Improving Specialty Care of Older Adults: Creating Champions, Supporting Research, Fostering Partnerships

Big ‘G’ and Little ‘g’ Geriatrics Education for Physicians

“…Train‐the‐trainer models and integrated and mini‐fellowships could ensure little “g” competency across specialties and practice sites, but a preceptor does not have to be a geriatrician. As noted above, many specialties, aided by career development awards supported by the National Institute on Aging have geriatrics champions who are increasingly taking responsibility for teaching their trainees core geriatric content to provide quality care for older adults . The principles‐of‐change theory suggests that this is the most effective way to mainstream geriatrics into these disciplines.…”

“…As noted above, many specialties, aided by career development awards supported by the National Institute on Aging 8 have geriatrics champions who are increasingly taking responsibility for teaching their trainees core geriatric content to provide quality care for older adults. [9][10][11][12] The principles-of-change theory suggests that this is the most effective way to mainstream geriatrics into these disciplines. Accrediting integrated fellowships for specialty physicians and surgeons would create a pipeline for these leaders, as the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) integrated geriatrics and palliative medicine pilot or the successful combined geri-oncology pathway has modeled.…”

Pioneers in aging: Engaging the specialties of surgery and related disciplines in geriatrics

“…These 2‐year grants were similar to an NIH career development award requiring a mentor and matching funds. The Jahnigen Scholarship component of the GSI, over the years, generated a cadre of young scholars who began their academic career with a focus on the geriatric aspect of their discipline 4,6,7 . These geriatric champions generated substantial scholarship and additional funding.…”

“…The Jahnigen Scholarship component of the GSI, over the years, generated a cadre of young scholars who began their academic career with a focus on the geriatric aspect of their discipline. 4,6,7 These geriatric champions generated substantial scholarship and additional funding. After the scholars established the success of this component of the GSI and its sister program for medical specialties, Williams Awards, 8 they became the basis for a program of the NIA/NIH: Grants for Emerging Medical and Surgical Specialists Transitioning to Aging Research, GEMSSTAR (Table 2).…”