 12, 2026-November 19, 2026 REGISTER HERE

Title: Trauma Informed Care of the Older Adult

Blackboard Opens November 12 (~4 hours activities); Real-Time Zoom Meeting, Thursday November 19: 3:00pm-7:00pm. Facilitator: Jessica Chaney

Description: This interactive interprofessional workshop introduces health and social care students to trauma-informed approaches for working with older adults. Participants will explore how trauma across the life course can affect health, behavior, communication, trust, and engagement with care. Working in interprofessional teams, students will apply trauma-informed principles to an older adult case, consider the perspectives and contributions of different professions, and develop collaborative strategies that promote safety, choice, dignity, and person-centered care.