Learning by Living Student Immersion Research
Nursing Home Immersion
The Learning by Living© Nursing Home Immersion Research project was designed and implemented in 2005 by Marilyn R. Gugliucci, M.A., Ph.D., director of Geriatrics Education and Research within the Medical School’s Division of Geriatrics. For 15 years, medical students were “admitted” into nursing homes to live the life of an older nursing home resident for approximately two weeks — 24/7 — complete with a medical diagnosis and standard procedures of care. This project utilized a qualitative ethnographic/autobiographic research design, whereby a culture is observed from the researcher (medical student) living within the environment (nursing home) focused on the student’s experiences. The research question for each student was: “What is it like for me to the live the life as an older nursing home resident?” This program appears to be the first of its kind in any medical training program and has been featured in the New York Times, AOL Health, The Boston Globe, Sirius World Wide Radio, CBS Evening News, and other major media. Due to the risks of COVID infection, the Nursing Home Immersion project is on hold.
48-Hour Hospice Home Immersion
The 51 COM Learning by Living 48 Hour Hospice Home Immersion Project (PDF) (referred to as the Hospice Home Immersion Project) was piloted in December 2014. It was designed and implemented as an experiential medical education research and learning model by Marilyn R. Gugliucci, M.A, Ph.D. The researc