GeriScholars Spotlight: A Mentee Becomes a Mentor

Dr. Morgan Masterson credits her experience in the Indian Health Geriatric Scholars (GeriScholars) Program with helping her find new ways to improve elder care. Now that she has completed the program, she is mentoring new participants and is helping strengthen the network of people who care for older adults.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Alzheimer’s Program developed the GeriScholars Program in partnership with the VA Office of Rural Health. It gives clinicians in IHS, Tribal, and urban Indian health programs training, mentorship, and hands-on learning they can apply directly in their day-to-day work.

In her role as an integrated pharmacist at the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, Dr. Masterson supports community members with multiple health needs. She became a program participant in 2024 after seeing how a coworker’s project improved care for elders.

Dr. Masterson credits the program with teaching her to think creatively about care delivery for people facing barriers, including limited transportation, rural living, caregiver strain, and difficulty accessing specialty care. Her mentor was key, helping her navigate these barriers with steady guidance, encouragement, and strategies she could use in her own clinic.

The mentorship community she found through the program has been one of the most meaningful parts of her experience. As a mentor now herself, she shares tools, lessons learned, and real-world approaches to elder care with the clinicians she guides. She sees mentoring as a way to build a stronger network where each clinician strengthens care in their own community. 

“We learn from each other, and that connection keeps the work moving,” she said.

After completing the program, her organization applied for and received a 2025 Dementia Models of Care grant through the IHS Alzheimer’s Program. The grant supports a clinic project designed to deliver earlier dementia diagnoses and stronger caregiver support.

“We are now entering our second year, and it has been incredible to see how much our program has grown,” Dr. Masterson said. “GeriScholars gave me the foundation to begin this work; now, I hope to continue building something that has a lasting impact on how we care for our elders.”

Learn more about the GeriScholars Program on the IHS Alzheimer’s Program website.

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IHS Summit 2027 Call for Presentations 

The 2027 Indian Health Service (IHS) National Clinical and Community Workforce Summit is now accepting submissions for presentations through October 30. The event will take place April 27–29, 2027, in Scottsdale, Arizona. This year’s theme is “Alzheimer’s and Elder Care: Rooted in Wisdom, United in Action.”​​​​​​

Clinicians, Tribal partners, program leaders, and community organizations are invited to share work that strengthens dementia care, supports healthy aging, and uplifts elders in American Indian and Alaska Native communities across the country.

Submit proposals to: form.jotform.com/262006203677149