Raising the level of medical gerontology: Evaluation of the European Academy for Medicine of Ageing course

Abstract

The two-year EAMA course was established in 1995 by the Group of European Professors in Medical Gerontology (GEPMG) with the aim of raising the global standard of medical gerontology in (chiefly) European junior faculties. To determine the impact of this new course, a careful evaluation was made on each of its various goals. Thirty-five and thirty-eight students, selected by national professional societies from 15 different European countries, plus Israel and Mexico, took part in the first two one-week sessions. On the basis of daily and weekly evaluations, performed by both students themselves and teachers, we can say that the first two EAMA sessions succeeded in reaching their main goals: enhancing and updating knowledge, better identifying deficiencies, improving skills in gathering data, establishing priorities, expressing important messages, leading discussions, and creating an international network in medical gerontology. The next two EAMA sessions will hopefully confirm these conclusions.