PASS = Promoting an Alliance of Students and Seniors

Dr. Stokes and Rosemary Batorski were the faculty advisors of this team that has medical, dentistry, and pharmacy students.

The team’s overall goal is to engage senior companions with students to improve quality of life. MIFA was recognized as being uniquely able to assist with social and financial difficulties, with UTHSC being uniquely qualified to contribute to senior companions’ healthcare.

The purpose of the team is to become health advocates for senior companions. Interdisciplinary teams of UTHSC students will work together with senior companions (one team per one senior companion) to either have a friendly relationship with students or to partner together to overcome healthcare barriers. Proposal to meet quarterly after an initial baseline assessment as the companion enters the program.

The main goal of PASS is to keep the companion engaged as a companion to serve MIFA clients. The team described potential benefits to MIFA companions as well as to the students – both interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary benefits. The team has reached out to the Christian Mobile Dental Clinic and have considered partnering with students in the Southern College of Optometry to further integrate healthcare.

Great quote by Oscar Wilde to end the presentation: The only thing to do with good advice is to PASS it on. It is never of any use to oneself.

Great judge questions and comments about literacy levels, companions feeling “overwhelmed” with a large number of students, team makeup to reflect diversity.