The Gerontology Doctorate Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston focuses on educating, as well advancing the scientific study of old age, processes of aging, and the particular problems of the elderly; at an individual, family, and community level. The doctoral program is well known for its emphasis on the relationship between research, social science and policy.
The Gerontology Department at UMass Boston was founded in 1990 and has since produced more Gerontology Doctorate degrees than any other program in the world.
Alzheimers is not a disease that college students often think about on a regular basis. Members of the Gerontology doctorate program and students of the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Phi Omega (SPO) at UMass Boston organized a team for the Alzheimer walk to generate greater awareness of the disease.
This year, the program created a walk-team through the Alzheimer’s Association website, allowing individuals to join the team and combine total funds raised, contributing to the team’s grand total. With a mix of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students helped raised a total of $2460 for the cause.
There were 15 dedicated walkers who represented the university community, as well as the UMass Boston Gerontology department’s doctorate program. President of the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Phi Omega and second-year UMass Boston student, Ceara Somerville proudly explained that the Gerontology doctorate program is the second oldest Ph.D. program in the country.
“We not only prepare students and working professionals at the graduate level, but also have a strong presence at the undergraduate level” said Somerville. “Undergraduates can take gerontology courses online or in the classroom and earn the Frank J. Manning Certificate in Gerontology, one of a dozen Gerontology programs from across the country designated as a “Program of Merit” by the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE).”
One of the academic programs available to students is the Gerontology Institute, a research and service unit of Gerontology at UMass Boston. Within the Gerontology Institute are the Pension Action Center, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging. “We will continue to raise money and have a presence at the Boston Alzheimer’s Walk in the future, for the cause is near to our hearts and research interests,” Somerville added.
Gerontology Doctoral Students raise over $2000 for Alzheimers research
October 17, 2014