Since 1974, the Minnesota Gerontological Society (MGS) has served as a leading interdisciplinary membership-based organization supporting education, research, and practice in the field of aging.
With its focus on collaboration between research and practice, the MGS’s partnership with the Minnesota Northstar Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (MN GWEP) has supported the training and distribution of the MN GWEP’s resources and educational materials. The partnership, which began in 2019, has been beneficial for both organizations and the MN GWEP’s mission to improve the health care and health of older adults across the entire state of Minnesota.
“The MGS is a 400-member organization of educators and practitioners, meeting in the middle of education and practice,” said Heidi Holste, executive director of MGS. “Our longstanding partnership with the MN GWEP has been key to our organization.”
In April of each year, the MGS hosts an annual conference. In addition, the organization hosts approximately 10 webinars held throughout the year for virtual learning. The webinars are held free of charge to MGS members and offer continuing educational credits (CEUs) for participants. These CEUs acknowledge the dedication to ongoing education and assist in MGS members’ professional advancement.
“Membership in MGS is a meaningful and approachable way to ensure you are educated on caring for an aging population,” said Teresa Schicker, program manager of the MN GWEP and a member of the MGS Education Committee. “If you are working in any field in health care, the largest population today is people aged 65 and older. The work to improve our understanding of aging is important and meaningful. We are all aging together.”
According to Holste and Schicker, practitioners from interprofessional backgrounds participate in MGS educational opportunities—from behavioral health, nursing, long-term care, educators, retirees, students, pharmacy, medicine, social work, and more. Our common interest is aging.
“Attendees of these great MGS events include participants are from Minnesota, the Upper Midwest and beyond,” said Schicker.
Robbin Frazier is a leader in the MN GWEP at the University of Minnesota, Associate Director of Equity and Community Engagement of the Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation, and chairs the MGS Education Committee.
“The Minnesota Northstar GWEP benefits from our continued partnership with MGS for awareness and dissemination of our outstanding toolkits, preceptor sheets, online library, dental resources and tools about Age-Friendly care,” said Frazier. “The reach and impact of our partnership is significant because of our shared goals to provide educational and professional development for the growth of practitioners, students, educators, researchers, and others to enhance services for the aging population in Minnesota. The MGS membership allows us to disseminate educational resources to vital professionals including nurses, care coordinators, social workers, assisted living and nursing home professionals, and providers of home- and community-based services.”
According to Schicker, the partnership is part of the larger efforts to create an Age Friendly Minnesota ecosystem.
“MGS has supported the efforts to distribute MN GWEP’s geriatric education resources, and MGS members are key in the statewide efforts to promote Age Friendly care,” said Schicker.
“The partnership between MGS and the MN GWEP is very valuable in improving the health of older adults,” said Holste. “They help us plan our speakers and share our passion for knowledge, learning and research to improve aging in Minnesota. This is important work for all of us.”
Save the date: MGS 2025 Annual Conference
April 23, 2025 – Virtual day
April 24, 2025 - In person at McNamara Center
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