End of Summer 2024 Newsletter | | |
Message from our Center Director | |
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We are pleased to present our newsletter and provide an overview of our activities from this summer. As we near the end of the summer season and look forward to the academic year ahead, the team at the Csomay Center is eagerly anticipating the opportunities that fall will bring.
This month’s newsletter highlights key aspects of the Csomay Center's strategic plan, aiming to boost our national visibility. Inside, you'll discover our exciting collaboration with a distinguished community member who has received the Eight Over 80 award. We’re also introducing our Csomay Summer Scholars and their innovative projects, which are part of a broader interprofessional pipeline. Additionally, you’ll gain insights into age-friendly practices through our Optimal Aging Initiative.
Throughout all our endeavors, our mission remains unchanged: to promote optimal aging and improve the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers.
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Harleah G. Buck, PhD, RN, FPCN, FAHA, FGSA, FAAN
Sally Mathis Hartwig Professor in Gerontological Nursing
Director of the Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence
University of Iowa College of Nursing
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Meet an Eight Over 80 Award Recipient
Lynn Curry
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The Hawkeye spirit is celebrated among its alumni, who are expected to lead and give back using their acquired skills. Dr. Lynn Curry, DDS, exemplifies this spirit as one of the eight recipients of the Eight Over 80 awards, co-sponsored by the Csomay Center. Throughout his career as a dentist, Curry has demonstrated remarkable leadership and generosity—from his work on remote Native American reservations in Alaska and founding the Iowa Delta Dental Foundation to teaching at his local community college. His commitment keeps the Hawkeye spirit vibrant and alive.
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For the fourth consecutive year, the Csomay Center has partnered with the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) to offer summer research experiences for undergraduate students. Through the Summer Scholars Program, students are paired with faculty mentors and spend 10 weeks engaged in research projects related to aging and older adults. This opportunity is further supported by the efforts of our Program Coordinator, Samantha Wittrock, MPH.
Under the leadership of Summer PhD Intern Alaa Harb, MSN, RN, PMHN, the Csomay Center provides infrastructural support, individualized skill-building sessions, and networking opportunities for the mentor-mentee pairs.
Meet the students participating in the Csomay Summer Scholars Program.
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Student Name: Viviana Ramirez
Major: Psychology on the Pre-Med Track
Mentor Name: Dr. Chooza Moon, PhD, RN
Brief Project Description: Viviana's project with Dr. Moon focuses on how sleep regularity is associated with the aging brain. The study examines both objective and subjective sleep data to identify sleep patterns in older adults and analyzes MRI data to determine the relationship between sleep regularity and brain structures and functions.
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Student Name: Bailey Goodman
Major: Public Health and Interdepartmental Studies
Mentor Name: Dr. Natany da Costa Ferreira Oberfrank, PhD, RN
Brief Project Description: This study, conducted by Bailey and Dr. da Costa Ferreira Oberfrank, aims to identify the intrinsic and extrinsic motivations for symptom self-management in individuals diagnosed with heart failure. Using semi-structured interviews, the project explores how older adults manage their heart failure symptoms and the impact on their quality of life.
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Student Name: Ella Sherlock
Major: Public Health
Mentor Name: Dr. Alison Anderson, PhD, MSN, ANP-BC, NP-C
Brief Project Description: Ella and Dr. Anderson's observational study uses innovative data approaches to characterize physiological interactions and patterns in concurrent sleep and glycemic data. It aims to identify phenotypes from middle adulthood to old age as a step toward reducing dementia risk.
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Student Name: Amiritha Kumar
Major: Medical Anthropology
Mentor Name: Dr. Daniel Liebzeit, PhD, RN
Brief Project Description: Amiritha and Dr. Liebzeit's project evaluates the implementation and impact of the IRTC program through interviews with participants, non-participants, and staff. Additionally, it aims to increase age-friendliness in Johnson County, Iowa, using community-based participatory methods.
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Student Name: Annika Ellis
Major: Nursing with a minor in Psychology
Mentor Name: Dr. Wen Liu, PhD, RN, FGSA
Brief Project Description:
This study by Annika and Dr. Liu focuses on the interactions between nursing home staff and residents with dementia during mealtime. The goal is to optimize mealtime care through person-centered interventions.
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Student Name: Xandra McGlasson
Major: Mechanical Engineer
Mentor Name: Dr. Deema Totah, MS, PhD
Brief Project Description:
Xandra and Dr. Totah are exploring the potential for vehicles to monitor drivers' heart rates using embedded sensors. Their study involves conducting a literature review on existing technologies and assessing the feasibility of using car cabins as real-time cardiac monitoring systems.
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Everyone at the Csomay Center is excited about the connections made between students and mentors this summer. We are also thrilled about the new relationship we've established with researchers like Dr. Deema Totah, which has enabled us to connect with the College of Engineering. | |
Earlier this summer, we kicked off our Csomay Summer Scholars program with an introductory meeting. In this meeting, mentors and mentees came together to learn about the Csomay Center and the projects being worked on this summer. | |
Pictured: At the Csomay Scholars summer kickoff meeting, Samantha Wittrock told the students and mentors about the Csomay Center. | |
Optimal Aging Initiative
Jen Jones
We had a successful launch to our adult child caregiver support group in July. The level of interest is high, and so many have reached out to say this caregiver group is exactly what they have needed. Thank you to Csomay Center member Ceil Miller-Bouchet for sharing her need and for being a partner in the development of this group. Our next gathering will be in late September. Watch our Csomay Center social media and website for more updates.
If you would like to have Jen present about the Csomay Center, please contact her at jennifer-e-jones@uiowa.edu.
| Pictured: Ceil Miller-Bouchet and Jen Jones, Optimal Aging Initiative Program Coordinator getting ready for the Csomay Center's first adult child caregiver support group. | | | |
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Save the Date!
The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s is just around the corner this September! We would love for you to join the Csomay Team and walk with us. This is a great opportunity to honor someone special and help raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease.
Event Details:
Where: City Park, 200 Park Rd., Iowa City, IA 52246
When: September 28th. Registration starts at 8 AM, followed by a Promise Garden ceremony at 9 AM, with the walk commencing right after.
Click the link below to donate to our walk or to join the Csomay Team!
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Pictured: At the 2023 annual Walk to End Alzheimer's event, the Csomay Center team poses for a photo before starting the annual walk. | |
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The Csomay Center is committed to advancing innovations in research, education, and practice to promote optimal aging and quality of life for all older adults and their caregivers.
You can support our mission by making a contribution to the Csomay Center.
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Follow us on social media for more Csomay Center updates! | | | | |
