Stanford University Geriatric Education Resource Center (SUGERC) 1998-2018

From 1998 - 2018, the Stanford University Geriatric Education Resource Center (SUGERC) distributed a collection of innovative geriatric educational materials developed by a consortium of academic institutions, with support from the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York City. Members of the consortium included the American Academy of Family Physicians and eight academic medical centers: Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, University of California - Los Angeles, University of Chicago, University of Connecticut, and the University of Rochester.

These resources were designed to increase the geriatric content of primary care residency training programs. They included field-tested stand-alone teaching aids, packaged methods for teaching geriatric skills, curricular manuals, and faculty development programs.

During 20 years of operation, SUGERC disseminated over 150,000 geriatric educational resources to over 700 institutions. Among these sites were 70% of U.S. internal medicine and family medicine residency programs. Products were also distributed internationally to at least seven other countries including Belgium, Canada, China (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), England, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Georgette Stratos, PhD (Stanford University) and William Hall, MD (University of Rochester) oversaw the early product development phase of this project. Dr Stratos served as the Director for SUGERC, once it was established in 1998. The individuals involved in this collaborative effort are pleased to have assisted medical residents to improve the quality of health care for older persons.