The Community Connection at the Sealy Center on AgingStay Connected. Stay Engaged. Stay Inspired.

Welcome

At the Sealy Center on Aging, we believe that growing older should mean growing stronger, through knowledge, community, and meaningful opportunities. That’s why we created the Community Connection, a program designed to keep older adults in Galveston County informed, engaged, and empowered.

Launched in 2022, the Community Connection has more than 1,300 subscribers who receive our quarterly newsletter by email or traditional mail. Each issue is filled with valuable updates, including:

Spotlights on groundbreaking aging research at UTMB Health
Invitations to participate in clinical studies that can improve health and wellbeing for older adults everywhere
Local events and programs tailored to seniors in our community
Volunteer opportunities, such as AmeriCorps Seniors, where you can give back and stay active

Why Join?

The Community Connection is more than a newsletter! It’s a way to stay plugged into the latest discoveries, connect with people who share your interests, and find new ways to stay involved in your local community.

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Contact Us

Sealy Center on Aging (SCOA)
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177
Directions and Maps
Phone: (409) 747-0008
Email: aging.research@utmb.edu

Newsletter Team

Community Connection Newsletter Volunteer for Research on Aging Caregiver Connection Support Group Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

We're Growing, Together!

Thanks to strong community partnerships and outreach, the Community Connection is expanding every day. Whether you hear about us through a senior center, social media, or a postcard at an event, the invitation is the same: be part of a growing network of older adults shaping the future of aging in Galveston County.

Sign up for the Community Connection newsletter and become part of a vibrant community of older adults making a difference.
Follow and engage with us on Facebook, where we share news and resources as well as event announcements that are relevant to local older adults.
Learn more about getting involved with AmeriCorps Seniors.
Visit the Learning Center, now located at the Osher Long Life Institute at UTMB Health.

AmeriCorps Seniors

screen capture of Facebook page, UTMB SCOA, photo of old red building

older adult woman with medical professional, smiling

Learning Center

Newsletter Archive

Current Studies

News from the Sealy Center on Aging

Training Program Aims to Improve Diabetes Care in Community Clinics

Mar 20, 2025, 09:04 AM by SCOA

A new study highlights the success of a training program designed to improve diabetes care in community clinics. Developed to help clinicians facilitate diabetes group visits, the program equips healthcare providers with the skills to manage both group and one-on-one patient encounters.

The 3-hour virtual training, delivered to clinicians at two community clinics, covered group visit facilitation and the use of evidence-based medication guidelines for managing diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, with a focus on low-income settings.

Results showed significant improvements in clinician knowledge, with pre-test scores rising from 46.36% to 92.95% after the training. Participants also demonstrated proficiency in using low-cost medication algorithms and expressed high satisfaction with the training’s structure and relevance to their practice.

Led by researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch, including SCOA Fellows Drs. Vaughan and Raji, the study represents an important step toward improving diabetes care in underserved communities, providing clinicians with the tools to deliver high-quality care in resource-limited settings.

Read the article in BMC Med Educ: Training clinicians to facilitate diabetes group visits

SCOA News & Events Archive

UTMB Research News