UC Irvine

Medical Readers' Theater (MRT) is an innovative and simple way of helping medical students to reflect on difficult-to-discuss topics in geriatrics medical education, such as aging stereotypes, disability and loss of independence, sexuality, assisted living, relationships with adult children, and end-of-life issues. The authors describe a required MRT experience involving third-year medical students on their Family Medicine clerkship and volunteer residents from a nearby continuing care retirement community. Evaluation of the program shows positive benefits to student and senior participants in terms of greater awareness of each other's perspectives and improved communication.