Former IHS GeriScholar Shares Her Perspective as a Mentor for the Program
Dr. Mia Lozada, a former participant in the Indian Health Service (IHS) Geriatric Scholars (GeriScholars) Program, is now giving back as one of the program’s newest mentors. In this year-long program, health care professionals receive intensive training, hands-on learning opportunities to strengthen elder care in their communities, and mentorship. As a mentor, Dr. Lozada supports one program participant by offering practical, grounded feedback as they develop and refine their local project.
For Dr. Lozada, mentoring feels like a natural next step because the program shaped how she practices medicine every day. She describes her experience as one of the “most meaningful parts of her professional development.”
“Learning from people who are practicing in completely different settings—but still caring for Native patients—was a wonderful experience,” Dr. Lozada shared.
One lesson from the program continuing to guide her approach is that "geriatric care is, at its core, excellent, whole person, family-focused primary care." That perspective changed how she approaches all her patients. She now focuses more on creating a space where patients feel comfortable bringing up sensitive topics, such as memory concerns or incontinence.
She also says the program strengthened the way she connects with patients. Leaning into elder care reminded her why she became a physician. Primary care isn’t about her checklist; it’s about the space between her and the patient and how the patient and family want to fill it.
To make room for those conversations, she begins visits by turning away from the computer and saying, “This is your time. What do you want to talk about today?” Dr. Lozada also asks patients about their proudest accomplishments and has found that these stories deepen trust and understanding.
Dr. Lozada encourages other health professionals to consider the GeriScholars program, especially those who want to learn from colleagues across different IHS Areas.
“What I hope to mentor to my fellow colleagues is, remember to see the human in front of you, and to share in both the joys and the struggles with them,” she added.
Pictured: Dr. Mia Lozada, a former Geriatric Scholar and now mentor for the IHS Alzheimer’s GeriScholars Program.
Chickahominy Site Visit – IHS Supporting Dementia Care Grantees
On January 7, 2026, the Indian Health Service (IHS) Elder Health Team from the Alzheimer’s Program visited the Chickahominy Tribe and the Mid-Atlantic Tribal Health Center to support their dementia grant.
The IHS team toured facilities and the community, visited with elders at a Brown Bag Event, and discussed with health center staff about their care strategies.
These conversations gave the team a real look at how community led and culturally respectful dementia care can grow. This supports the larger IHS goal of helping tribal and urban communities guide their own elder health work.
The virtual planning session focused on what the program needs to work well, like how to put plans in place, what support teams might need, and how to keep the work going over time. The group talked about early dementia screening, caregiver support, referral tracking, and ways to improve quality of life. Overall, the visit helped build stronger partnerships and showed how important local voices are in shaping dementia care.
Pictured: During a January site visit in Richmond, Virginia, the Elder Health team from the IHS Alzheimer's Program met with staff from the Chickahominy Tribe and a representative of the Mid-Atlantic Service Unit.
NEW!! Clinical Dementia Training Series Begins
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Alzheimer’s Program is offering training sessions to improve how teams screen for dementia, make a diagnosis, and support ongoing care for American Indian and Alaska Native people. This series spans six health care disciplines and supports each in recognizing and evaluating memory concerns within their communities.
Register for a training session and check back on our website as more topic areas are added!
Become Age-Friendly with Dementia Care Aware
Dementia Care Aware can support an organization to implement age-friendly care within its health system or practice. They offer guidance and resources on best practices in dementia care.
Participants can join a free, seven-month virtual program designed to help organizations improve care for older adults. Find more information by visiting the Institute for Health Care Improvement website.
