Launched in 2024, Kansas 4M is a geriatric workforce education program led by the University of Kansas School of Nursing in collaboration with the schools of Health Professions, Medicine, Pharmacy and Social Welfare.

We offer education and training in geriatric care, with a focus on integrating geriatrics with primary care and other appropriate specialties. Our mission is to ensure that every older adult receives high-quality, person-centered care that aligns with their unique needs and preferences.

Our Purpose

Kansas has vast rural and frontier areas that are facing shortages of physicians, nurses and other health professionals. Rural Kansas also has high percentages of uninsured people and growing aging populations living with more chronic conditions. Our current workforce isn’t trained to address the needs of older adults, and faculty, preceptors and students are not currently trained in Age-Friendly Health Systems. 

Kansas 4M will improve health equity, access and care for Kansans by offering age-friendly training for students, residents, fellows, faculty, preceptors, community organizations and the workforce providing health, social and supportive care across our state, which includes primary care providers, health care delivery systems and nursing homes.

Our Partners

Kansas 4M is based at KU School of Nursing, but our work extends statewide through close partnerships with a variety of community-based organizations, academic institutions and health care systems focused on addressing gaps in health care for older adults. Partners include:

• KU schools of Health Professions, Pharmacy and Social Welfare
• Kansas Nursing Workforce Center
• KU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
• KU Medical Center Area Health Education Center
• Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
• KU Medical Center Rural Health Education and Services
• Integrated Arts Research Institute
• Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas
• Kansas State University-Salina
• Wichita State University School of Nursing 

Kansas 4M Funding

Kansas 4M is funded through a cooperative agreement between the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc. (Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) Award # U1QHP53058.