Medical Care
Provider services include primary care of the older adult, comprehensive geriatric assessment and fall assessment. Providers may evaluate patients in consultation for a medication review or cognitive assessment. Staff members, including geriatricians and geriatric nurse practitioners, also provide patient care in the home and several area long-term care and rehab facilities, working as part of a multidisciplinary team with physical and occupational therapists, social workers and case managers to provide comprehensive care.
Medical Education
The division is committed to and involved in educational initiatives and research at all levels--undergraduate, post-graduate and continuing education for physicians. From integrating geriatric medicine throughout the undergraduate curriculum to fellowships and Chief Resident Immersion Training, we focus on how to better serve an aging population. Our fellowship acknowledges that it is essential that geriatricians increase awareness of the special concerns of the elderly and is committed to making them both excellent clinicians and educators. We also participate in the prestigious Medical Student in Aging Research (MSTAR) Fellowship offering opportunities for training in geriatric research to rising second year medical students.
Graduate and Post-Doctoral Education
Faculty in the Division are part of the Clinical and Population Health Research (CPHR) http://www.umassmed.edu/cphr/ PhD Program. Division faculty have taught courses and mentored students in the CPHR program since its inception in 2005. The Division offers opportunities for CPHR students to rotate with our faculty and also sponsors the graduate training and mentorship of several students.
Research
Members of the Geriatric Medicine division are conducting research in areas that include:
- Improving Patient Safety
- Improving Transitions of Care
- Quality of Care in Nursing Homes
- Cognitive and Functional Health in Seniors
With the aging of the U.S. population the need for medical providers, educators, and researchers with expertise in geriatrics has never been so pressing. Please call us at (508) 856-3085 or email Lynn.Chickering@umassmemorial.org to find out more.