In the News
WyCOA News and Updates
- June 2025. From the Resident Roundup, UW Graduate Medical Education. University
of Wyoming Family Practice Recognized as Age-Friendly Health System Particpant. We
are proud to announce that the University of Wyoming Family Practice has been recognized
by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) as a Level I Age-Friendly Health
System Participant. This recognition highlights the commitment to providing exceptional
care to older adults in our community. This recognition is a testament to the commitment
and dedication that Dr.Thrasher, Dr. Stanco, and their Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement
Program (GWEP) grant partners have shown to the Casper community. The Age-Friendly
Health System initiative focuses on implementing the "4Ms" framework—What Matters,
Medication, Mentation, and Mobility—to improve care for older adults. As a recognized
participant, our program has demonstrated how we are actively incorporating these
evidence-based practices into our daily patient care. This achievement reflects the
dedication of our residents, faculty, and staff who work tirelessly to ensure that
older adults receive comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses their unique
needs and priorities. The recognition further underscores our program's dedication
to training future family physicians who are prepared to meet the complex healthcare
needs of our aging population with compassion, skill, and evidence-based practice.
- June 18th, 2024: $5 Million Awarded to Wyoming Center on Aging to Address Needs of
Older Adults. The University of Wyoming (UW) Department of Psychology’s Center on
Aging has been awarded a major grant to enhance partnerships to expand and strengthen
geriatrics education for the healthcare workforce and to expand resources for older
adults and caregivers. The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the
$5 million of funding through the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP).
This five-year grant is led by Director, Christine McKibbin and Co-Director, Catherine
Carrico from the UW Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
- WYOMING PBS DOCUMENTARY FEATURES WYOMING DEMENTIA TOGETHER GROUP “A State of Mind: The Caregivers”: June 2024
- August 2023: FREE EDUCATIONAL HELP FOR CAREGIVERS OFFERED THIS OCTOBER THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
CENTER ON AGING
- July 5th, 2023: UW and Hot Springs County Library Offer Blood Pressure Cuffs for Checkout;
also offered at the Buffalo, Kaycee, Jackson and Alta!
- May 25, 2023 -- The University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) begins
its new statewide program, “Dementia on the Road,” Wednesday, May 31, on the campus
of Laramie County Community College, located at 1400 E. College Drive in Cheyenne.
Read More
- March 2nd, 2023: ENLIGHTENED COMMUNICATION IN ACTION: WYOMING DEMENTIA TOGETHER PROGRAM OFFERS VALUABLE HELP TO CAREGIVERS
- Sept 2022: Wyoming Dementia Together is highlighted on County 10! See article here
- Albany County Public Library now has Blood Pressure cuffs available for checkout! Included in these kits are a blood pressure cuff, easy-to-read instructions on
how to properly use the cuff, educational material about high blood pressure and local
resources. Library cardholders can place a hold request on a blood pressure kit and
check it out at any branch for up to 30 days.
- June 2022: The University of Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) is excited to announce
the Healthier Wyoming initiative! The goal of Healthier Wyoming is to empower all Wyoming residents to take charge
of their health by providing a comprehensive, statewide directory of chronic disease
prevention and management resources
- June 2022: Be sure to check out the NEW Wyoming Dementia Together Once Again YouTube Channel! Click on “subscribe” and on the “bell” icon next to it and you will be notified when
we upload a new video. Don’t forget to “like” us and feel free to leave a comment.
- April 2022: UW Center on Aging to Host Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Summit May 18-20
- Feb 25th, 2022: See Project Coordinator Larry Goodwin tallk about Healthy U Mini Grants on Wyoming News Now!
- February 7th, 2022: UW Center on Aging to Provide Educational Programs for American Heart Month, from UW Communications.
- October 2021: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The 6-week Better Choices, Better Health workshop is available to you at no cost!
- UW Plays key role in Vaccine Roll out (From UWYO magazine Fall 2021)
- June 26th, 2021 - Wyoming Dementia Together featured on Star Valley Independent based out of Afton,
WY.
- March 2, 2021: UW Plays Big Role in COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts. Students and employees of the University of Wyoming are playing a key role in Albany
County’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts, ranging from scheduling appointments via telephone
to providing facilities to actually administering the vaccine shots. (WyCOA Mention)
- December 21, 2020 – The University of Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) is excited to
announce a new program entitled Wyoming Dementia Together.
- Dec 2020: Congratulations to Dr. Tabitha Thrasher, Clinical Associate Professor at
the UW Family Medicine Residency Program in Casper, on becoming the first graduate
of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program and Wyoming’s first homegrown board certified
geriatrician! Learn more about Dr. Thrasher’s accomplishment and the fellowship program
at: https://www.uwyo.edu/news/2020/12/dr.-tabitha-thrasher-first-uw-produced-geriatrician.html
- WyCOA & WyCOA Dementia Support Center Holiday Letter for Caregivers and Family, Dec 2020.
- AmeriCorps Seniors’ Foster Grandparents of the Wyoming Rockies, sponsored by Action
Resources International, has received a Tech2Connect Grant from the University of
Wyoming, Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) in the amount of $5,400.
- UW’s Center on Aging Highlights National Caregiver Month
Nov. 2, 2020 -- The Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming is
recognizing the impact of caregivers across Wyoming communities with a free webinar
series during National Caregiver Month.
- The University of Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) is excited to announce a new program
entitled Wyoming Dementia Together. September 2020 (WDT press release)
- Sept 2020: Wyoming Alzheimer’s Association Receives Tech2Connect Grant
- July 2020: Ivinson Medical Group was recognized as an Age Friendly Health System by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement,
becoming the first in the state of Wyoming. We are excited to be part of the nationwide
movement to improve healthcare for older adults.
- May 2020: The University of Wyoming Center on Aging in collaboration with the Montana
Geriatric Education Center will be offering an ECHO in Geriatrics for healthcare professionals
and students in the Rocky Mountain Region (press release)
- May 2020: Healthy U Moves to education online (press release)
- April 2020: Dementia Support Center Services Continuing to be Offered during COVID
- UW’s Wyoming Center on Aging Receives $3.75 Million Grant to Address Needs in State.
(Feb 2020 Press Release)
- Improving Rural/Frontier Care Transitions Project ECHO: Wyoming Hospital Association, February 2018.
- Partners on Federal Grant to Strengthen Geriatric Care in Wyoming: Wyoming Hospital Association, July 2015.
- UW Geriatrics Center to Use $2.5 Million Grant for Education, Technology: Casper Star Tribune, July 2015.
July 2015: WyGEC/WyCOA has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from HRSA to strengthen
geriatric care and training throughout WY with the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement
Program (GWEP). The Wyoming GWEP, one of 44 awards across 29 states, is a partnership
with CRMC, The WY Department of Health Aging Division and the Cheyenne VA Medical
Center, with additional collaborations around the state. The GWEP is an exciting opportunity,
and we are busy diving in! *WyGEC (Wyoming Geriatric Education Center) is now supported
by the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) within the Wyoming Center on
Aging.
- Federal Grant Will Strengthen Geriatric Care in Wyoming: UW News, July 2015.
- Wyoming's Population is Getting Older, Fast: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, September 2012.
- Senior Spelling Bee Champ Shares His Secrets for Staying Sharp: CNN.com, August 2012.
- WyGEC Documentary Wins National Awards: UW News, August 2012.
- Wyoming Geriatric Education Center Consortium at UW Receives $2.1 Million: UW News,
September 2010.
- Gray Matters Wins National Awards! GEC Pipeline September-October 2012
- UW Press Release: WyGEC awarded $2.1 million consortium funding from HRSA. UW News
September 20, 2010
