Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute

Alzheimer's Disease Summer Externship 2009

Overview:An 8-week interdisciplinary summer externship opportunity for 2-3 medical students is available for the Summer of 2008. This opportunity will allow students to work and learn outside of the classroom with a wide array of professionals working with persons who have Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of this innovative program is to increase the knowledge and ability of future health care providers to provide long-term, interdisciplinary care to patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. Generalized family practice clinical experience will also be included. More info...

The Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, under the direction of Mark Sager, MD, developed this opportunity and will provide mentorship and guidance during the externship.

Learning objectives: At the completion of this program, the students will be able to: describe the diagnosis, treatment, and management of Alzheimer’s disease; recognize the roles of a multidisciplinary team; identify common concerns of the person with Alzheimer’s disease and their families/caregiver(s); discuss current memory research studies, and; identify community resources to support persons with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

Who can apply: Medical students who have completed their first year of medical school at either the University of Wisconsin Medical School (Madison) or the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee). Online Application...

Application Deadline: Monday, February 2, 2009

Date/Time: Full time, 8 consecutive weeks total, Monday, June 1, 2009 through Friday, July 24, 2009. The externship schedule is M-F, 8-5 with weekends off.

Location: WAI-affiliated Dementia Diagnostic Clinics, family practice clinics, as well as various community service organizations (Alzheimer’s Association chapters, nursing homes, adult day centers, etc.)

Students will travel between specified clinics/communities in the Wisconsin, spending 1 to 3 weeks in each location, for a total of 8 weeks.

A formal daily schedule is provided to each student.

Stipend: $3500. Housing will be provided as needed. Student must provide own transportation and meals.

For more information contact: Heidi Pophal, hpophal@wisc.edu or (608) 829-3312, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Click here for Online Application...

The Urgency of Our Mission

In 2008, it is estimated that there are as many as 5.2 million Americans currently living with Alzheimer's disease, and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050.

Every 71 seconds, an American develops Alzheimer's disease. By mid-century, an American will develop the disease every 33 seconds.

One in six women and one in 10 men who live to be at least age 55 will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their remaining lifetime.

Approximately 10 million of the 78 million U.S. baby boomers who were alive in 2007 can expect to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

African-Americans are more likely than Caucasians to have Alzheimer's disease.

The number of African-Americans entering the age of Alzheimer risk (age 65 or older) is expected to more than double to 6.9 million by 2030.

70 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease live at home, cared for by family and friends.

In 2007, 9.8 million family members, friends and neighbors provided unpaid care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.

The direct costs to Medicare and Medicaid for care of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias and the indirect costs to business for employees who are caring for people with Alzheimer's disease amount to more than $148 billion annually.

Source: Alzheimer's Association (2008). 2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures.

About the WAI:

Program Areas:

Research Opportunities:

About Alzheimer's:

Alzheimer's Disease Summer Externship 2009

The Urgency of Our Mission