Shine Academy grant fuels training in medication safety
The University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine, MD, Academy of Health Science Education has awarded Nuzha Amjad, MD, assistant professor of geriatric and palliative medicine, a 2025-26 Shine Academy Small Grant.
Amjad received the grant as principal investigator for her project, “Age-friendly prescribing and medication safety in geriatric patients: An immersive, case-based interprofessional training for health profession students.”
“Winning the Shine Academy Small Program Grant is more than just an award,” Amjad said. “It marks an important milestone for me and for our division. It validates the critical need to advance age-friendly prescribing and improve medication safety for older adults, an area central to our clinical and educational mission.”
The grant will fund Amjad’s project, which focuses on reducing preventable harm caused by medication-related errors by strengthening how future health professionals are trained in prescribing and medication management, particularly as more patients face complex treatment regimens.
“This award will allow us to build an innovative, immersive interprofessional training program that not only addresses real gaps in safe medication management but also strengthens UTHealth Houston’s leadership in geriatrics education and patient safety,” Amjad said.
Through the UTHealth Houston Center for Interprofessional Collaboration, the initiative introduces a hands-on, team-based learning experience that brings together multiple disciplines. Patient-centered video cases will serve as the foundation for guided discussions and collaborative analysis, allowing participants to examine breakdowns in care, understand shared responsibility, and develop practical strategies to improve safety.
The project will also integrate storytelling with systems-based learning and interprofessional teamwork to build empathy, enhance collaboration, and improve clinical decision-making. The effort aims to create a lasting, adaptable framework for educating future providers and advancing safer patient care.
“I am grateful to partner with the Center for Interprofessional Collaboration at UTHealth Houston and the Office of Educational Programs at McGovern Medical School to develop this vital curriculum,” Amjad said. “Their support for this curricular innovation allows me to apply my expertise in creating a sustainable and replicable teaching model that enhances collaborative partnerships across health professions and reinforces our commitment to using innovative approaches to elevate interprofessional training.”
The Health Science Education Small Grants Program supports research and innovation in health science education. These projects may involve curriculum development, evaluation methods, faculty development, or the use of technology.