Mini Medical School 2025 program starts soon

For more than 20 years, community members have looked to UC Davis Health experts and the health system’s Mini Medical School for insight on how to make the most of their lives as they grow older.

Anybody who wants to learn some of those tips still has time to register online for the 2025 series that begins Feb. 1. The classes are held online for four consecutive Saturdays. All sessions start at 9 a.m. and end around 11:30 a.m.

The series focuses on the ‘4Ms’ of healthy aging. Those include:

• Medication – avoiding unnecessary drugs and ensuring they are appropriate for current needs
• Mentation (mind) – being aware of cognitive changes and maintaining social engagement
• Mobility – helping prevent falls and exercising regularly
• What matters most – understanding individual preferences to align with health care decisions

“The 4Ms is a cornerstone of age-friendly care and plays a crucial role in helping older adults plan their healthiest futures,” explained Katren Tyler, an emergency physician and the Mini Medical School’s program director. “Each area empowers older adults to proactively manage their health, minimize complications, and maintain dignity, independence and well-being as they age.”

The annual Mini Medical School program is part of UC Davis Health’s commitment to older adults through its nationally recognized Healthy Aging Initiative. Classes are free and open to the public. Participants can attend all sessions or pick the ones that interest them most.

Rebecca Boxer, chief of UC Davis Health’s Division of Geriatric, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, says the division has been expanding to meet the increasing needs of the older adult population since her arrival two years ago.

“We continue refining our dementia care program and increasing support to caregivers through our caregiver consultation service at our Healthy Aging Clinic,” she said.

She added that the division has received its first grant from the National Institutes of Health to study caregivers of people with dementia.

A full list of presentation topics for the 2025 series “Healthy Aging: Best Practices for Overall Well-being” includes:

• Mentation: Protecting Our Brains as We Age and How to Combat Addiction and Pain
• Medication: Latest Science and Recommendations
• Mobility: Movement as Therapy
• What Matters Most: Choices That Support Your Healthy Aging

Once signed up, participants will receive Zoom webinar links via email. Participants do not need a Zoom account to participate.