0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center Boston University PAIRS Program: Partnering Medical Students and Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease Nicole Cantwell Angela Jefferson, PhD Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center Instructional Innovation Conference March 25 th, 2011

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program Origins: The Northwestern “Buddy Program” Developed in 1997 to match first-year Northwestern University medical students with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients in the community students participate each year The BU PAIRS Program is the first to replicate the “Buddy Program” model and now serves as the replication model for similar programs developing in Arizona and New Hampshire

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program Objectives 1.Educate students about AD and related cognitive impairment 2.Familiarize students with care and support-related issues encountered by individuals with AD and their families 3.Improve students’ communication skills when interacting with older adults and patients with cognitive impairment 4.Introduce students to research and career opportunities in neurology, geriatrics, and related fields Gabi Merlin, BUSM Class of 2012 PAIRS Program Class 5.Provide individuals with AD with an opportunity to mentor a medical student and influence their future clinical practice

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program – Program Model JULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAY Student & Buddy Recruitment Student Interviews & Selection Orientation Sessions (2) Match Day Party Monthly Buddy Activity & Activity Journal Monthly Student Luncheons End-of-the-Year Appreciation Luncheon

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program – Evaluation Methods Dementia Knowledge Test Students were administered a 33 item pre- and post-program assessment Jefferson, Cantwell, Byerly, & Morhardt, Under Review, JAGS

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center Dementia Knowledge Assessment Jefferson, Cantwell, Byerly, & Morhardt, Under Review, JAGS *p<

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program – Evaluation Methods Dementia Knowledge Test Students were administered a 33 item pre- and post-program assessment Jefferson, Cantwell, Byerly, & Morhardt, Under Review, JAGS Reflective Essay At the end of each program year, students are asked to write an essay addressing the following topics: 1.What did you know about AD before beginning PAIRS ? 2.What did you learn during the PAIRS Program ? 3.How will the PAIRS experience influence your future work as a physician?

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center Reflective Essay Assessment Reasons for joining PAIRS Program Educational value of monthly program luncheons/meetings Previous scientific knowledge of ADHuman side of AD Previous personal experience with AD patientCare partner burden Initial impressions of buddy Buddy and care partner's hopeful outlook towards having AD Observation of AD symptomsProgram impact on clinical practice Greater understanding of ADInfluence on medical specialization Essays from first 3 program years (n=33) were qualitatively analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research strategies 12 themes emerged, which are consistent with program objectives: Jefferson, Cantwell, Byerly, & Morhardt, Under Review, JAGS

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program – Student Feedback “My buddy forever altered my limited knowledge of Alzheimer’s, and gave it a face and personality in a way that no other experience could have.” – SH, Program “It’s one thing to study how proteins build up in the brain and affect cognitive functioning, it’s quite another to see how families deal with a fading husband or father.” – NC, Program “I got a sense of the frustrations associated with being a caretaker and things one has to worry about that I wouldn’t have imagined.” – MG, Program Jeremy Kim, BUSM Class of 2013, PAIRS Program Class

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program – Student Feedback “I’ve learned so much about AD not just from my buddy but also from my fellow classmates in the PAIRS Program who shared their experiences and reactions in our monthly meetings.” – RK, PAIRS Program “ PAIRS has allowed me to develop a good bedside manner and to see an individual as a whole person rather than just a patient… It has given me knowledge and experience to be a better physician regardless of the field that I go in to.” – SL, PAIRS Program Ruju Rai, BUSM Class of 2011, PAIRS Program Class

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program - Family Feedback “We appreciate this opportunity! I feel like we are both getting and giving... It was also useful knowing we were contributing to [our student buddy’s] education.” – CA, buddy’s wife Emily Kidd, BUSM Class of 2013 PAIRS Program Class Melissa Ghulam, BUSM MD/PhD Student PAIRS Program Class “The program opened us up to new opportunities and allowed my husband to share his expertise. I would recommend this group to other diagnosed individuals because it is helpful in the process of change. It is a dynamic program.” – JW, buddy’s wife

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center PAIRS Program - Benefits  Provides an ongoing, first-hand perspective into the patient’s life  Longitudinal element facilitates the development of a meaningful relationship  Enhances communication skills for working with a vulnerable patient population  Humanizes a chronic illness  Offers chance to appreciate firsthand the caregiver burden and care struggles families face on a day-to-day basis  Bridges basic science laboratory experiences, classroom learning, and clinical experiences with a real-world example of an incurable disease

0 Boston University School of Medicine – Alzheimer’s Disease Center Acknowledgements Funding Sources The Kenneth B. Schwartz Center ( ) The Arnold P. Gold Foundation ( ) PAIRS Program Team Angela Jefferson, PhD Nicole Cantwell Laura Byerly Susan Lambe, EdM Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Darby Morhardt, MSW PAIRS Program Students, Buddies, & Supportive Families PAIRS Program Class PAIRS Program Class PAIRS Program Class For more information on the PAIRS Program, please contact: Angela L. Jefferson, PhD Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center 72 East Concord St., Robinson 7800, Boston, MA or PAIRS Program Class