About the Center

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The MU Interdisciplinary Center on Aging brings together the existing critical mass of University of Missouri (MU) health providers, researchers and educators who are focused on the needs of the rapidly growing older adult population. This Center is built on the strong foundation of strengths and links that exist among over 80 faculty members representing six schools, five colleges, and 24 different departments. 

Notable gerontology assets which exist at the university include:

• Extensive external gerontology funding that documents stellar scholarly performance and impressive potential for additional funding.

• Aging-patient care, research and education programs.

• An infrastructure exists for patient-care programs that support aging adults. Parts of this infrastructure include: inpatient care (Columbia, Jefferson City and Boonville); primary and specialty care (Columbia, central Missouri and Mount Vernon) and rehabilitation services (Rusk Rehabilitation Center). In addition, there are current partnerships and affiliations that promote extended care for MU patients (The Bluffs, Lenoir Retirement Center and community-based nursing home settings).

• Extant patient care services provide a basis for future growth of gerontology clinical endeavors and include: Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Program, Eldercare Day Care Center, MU Sinclair Home Care, Senior Assessment and Geriatric Evaluation (SAGE) Clinic, Senior Class (at Parkade), Health Connection and TigerPlace.

• Existing faculty provide MU with an ideal configuration of senior and junior faculty to support gerontology research, education and practice.

• A state-of-the-art "aging in place" facility (TigerPlace) houses the first stage of a Care in Aging campus.

• Strong interdisciplinary gerontology educational programs exist at the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions. These curricula are built on excellent patient care services and premier research programs.  The School of Social Work is active in end-of-life research, telehospice, and the use of technology to enhance health services to the elderly.  Architectural Studies and Human Development and Family Studies in the College of Human Environmental Sciences is active in research and teaching in the field of aging, and Engineering and Biochemistry collaborate with other disciplines in addressing aging-related issues.  The College of Veterinary Medicine is very active in a wide range of interdisciplinary work, and Sociology, Psychology, and Economics are active participants in collaborative research.  The Schools of Journalism and Law are participants as well, and bring interesting perspectives to the study of aging.

These existing strengths provide a compelling case for future growth in gerontology research, practice and education. Prospects for expansion of existing programs exist and include the following:

• Aging research is fiscally attractive. Funding from diverse agencies will likely increase with the demographic shift towards older Americans. A considerable portion of aging research does not require extensive laboratory infrastructure.

• Enhancing patient affiliations will allow MU Sinclair Home Care to increase its market share in the treatment of aging adults. Increased market share of older adults will increase the need for other, existing specialty services.

• Enhanced basic and applied science gerontology education programs are needed to educate tomorrow’s health-care providers; to support researchers in their work on empirical questions; and finally, to insure continuing, outstanding care for the heterogeneous aging population.

Prospects for growth based on these existing strengths provide a compelling rationale for investment in the MU Interdisciplinary Center on Aging. Opportunities for investment are particularly promising because supporters of funding (e.g. legislators, Missouri citizens and potential development donors) understand the importance and application of gerontological patient care and research. Existing cooperative ventures, such as public/private partnerships, will be vital components when securing funding. Further commitments include:

• Acquiring a national leader, Steven Zweig, MD, as director of the MU Interdisciplinary Center on Aging.

• Developing a Care in Aging campus to include patient care, research, and educational activities.

• Building the clinical infrastructure for patient care, health-care education, and research by adding additional gerontology specialists.

• Enhancing the existing research infrastructure through pre- and postdoctoral fellowships, visiting professorships, and pilot-research project funding.

The MU Interdisciplinary Center on Aging has an exciting future.  Further commitment to gerontology will enhance the patient care enterprise, research productivity and educational programs. Current vigorous programs and interdisciplinary research and activities provide the foundations to grow this new venture.