Falls Awareness Event Returns to Educate & Connect the Community

Students from three Worcester-based programs hosted an interprofessional presentation to teach older adults strategies for preventing falls.

During Falls Prevention Awareness Week this September, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) welcomed community members to its Worcester campus for an afternoon of education, connection, and collaboration.

Students from the Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Pharmacy, and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs on the Worcester campus worked together on a presentation explaining how older adults can reduce their risk of falling.

“This event is about thinking beyond your program,” said Noor Sajid, ’28, a student presenter from the optometry program. “As providers, we need to know what our colleagues do and know that when I refer a patient to them, they will be well taken care of.”

Nine student presenters volunteered to share their discipline’s expertise and collaborate with peers from other programs.

“Everyone is already so well-educated in their fields, and it’s exciting to see how we all can come together to help people live healthier lives,” said Abby Kokkinos, PharmD ’27.

Community members from the Worcester Senior Center, the Grafton Senior Center, and Colony Retirement Homes attended the event on the MCPHS campus. Other attendees are active participants in the University’s patient centers, including the Balance, Movement, and Wellness Center.

Kokkinos, who is completing a clinical rotation at the Pharmacy Outreach Program, recognized a few attendees as people who have called for medication support. “I want to encourage people to be more involved with their medication management and not be afraid to ask us questions,” she said. “We are here to help.”

Beyond falls prevention and education, the event was about community connection. It gave students the opportunity to practice working with a specific patient population.

“Our community members are the best teachers,” Professor Cheryl Babin, PT, DHS, MHA, told students. “They will ask questions to make you think. They also want to get to know you, so talk with them and enjoy their company.”

Before and after the formal event, the presenters and about a dozen other student volunteers from the featured programs sat with their guests and enjoyed coffee, pastries, and conversation.

“Most of all, I hope they enjoyed themselves,” Sajid said. “I hope they were entertained and learned something about how they can improve their lifestyle.”

This marked the second time the University has hosted a falls awareness community event on its campus. The first time was in the fall of 2024. That event was nationally recognized for excellence in interprofessional education.