"Now that I have my Certificate in Gerontology, what do I do with it?"
Program graduates answer that question:
Delores Nelson, 1996 Certificate Recipient:
"I found learning about the aging process through the CPG courses has been invaluable to me in my work of guiding older, adult students who were writing their personal memoirs. I am currently teaching at the State Capitol Museum in Olympia and working with the Asia Pacific Cultural Center in Tacoma. This includes more than twenty years teaching, editing, and publishing personal memoirs and family history archiving. I have produced three books of edited stories from my classes.
Applying what I learned in the CPG courses, I was able to recognize the value of sharing stories within a cohort, with the focus on achievements, how it combats depressions and has a profound effect on healing the grief older people often feel. With this added perspective learned through CPG courses I can inspire and enable a community of trust and acceptance where deeply personal sharing Is possible. I would love to take the CPG courses again, that is how much learning and being a student at the UW has meant to me."
Erin K. Kirkland, 2004 Certificate Recipient:
"My experience in the CPG was a wonderful one, even though I went through
two moves and delivered a baby the week after a final exam for
Psychology of Aging. The staff were attentive, helpful, and supportive
throughout the process, for which I am truly grateful.
I have left the administrative side of long-term care and am now an Outreach Specialist with the Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska in Anchorage. Part of my job entails connecting rural Alaskans, including Alaska Natives, with service and support relating to Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias. Working with individuals whose cultural differences and ways of life are of paramount importance has been both an ongoing challenge and source of reward for me.
My CPG courses, including the Social and Cultural Aspects of Aging class, which focused on the importance of valuing cultural differences in the aging population, prepared me well for the people I meet on a day-to-day basis. I review my class materials often and find interesting points for discussion among my fellow staff.
Thank you for a very fulfilling program; I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to further their insight into our elders."
Dan Smerken, 2006 Certificate Recipient:
"I utilize my certificate in several capacities. I consult on the development
and management of housing and services for older adults. I am a Geriatric
Care Manager in private practice. I also do work for the Providence Health
System as their housing developer in which I develop affordable housing for
older adults. Finally, I am the primary caregiver for my 85 year old mother
who lives with me.
The certificate program provided me the general background in geriatrics required to perform all these functions competently and intelligently. "
Arianne Burnham, 2005 Certificate Recipient:
"I am currently working as a volunteer Long Term Care Ombudsman. I advocate
on behalf of residents when their rights are violated: room searches, evictions,
financial abuse by families, medication errors, personality clashes, broken
popcorn machines, etc. I cover an assisted living in Kirkland, The German Home
and 12 adult family homes in Woodinville and Redmond. I am also called
regularly for complaints coming into the hotline at facilities without an assigned
ombudsman on the Eastside.
There is a real need for others and this is a great opportunity to get good work experience with seniors. As soon as I have more time, I plan to go back to work in a paid capacity."
Brenda Barkey, 2001 Certificate Recipient:
"I am now working for Senior Services in their health and wellness department.
As the EnhanceFitness Program Coordinator, I help get exercise programs out to
older adults.
The exercise program is called EnhanceFitness, and it is designed based on research completed by the University of Washington. The program is endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arthritis Program, as a physical activity intervention for chronic conditions in older adults."
Christine Tremain, 1997 Certificate Recipient (Vice President of
Marketing for Wesley Homes):
"When I enrolled in the CPG program, I had been working in the field of aging for
only a couple years. Through the program I met some terrific people who have
had a lasting impact on my career.
The classes helped me to be more sensitive to the physical and mental changes people go through as they get older as well as the social impact of losing friends and spouses, retiring from work and changing familial roles. Working with older adults as they go through the transition of moving from their own home into a retirement community, this sensitivity has been extraordinarily helpful. The program has helped me to better understand the people we serve to not only help them through this transition but also to develop new communities that provide the services and programs that older adults want now and in the future.
The CPG program is terrific for anyone interested in working with older adults. I hope it will also help more people become interested in this ever-changing and fulfilling profession."
Nanci Freeman, 2001 Certificate Recipient:
"After earning my CPG certificate at the UW, I realized I wanted to further my
education in aging, and I applied to the online Master of Arts in gerontology
program at USC. My CPG experience gave me an excellent background for the
masters program, as I was able to refer back to texts and class material.
During my last few months with the CPG, I held an internship with a group of healthy active seniors, as I really wanted a connection to the in-class learning. This group had guest speakers on occasion, one of whom was Dr. Schaie, Principal Investigator of the well-known Seattle Longitudinal Study. I introduced him to the attendees (part of my internship duties), and after he spoke I asked him about employment opportunities with his study. Two years after meeting Dr. Schaie, I received a phone call that they were finally hiring. I interviewed and was hired as a part time tester and interviewer.
I credit the CPG for my career in the field of aging. I was a full-time stay-at-home mom looking for a career for when my kids were older and eventually out of the house. Taking the CPG classes gave me the experience I needed to apply to graduate school (and the courage to take the GRE after being out of college for 12 years!). Serendipitously it put me in touch with Dr. Schaie of the Seattle Longitudinal Study, and I have had a wonderful part time job in the field of aging for the last 3 1/2 years."
Bill Schoder-Ehri, 2006 Certificate Recipient:
"I have benefited from CPG in two significant ways.
First, the broad nature of the CPG coursework provided a terrific base
for my understanding of the many issues affecting elders and their
families.
Secondly, the independent nature of much of the research allowed me to explore specific needs and issues related to the Alaska Native population that I serve. Networking with others working in the field with Alaska Native Elders throughout the state will continue to be a boon to the Elders and remote communities where I work."
