Robert L. Kane Chair in Long-Term Care & Aging Internship
The Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging is excited to provide three internships to qualified graduate or professional students during the academic year of 2023–2024. Interns can be from any University of Minnesota program—with the main requirement that interns are interested in serving older people and/or those who care for them. Students selected will be matched with internships at various agencies and programs that serve older adults. Projects are one or two semesters in length and approximately 10–20 hours per week (hours may vary). Recipients will receive $3000.
Past Project Examples
- Research waiver-reimbursement feasibility to determine the true cost of services.
- Create an orientation manual for new social service workers.
- Develop employee education and training materials about best care practices for residents experiencing trauma, substance abuse, and behavior disorders.
- A research paper and presentation on payment structures, care coordination, and information on policies states have in place.
- Compile LGBTQ+ Aging Needs Assessment.
- Design in-person and virtual programming for caregivers and care recipients.
- Compare comprehensive city plans to evaluate levels of age-friendliness.
- Create family resources to support the health and well-being of loved ones with memory loss.
- Evaluate group respite program and develop a strategy for program expansion.
- Research waiver-reimbursement feasibility to determine the true cost of services to inform providers.
Recent Participating Agencies
- Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
- Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
- DARTS
- Ebenezer Adult Day Program
- FamilyMeans
- LeadingAge Minnesota
- Minnesota Gerontological Society
- Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging
- Rainbow Health
- Southeast Seniors
- START Senior Solutions
- The Goodman Group
- Trellis
2024-2025 Internship Winners
Master of Public Health Nutrition Candidate, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
During my time with The Pillars of Prospect Park, I will contribute to the enhancement of the senior living menus by focusing on nutrition and acceptability. I will work to ensure that these menus meet the diverse dietary needs and preferences of residents, while maintaining their nutritional quality and aligning with best practices in nutritional care.
Medical Student, University of Minnesota Medical School
The Minnesota Department of Health – Aging and Healthy Communities Unit strives to support Minnesotans as they navigate the challenges associated with aging. My work with the MDH will focus on building connections between healthcare institutions and community programs to understand the gaps in caring for aging people and to determine how we can meet the needs of an aging population. We will have a specific focus on managing dementia as a chronic disease.
Master of Healthcare Administration Candidate, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Lifespark is a senior health company focused on helping people stay healthy at home, navigate their health options, and live fuller, more independent lives. During my time with Lifespark, my main project will be helping develop and support a dialysis unit opening at one of their skilled nursing facility locations to achieve operational success.
2023-2024 Internship Winners
PhD Candidate, Organizational Leadership Policy and Development, College of Education and Human Development
During my time with Southeast Seniors I will review organizational materials related to mission, vision, values, and work being done in alignment with it. Additionally, I will conduct interviews & observe the team with the goal of identifying the purpose of the organization, the challenges the organization faces, the current work being done, and potential opportunities for the organization. This will lead to forming recommendations regarding mission, vision, values, and how the organization is presented externally, and reviewing the current strategic plan & goals for the future.
Master of Public Health Candidate, Public Health Administration and Policy, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging is a state agency that works to address the needs and concerns of older adults in Northeastern Minnesota. I will be researching waiver-reimbursement feasibility to determine the true cost of services. The project will inform the agency and partner providers of their true cost of services and help the aging network to understand how rural providers can be best poised to seek licensing and participate in alternative forms of payments such as elderly and alternative care waivers.
Doctor of Medicine Candidate, University of Minnesota Medical School
Since 1974, DARTS has been a community-based nonprofit serving seniors (ages 55+) and their families in and around Dakota County and the surrounding area, helping them to lead more independent and fulfilling lives. I will be partnering with DARTS to evaluate their group respite program and develop a strategy for program expansion.
Masters in Business Administration Candidate, Carlson School of Management
As a passionate and dedicated healthcare professional, I am excited to be awarded the 2023-2024 RobertL. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care & Aging fellowship. During this period, I will be working with the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging. I look forward to supporting the efforts towards coordinating age-friendly systems and elevating awareness of aging issues with state policymakers. I will be working towards championing diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities in which to age. I will be supporting the formal & informal leaders from the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging as well as a diverse mix of community leaders and other stakeholders across local and state government.
2022-2023 Internship Winners
Neha Reddy
Doctor of Medicine Candidate, University of Minnesota Medical School
The Minnesota Gerontological Society (MGS) is a multidisciplinary professional organization founded in 1976 with the mission of bridging research and practice in the field of aging and supporting the professional development of future leaders. I will be partnering with MGS to work on identifying and developing strategies to optimize the organization’s data management and member relations systems. In this role, I hope to gain insight into the challenges faced by professionals and communities in the provision of services to older adults.
Emily Merkel
Master of Public Health Candidate, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
The Goodman Group is a company that manages over 65 senior living and healthcare communities, residential communities, and commercial properties across nine states. I will be working at St. Anthony Health and Rehabilitation. I will work with their social services department to create an orientation manual for new social service workers. Additionally, I will develop employee education and training materials about best care practices for residents experiencing trauma, substance abuse, and behavior disorders. Through this work, I hope to support caregivers with resources and education to allow them to provide residents with the highest quality care.
Ashton Loehr
Master of Public Health Candidate, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
I will be researching policies for a program that includes intensive care for the elderly and presenting findings to a policy committee. My final product will include a research paper and presentation materials on payment structures, care coordination, and information on policies other states have in place. I’m excited to work with LeadingAge and make an impact on future policy in this field!
2021-2022 Scholarship Winners
Janette Romero Saenz
Master of Public Health Candidate, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
At the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging (MNLCOA), I will work to advance age-friendly policies and equitable strategies through a collaborative effort. My primary role will be to build partner connections, contribute to operations, and take on the AGEnda project. Alongside the MNLCOA and partners, I hope to promote positive community support for Minnesota’s aging population.
Rebecca Bianchi
Master of Healthcare Administration Candidate, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
START Senior Solutions hires and trains knowledgeable advocates to become well-versed in the types of issues that arise and complicate a senior’s life. I will be working with the START Senior Solutions advocacy team (nurses, ombudsmen, and gerontologists) concentrated on local Minneapolis and Saint Paul clientele. My project will focus on three areas: developing training procedures for advocates, creating clients’ care plans, and interviewing the advocacy team to document the core advocacy process.
Laura Farlow
Master of Public Health Candidate, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
Rainbow Health provides key services for the LGBTQ+ aging population in the Twin Cities area. I will be collaborating with the Rainbow Health team to introduce SAGE affiliation to their programs. The connection to SAGE will help to expand the use and quality of services. During this year working with the Aging Initiative at Rainbow Health, I will also help complete the 2021 Twin Cities LGBTQ+ Aging Needs Assessment. Through this work, I hope to connect more with the community and to create a foundation of knowledge in aging activism.
2020-2021 Scholarship Winners
Emily Reimer
Master of Public 
Health Candidate, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School or Public Health.
FamilyMeans provides a variety of services to caregivers and care receivers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, southeastern Minnesota, and western Wisconsin. I will be collaborating with the entire FamilyMeans team to organize and film content for their programming. Some of the content will be a virtual version of their existing programs and some will be new content that caregivers and care receivers can access at any time. Through this work, I hope to create engaging and relevant content for FamilyMeans clients, families, and providers.
Karen Chen
Master of Public Health Candidate, Division of Health Policy and Management, University School of Public Health.
At the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging I will work under the supervision of the Executive Director, Dawn Simonson. I will compare comprehensive plans for cities in the seven-country Minneapolis/St. Paul area to determine if they include the World Health Organization’s eight domains of age-friendliness. The goal of this project is to determine how cities are including and addressing the aging population in their plans for the future.
2019-2020 Scholarship Winners
Kayla Chapman
Master of Public Health Candidate, Public Health 
Administration & Policy University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
At Amherst H. Wilder Foundation I will be working with the Director of Healthy Aging & Caretaking Services, Maureen Kenney. I will be facilitating a work group dedicated to expanding their customized living services that currently serve individuals in two Saint Paul Public Housing apartment buildings. The Ultimate goal is to increase the reach of Wilder’s customized living services to support individuals in the community who need daily assistance to live independently and prevent or delay the need to move into a nursing home.
Abigail Fink
Master of Public Health Candidate, Maternal & Child Health
University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
I am a first year Maternal and Child Health MPH student, with a minor in Epidemiology. I am working with Centro Tyrone Guzman on the Wise Elders program, which builds community among aging adults and provides a variety of educational, health, and recreational activities for them and their families. I will be helping to create a packet of program materials for the families of aging adults with Alzeihmer’s and dementia. The packet will serve as a resource for family members to continue memory exercises at home and support the health and well-being of their loved ones.
Alexandria Grimes
Master of Public Policy Candidate, Public Policy 
Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
I’m a second year student at the Humphrey School, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Policy along with graduate minors in Urban and Regional Planning and Health Equity. Prior to beginning my graduate studies, I worked in Medicare and long-term care coordination and advocacy. I’m interested in the ways public policy can be used as a tool to improve the lives of older adults. This semester, I’ll be working with the Alzheimer’s Association to assist with the MDH rule-making process surrounding the elder abuse protections that passed the legislature last session. I’m hoping to gain a better understanding of how the state implements new regulations, and I’m looking forward to assisting the Alzheimer’s Association with the process!
