The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC)
The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center is one of several such centers funded by the National Institute on Aging dedicated to research topics relating to helping older Americans live healthy, independent lives. UTMB's Pepper Center focuses on aging muscle and function from interdisciplinary perspectives across the entire spectrum of biomedical investigation—from molecular biology to outcomes assessment.
World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization Collaborating Center
The World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization has designated UTMB as a Collaborating Center on Aging and Health to facilitate collaboration with Latin American researchers studying aging. The mission of the collaborating center is to improve the health of Hispanic older adults through collaborative research, education and clinical training, to support a visiting scholars program for faculty, fellows and students, and to encourage, conduct and disseminate collaborative research, education and clinical training activities with partner institutions in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.
East Texas Geriatric Education Center (ETGEC)
The East Texas Geriatric Education Center (ETGEC) is one of 50 national GECs funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Its mission is to provide enhanced interdisciplinary geriatric education and clinical training for professionals and students in allopathic medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and social work in the East Texas which is predominantly rural. The overarching theme of the ETGEC is to reduce health disparities by increasing the delivery of interdisciplinary healthcare services to older minorities, rural elderly, older prisoners and institutionalized elderly, with a focus on health literacy, Alzheimer’s Disease, palliative and long-term care, in medically underserved areas (MUAs) of East Texas.
Center for Spirituality of Aging
Funded by the Isla Carroll Friendship Trust, the Center for Spirituality of Aging intends to nurture, empower and dignify the spiritual integrity of seniors by providing opportunities to serve others, build community and learn about healthy aging. The goal is prevent isolation, loneliness, illness and untimely death among elders in Galveston County. Studies indicate that with holistic education, motivation and encouragement elders live longer, happier and healthier lives.