Bridging Generations…Again

“I have always had an inclination to help others and to connect with people,” says College of Osteopathic Medicine student John Mari (B.S. ’23). On October 16, he put this sentiment into action as he organized—for the second time this year—an intergenerational social event at the Gurwin Jewish – Fay J. Lindner Residences, an assisted living facility in Commack, N.Y.

During 15-minute rotating conversations with Mari and some of his classmates, Gurwin residents were empowered to engage in meaningful discussions that allowed them to feel heard, acknowledged, and cared about. Simultaneously, the medical student volunteers strengthened their ability to communicate compassionately with senior patients as they listened to residents’ lived experiences and interactions with medical professionals.

Made possible through his work as president of the Morgagni Medical Society (MMS), Mari and four of his medical school classmates, including MMS Vice President Charles Tarantino, MMS Treasurer Jackie Savage, MMS Second Year Representative Andrew Fullone, and Naomi Lebowitz, organized the on-site visit.

After a successful inaugural event in March, Mari was thrilled at the opportunity to bring this special form of student volunteerism back to Gurwin. Based on positive outcomes of October’s gathering, Mari and his classmates plan to return during the spring semester to host a third afternoon of conversations between students and residents.

“The residents’ smiles, words of encouragement, and eagerness to see us again speak volumes for how they benefit from the simple conversations that we engage them in,” Mari says. “I would love to bring these conversation events to other senior living facilities or community centers in our area.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology, Mari is pursuing both a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine and a master’s degree in medical-healthcare simulation on the Long Island campus. However, his academic journey is about more than preparing for a career in medicine; for Mari, it is about learning how to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, whether that be prescribing the right medication or simply offering a comforting hug during tough times. He hopes to become a physician whose patients are heard and understood, including older adults whose perspectives and experiences he believes should play a role in shaping their care.

That commitment to empathizing with patients also informs Mari’s research. He recently undertook a research project focused on the qualifying opinions of those over age 55 in the United States. As he studies how this population perceives the interactions they have with their physicians, Mari says it is essential that their perceptions be employed to guide both changes in protocol and future education for medical students and physicians alike.

While he remains open-minded about which medical specialty he will pursue, he is certain that his future will involve patient-centered care. His long-term ambitions include advancing the delivery of high-quality patient care alongside technology’s exponential growth, teaching medical students about simulation in their field of study, and possibly venturing into research or healthcare administration and policymaking.

Mari’s career goals and ongoing work with Gurwin are steps toward making a meaningful impact on the field. He is currently in discussion with Gurwin staff about creating opportunities for residents to remotely connect with students. Should the idea work out, it will introduce another way to ease the loneliness that some residents experience in the assisted living facility.

“I hope to make a real difference that lasts well into the future,” Mari says. “My late grandfather will always be the fighting spirit that I need to conquer any obstacle in my way to achieving any goal that I put my heart into.”