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Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine
Overview from the Program DIrectors
The Perelman School of Medicine has Geriatric Fellowship prepares physicians for leadership positions in teaching, research, or health care management and policy, and provides fellows an opportunity to learn fundamental geriatric clinical skills necessary to meet the accreditation requirement for certification in geriatric medicine. The Fellowship consists of a mandatory one-year clinical experience. Optional second and third years are available for those candidates who wish to pursue a career in academia as a teacher, scholar or investigator. Because of Penn’s rich expertise in a variety of areas, fellows may choose from a range of specializations, including cognitive disorders, bone disease, palliative care, sleep medicine, health disparities, administration or health care policy.
Our training program emphasizes interdisciplinary clinical management of elderly patients with diverse medical problems. Experiences are offered in a range of settings: the Acute Care for the Elderly Unit (ACE) at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; ambulatory care clinics located at the Ralston-Penn Center and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program at the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center (PVAMC); LIFE (Living Independently for Elders) program; long-term care communities; and home care settings.
Our Fellowship Program is also integrated with our Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded Geriatric Interdisciplinary Fellowship, a program that highlights key themes through scheduled didactics, site visits, and projects. Principal topics include Interdisciplinary Care and Training, Health Equity and Literacy, Palliative Care, Communication Skills, Education, Research, and Health Care Quality and Safety. We also offer teaching opportunities through the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation Penn Community and Academic Resources for Education about Seniors (Penn CARES) Program.
Edna Schwab, MD
Program Director
Amy M. Corcoran, MD
Associate Program Director
Core Activities
Clinical
Sites include the Veteran Affairs Medical
Center, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP),
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC), and the Ralston-Penn Center.
The Ralston-Penn center was established in
1987 to house many of the aging-related activities of Penn Medicine.
Faculty from Geriatric Medicine, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Gerontological Nursing
are all based here and conduct their practices on-site.
In addition, the Center now houses three interdisciplinary
clinical programs:
- The Ambulatory Geriatric Consultation Service
- The primary care practice in Geriatric Medicine
- The offices of the Truman G. Schnabel In-Home Primary Care Program, which provides primary care for homebound
elderly.
Inpatient Care and Consultation Services at the VAMC
Fellows assist nurse practitioners and housestaff in the
management of primary care patients admitted to the acute
medicine service at the VAMC. Fellows also serve as geriatric
consultants in the hospital, offering geriatric assessment
services, teaching housestaff and students the principles
of geriatrics, and providing other basic inpatient medical
consultation services, such as preoperative evaluations
for elderly veterans.
Inpatient Services at PPMC
Fellows assist in the management of primary care patients
admitted to the acute medicine service at the Hospital of
the University of Pennsylvania. The Geriatrics Division
also provides consultation services to trauma, psychiatry,
rehabilitation, and orthopaedics.
At Presbyterian Medical Center, the Geriatrics
Division staffs the Acute Care of Elders Unit. Schools of
Medicine, Nursing, Business, Law, Social Work, Engineering,
and Arts and Sciences. The Institute offers Geriatric fellows
funding opportunities for research and access to research
projects and mentorship throughout the University.
Penn's Alzheimer's Disease Center (ADC) is part of a national
network of 25 centers established throughout the country
by the National Institute of Aging (NIA) to foster understanding
and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The ADC coordinates
research in Alzheimer's disease at Penn by fostering interdisciplinary
activities, training scientists, funding pilot studies,
and recruiting patients. It also conducts educational programs
for students, health care professionals, and caregivers.
Please use the ERAS web to apply. ACGME #1514121060
Contact Information:
Pamela Hodges
Division of Geriatric Medicine
Ralston-Penn Center
3615 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676
Phone: 215-662-4411
Fax: 215-662-4438
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