Lifelong Learning

Last week I visited the Lexington Senior Citizens Center to speak to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Kentucky, which is a part of the UK Donovan Forum. http://www.mc.uky.edu/aging/olli.html . Just a little history on the UK Donovan Form, which I find quite interesting is that in 1962 the UK Board of Trustees voted to establish the Council on Aging. This Council was tasked with developing programs to benefit the aging population as well as conduct relevant research. Two years later the Board of Trustees approved the Herman L. Donovan Fellowship for Senior Citizens. The Donovan fellowship waived the tuition fee for scholarships awarded to recipients. As a part of the Donovan program, the Donovan Forum originated and began offering bi-weekly speakers and discussions for the participants and for the public. This led to UK receiving a grant in 2007 from the Bernard Osher Foundation allowing additional lifelong learning classes.

I was originally asked to speak to the group by Dr. Amy King.  This was a great opportunity for me  to reconnect with Dr. King since she was my wife's professor and mentor at Eastern Kentucky University where she attended undergraduate and graduate school.

I truly enjoyed sharing with this group the advances that have taken place at UK HealthCare in recent years.  It was great seeing this group being interested in the progress that has taken place at UK HealthCare, but it was even more interesting to see their excitement about the new Albert B. Chandler hospital.  We also had the opportunity to discuss the activities on the national level pertaining to health care reform.  This group illustrates that learning does in fact take place at all ages and what a great opportunity the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is for the aging population. It is indeed encouraging that UK is engaged with this initiative which keeps our senior population active in the community and learning!