The University of Montpellier is inaugurating the new School of Geriatrics and Gerontology within the Faculty of Medicine, an event accompanied by the opening of the exhibition “Vieux et Beaux”
Starting in the fall of 2022, the School of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the Faculty of Medicine will welcome students to its 19 degree programs. To mark the official launch of this new School, an opening reception accompanied by the opening of the “Vieux et Beaux” exhibition will take place in the Historic Building of the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, with Isabelle Laffont, Dean of the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine, and Claude Jeandel, Director of the School of Geriatrics and Gerontology.
So what exactly is the School of Geriatrics and Gerontology?
Stemming from the IDEFI-TIL program (Initiatives of Excellence in Innovative Training – Trans Innov Longevity), launched in 2014 at the Faculty, the gerontology programs offered by the Faculty of Medicine have already enabled many professionals in the medical and paramedical fields to specialize in this area. In particular, nearly 450 students have graduated since 2006 with master’s degrees in gerontology.
The School currently offers 19 programs, including 2 master’s degrees, 9 university diplomas, and 8 short courses, all delivered through a hybrid learning format.
To offer a cross-disciplinary and holistic approach to issues related to old age, the School draws on innovative teaching methods in various fields, such as medicine, epidemiology, psychology, and law.
The education division, which currently oversees all of these training programs, will subsequently be expanded to include three additional divisions: a new education division for physicians and medical students; a division for “family caregivers” aimed at relatives of older adults who are losing their independence; and, finally, a “Therapeutic Education” division for patients.
An exhibition accompanying the opening
In the heart of the Faculty of Medicine’s historic building, the inauguration of the School of Geriatrics and Gerontology will be accompanied by the opening of the exhibition “Vieux et Beaux.” The choice of this exhibition is particularly fitting, as it was curated by Elsa Hersog, director of the Protestant Retirement Home, a partner of the Master’s programs in Gerontology.
Originally consisting of 84 photographic portraits of nursing home residents, the Cour d’honneur will now feature more than 50 of them, selected exclusively for this occasion. Conceived and photographed by William Moureaux, this project “was an opportunity to showcase faces that tell a story and reflect an entire life.”
Spotlight on the Artist:
A professional for nearly 15 years, William Moureaux has developed a passion for photography. He chose to train under the best internationally recognized photographers specializing in portraiture. To date, he is the only Frenchman to have earned the two highest European photography honors: European Master of Photography in 2017 and Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2019.
Practical Information:
Opening Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at 6:30 p.m.
"Old and Beautiful" Exhibition: Free admission from June 2 to July 1, 2022
Location: Historic Building of the Faculty of Medicine, 2 rue de l’École de médecine, Montpellier