MCOA Events
Current Events
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Previous Events
Dr. Nathan Green presented the team’s work on the next phase of the AIM Ahead project to develop AI in an equitable manner at the AI for Health Equity symposium in Atlanta. The goal of the symposium was to discuss the development on AI so it can be utilized for all populations and mitigate bias. The meeting was filled with various discussions on how to ensure transparency when developing AI models for health care.
Dr. Patricia Heyn, MCOA Director, presented on the impacts of research waste in home-based exercise interventions for older adults with mild cognitive impairment at the Alzheimer’s Association 2024 International Conference (AAIC) in Philadelphia, USA. Research waste is a growing issue, with researchers highlighting whether or not there is a need for more research on the same topic. The AAIC conference brings together distinguished basic scientists, clinical researchers, early career investigators, clinicians, and the care research community on dementia science.
MCOA Senior
Fellow, Dr. Uma Kelekar and MCOA Research Assistant, Mahederemariam Dagne presented their findings on their research projects at the 2024 Academy Health Annual Research Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. Mahederemariam presented her research work on defining racial health equity and Dr. Kelekar presented two posters on the issues of utilizing emergency departments for non-traumatic dental conditions.
This year, the MCOA was proud to be one of the sponsors for the May 29th 55+ Fitness Day & Health Fair organized by our MCOA Affiliate, Dr. Sara Pappa at Lubber Run community center. We were happy to serve over 50 older adults by providing health assessments. These included grip strength tests, body mass index tests & cognitive screening. Based on the results we gathered, we provided advice and consultations. This allowed us to engage with our community, discuss various projects, and share ideas. The center actively engages in various health fairs throughout the year.
The Gerontological Society of America student chapter club b took part in Marymount University’s Annual Student Research Conference to promote a wide variety of careers in aging to students, increasing interest in the field.
The Gerontological Society of America student chapter club conducted fitness assessments at (Grip strength and BMI analysis) MU’s Annual 5K run. These assessments were conducted to promote health and wellness in the community.
The Gerontological Society of America student chapter club partnered with the Food for Thought Club for a rewarding gardening and tree-planting event. 
This initiative supports sustainable food practices, reduces carbon emissions from food transportation, promotes local organic produce, and addresses food insecurity to enhance resilience against the impacts of climate change while also providing an opportunity for chapter members to work with older adults and give back to their community.
The Gerontological Society of America student chapter club hosted MU’s Careers in Aging Day featuring local organizations such as BrightView, Vitality, Goodwin Living, and Arlington Neighbourhood Village at the Ballston Conference Center, offering students from all majors a valuable opportunity to explore the field of aging. Attendees engaged in round table discussions, networking opportunities and had the opportunity to learn about internships and volunteering opportunities.
On April 8-9, 2024, the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, NIA, NINDS, and NICHD hosted an in-person conference, with select sessions streamed online, to showcase advancements in four NIH-supported measurement systems: NIH Toolbox®, NIH Baby Toolbox, Mobile Toolbox, and MyCog. This event brought together NIH leadership, researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders to discuss the significance of robust, psychometrically sound measures for research, clinical trials, and educational settings. Highlights included updates to existing tools, the launch of new measurement systems for diverse age groups and settings, live demonstrations, and discussions on best practices and future directions to ensure these tools remain innovative and impactful.
Bridging the Racial Health Equity Gap
MCOA Researchers Mahederemariam Dagne and Elizabeth Terhune provided an insightful virtual presentation on racial health equity and dove into the critical intersections of healthcare and social justice for racialized populations. They explored the current understanding of what racial health equity is and discussed the recent work that has been done to center racial health equity in research.
