|
VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
|
Geriatric Medicine Fellowship
Training Objectives
The goal of the fellowship is to train physicians as clinician-educators/researchers in Geriatric Medicine.
The fellow will develop:
- Skills in evaluating, diagnosing, treating and preventing disease in aging persons,
- Sensitivity to psychosocial influences,
- Training in neurological, psychiatric and rehabilitative medicine assessment and treatment,
- Knowledge of the health care system at the local, state and federal levels,
- Skills in teaching geriatrics,
- Understanding of administrative approaches to geriatric care including development of quality assurance programs and integration of resources across many disciplines,
- Training in biomedical, psychosocial and preventive geriatric medical research,
- Experience in comprehensive functional assessment and interdisciplinary team planning with emphasis on continuity of care and primary care.
Albany Medical Center (AMC) and the Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Albany VAMC) offer ACGME-approved-fellowships in Geriatric Medicine Primary Care.
Description of the Fellowship
Fellows spend up to 80% of their time in clinical educational activities in ambulatory inpatient and long-term home care. Research activities occupy 10% of the time in the one-year program. Educational and administrative training time varies between 10% and 40%. The typical content of these segments is described below, but is individualized to meet the needs of the Fellows and should prepare the Fellows for the ABIM/ABFP Certification of Added Qualifications Examination in Geriatric Medicine.
Patient Care. Fellows will follow geriatric patients in one-month rotations through Geriatrics, Neurology, Psychiatry and Rehabilitation Medicine at AVAMC or AMC. Training in Geriatric Primary Care and consultation will be provided in the Silver Team at Albany VAMC. Institutional long-term care training will be provided in the community up to three community living centers under faculty supervision. Home Care training will be provided by the Home Care Training Institute (co-sponsored by AMC and the VA) and the Home Based Primary Care program at Albany VAMC. All these primary care sites afford one-year longitudinal experiences for the trainees.
Research Skills. Fellows will be assigned preceptors for research projects that are ongoing or planned and will be expected to develop a research project with guidance from a preceptor. Presentation of results in Journal Club and/or the Geriatric Specialty Conference will be expected. The Fellows will be trained in research design and methodology under preceptor guidance.
Research Opportunities. Opportunities in telemedicine, home care education, end of life planning, memory clinic; and basic, clinical and health services research are available.
Administration. Fellows will gain administrative skills under the guidance of faculty with extensive experience as administrators for medical and geriatric programs. The Fellows will be a member of the Steering and Continuous Quality Improvement Committees for Extended Care at the Albany VAMC so that skills in program planning for Geriatrics can be obtained.
Teaching and Education. Fellows will participate actively in Journal Club, the Geriatric Specialty Conferences, the Geriatric Residents Tutorial Program, special conferences and Medical Grand Rounds devoted to Geriatrics. Medical student teaching opportunities will be available. Elective rotations and participation in subspecialty conferences and seminars of the Medical, surgical, Neurology, Psychiatry and Psychology Services are encouraged. Regular education and clinical interactions with Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants will occur in the training program.
Dr. Mollie Shulan is the Program Director and is based at the Stratton VAMC, located directly across the street from Albany Medical College. Over 20 other faculty members and professionals from other disciplines will provide instruction and guidance to the fellows.
Training Site
AMC is a major tertiary health care facility and regional referral center with approximately 500 beds divided among the major specialties of Medicine. All the major medical subspecialties are represented in clinical, teaching and research activities. AVAMC is a tertiary acute care facility having three care lines (managed care/primary care, mental health, and geriatrics and extended care) with 67 acute medical/surgical, 56 mental health, and 40 transitional/community living enter beds. Over 100 consults/year are seen in Geriatrics. Students, residents and fellows from other participating services, including Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Neurology and Rehabilitative Medicine, interact with the Geriatric fellows. The Ringel Institute of Gerontology and the State University of New York at Albany are nearby and have faculty in the School of Social Welfare participating in the training program.
Albany, the state capital and regional center for banking, culture and education, is a small metropolitan city surrounded by the Catskills, Adirondacks and the Berkshire Mountains, and not far from NYC and Boston.
Applications
Applicants must be board eligible/certified in Internal Medicine or Family Practice and have demonstrated an interest in Primary Care. Applications and further information can be obtained by calling (518) 626-6031 or writing to: Dr. Mollie Shulan, Program Director at the address below.
|
| For More Information Contact: |
Dr. Mollie Shulan
Geriatrician (GEC)
Stratton VA Medical Center
113 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208 |
| (518) 626-6031 |
 |
|
|
| Reviewed/Updated Date: August 9, 2006 |
|
