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About Us
The NW GWEC fosters reciprocal partnerships among University of Washington departments -including Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work, and Public Health- alongside primary care providers and community-based organizations throughout
the Pacific Northwest
Our Mission
We’re one of over 40 Geriatric Workforce Enhance Programs (GWEPs) nationwide dedicated to advancing interprofessional education and training programs to improve the care of older adults.
Our mission is to lead the Pacific Northwest in optimizing the care of older adults through collaborative education, hands-on traineeships, active client engagement, and strengthened community-clinical linkages.
Our Values
Collaboration – building strong, reciproal partnerships across community and clinical settings to integrate the care of older adults.
Client Engagement – empowering older adults, their families, and care partners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to actively manage their health and healthcare decisions.
Age-Friendly Care – Advancing person-centered care for vulnerable populations- including rural, underserved, tribal- to improve outcomes and reduce health disparities.
Our Goals
- Transform clinical training environments into integrated geriatrics and primary care systems that are both age-friendly and dementia-capable.
- Deliver interprofessional geriatrics clinical training and education to students, residents, fellows, faculty, and preceptors-particularly in tribal, rural, and underserved settings.
- Equip the supportive care workforce, direct care, and primary care workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality care to older adults-particularly those living with dementia.
Our Team
She/Her
Project Director
Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine at the UW School of Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Health Services and founding Director of the Fall Prevention Clinic at Harborview Medical Center. Elizabeth directs the NW GWEC, leading efforts to improve geriatrics education & training throughout the Pacific Northwest.
She/Her
Co-Director
Professor Emeritus in the Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing at the UW School of Nursing. Barbara leads the NW GWEC’s nursing initiatives and shares the leadership and management of our education & training activities.
She/Her
Director of Education
Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Division Head for Clinical Affairs and Director of Education in the Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine and GACA recipient. Kate is the Medical Director for Project ECHO-Geriatrics and leads our collaborative interprofessional education work with the UW Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Research, and Practice.
She/Her
Pharmacy Lead
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy; Assistant Director for Education, Plein Center for Geriatric Pharmacy Research, Education and Outreach. Leigh Ann is a panelist on our Project ECHO-Geriatrics, a member of our interdisciplinary planning committee for our Geriatric Healthcare Series, and works with Kate on our interprofessional education work.
She/Her
Age-Friendly Outreach Coordinator
Clinical Professor, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics at the UW School of Nursing; Instructor at the Continuum College. Anita supports tribal, underserved, and rural healthcare settings to achievement of age-friendly recognition, serves on the Geriatric Healthcare Series interdisciplinary planning committee, co-leads the ARNP Traineeship, and supports the development of a Geriatrics Apprenticeship for certified nursing assistants working in long-term care.
She/Her
Curriculum Advisor for Social Work
Associate Professor, School of Social Work and Adjunct faculty in the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, and Disability Studies Program. Clara will infuse evidence-based social work practices into our NW GWEC activities.
Aimee Verrall, MPH
She/Her
Program Manager
Aimee earned her Master of Public Health from the UW Health Services Social and Behavioral Sciences Program and brings more than 20 years of experience at UW. She is passionate about advancing the health and well-being of older adults and their care partners. Aimee oversees day-to-day operations, coordinating programs, partnerships, and initiatives.
Jamie Dinsmore, MSW
She/Her
Program Coordinator
Jamie earned her Master of Social Work from UW School of Social Work. She is committed to improving care for older adults. Jamie coordinates our educational and training programs offerings including managing program communications and logistics, and supports learners, speakers, case presenters, and community partners to ensure successful program delivery.
Our Focus
The Northwest Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Center will address social determinants of health (e.g., economic insecurity, nutritional insecurity, social isolation, limited healthcare access and quality) by promoting community-clinical linkages and providing support for age- and dementia-friendly education and training activities for the primary care and geriatrics health care workforces that are in tribal, tribal organizations, medically underserved, or rural settings.
Our Reciprocal Partners
