People
The MTC Initiative is an outgrowth of years of collaboration and hard work by many people. Tom Meuser, PhD, University of Missouri – St. Louis, and Marla Berg-Weger, PhD, Saint Louis University, hold primary responsibility for formulating the MTC curriculum and bringing this work to you via this website. Both are Fellows of the Gerontological Society of America and recognized experts in clinical gerontological practice. Other valued colleagues have contributed substantially, and these include:
- Mary Leary, PhD, Easter Seals and the National Center on Senior Transportation
- David B. Carr, MD, Washington University School of Medicine
- Patricia Niewoehner, OTR/L, CDRS, Saint Louis VA Medical Center
- Peggy Barco, PhD, OTR/L, Washington University School of Medicine
- Annie Harmon, MSG, University of Michigan School of Public Health
- John T. Chibnall, PhD, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- M. Denise King, PhD, Gerontological Social Worker, St. Louis, MO
- James Stowe, MS, University of Missouri - Columbia
- Ronald Hawley, MA, Washington University School of Medicine
- and many others…
The MTCI also builds on other important curriculum development and training efforts, including those offered through the Older Drivers Project of the American Medical Association, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, DriveWell from the American Society on Aging and NHTSA, the National Center on Senior Transportation, the Beverly Foundation, and many other committed organizations.
Thomas M. Meuser, PhD (meusert@umsl.edu)
Thomas M. Meuser, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist with specialized training in Geropsychology, and he serves as the Director of the Gerontology Graduate Program in the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL). He is an Associate Professor of Social Work and Gerontology at UMSL, and a new Fellow (2011) of the Gerontological Society of America.
Tom earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 1986 from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1997 from the University of Missouri – St. Louis. His research interests include loss and grief in aging and dementia, coping and communication issues in dementia caregiving, the impact of aging and dementia on functional capacity (e.g., driving ability, mobility), educational program development and evaluation, and psychotherapeutic intervention.
Marla Berg-Weger, PhD, LCSW (bergwm@slu.edu)
Marla Berg-Weger, PhD, LCSW, is a Professor and Director of Field Education at the Saint Louis University School of Social Work and a Fellow in the Gerontological Society of America 9GSA). Her scholarly work has focused on aging, family caregiving and social work practice. She has authored four books and over thirty book chapters and journal articles in these areas. She is a member of an interprofessional team focused on research and education in the area of older adult mobility and driving.
Marla is a past president of the Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work and current Secretary of the AGE SW Board of Directors. She also serves as a Co-Convener of the GSA Transportation Interest Group and Vice Chair of the ITN St. Charles Board of Directors.