A National Survey on the Effect of the Geriatric Academic Career Award in Advancing Academic Geriatric Medicine

Abstract

A workforce that understands principles of geriatric medicine is critical to addressing the care needs of the growing elderly population. This will be impossible without a substantial increase in academicians engaged in education and aging research. Limited support of early‐career clinician–educators is a major barrier to attaining this goal. The Geriatric Academic Career Award (GACA) was a vital resource that benefitted 222 junior faculty members. GACA availability was interrupted in 2006, followed by permanent discontinuation after the Geriatrics Workforce Education Program (GWEP) subsumed it in 2015, leaving aspiring clinician–educators with no similar alternatives. GACA recipients were surveyed in this cross‐sectional, multimethod study to assess the effect of the award on career development, creation and dissemination of educational products, funding discontinuation consequences, and implications of program closure for the future of geriatric health care. Uninterrupted funding resulted in fulfillment of GACA goals (94%) and overall career success (96%). Collectively, awardees reached more than 40,700 learners. Funding interruption led to 55% working additional hours over and above an increased clinical workload to continue their GACA‐related research and scholarship. Others terminated GACA projects (36%) or abandoned academic medicine altogether. Of respondents currently at GWEP sites (43%), only 13% report a GWEP budget including GACA‐like support. Those with GWEP roles attributed their current standing to experience gained through GACA funding. These consequences are alarming and represent a major setback to academic geriatrics. GACA's singular contribution to the mission of geriatric medicine must prompt vigorous efforts to restore it as a distinct funding opportunity.

Policy Changes Key To Promoting Sustainability And Growth Of The Specialty Palliative Care Workforce

“…A recently published analysis demonstrated that each GACA recipient had an impact on approximately 183 interdisciplinary trainees. 23 Based on these data, we project that 9,300 additional health professionals would receive palliative care education and training through palliative care academic career development awards.…”

State of the Science: Interprofessional Approaches to Aging, Dementia, and Mental Health

“…Consequently, geriatrics healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines are uniquely positioned to lead a new effort to develop and implement geriatrics‐focused training and mentorship (see Table ). Innovative models of interprofessional geriatric care would ideally be catalyzed by renewed support for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Geriatric Academic Career Award and the Geriatric Wokrforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) . In particular, there is an urgent need to develop geriatrics‐focused interprofessional training and mentorship activities for junior clinician‐educator faculty members in the areas of aging (including healthy aging), dementia, and mental health.…”

Consensus‐Based Recommendations for an Adequate Workforce to Care for People with Serious Illness

“…Summit attendees lauded this program for providing grantees opportunities to develop innovative approaches to provide geriatrics education throughout a region, often including staff and clinicians in primary care, adult day care health centers, and other sites. Summit attendees also pointed to the Geriatrics Academic Career Award program that was interrupted in 2005 but reestablished shortly after the summit . Summit attendees recommended that a program be established to support palliative care using the successful model of the GWEPs.…”