The AAGP Scholars Program: Predictors of Pursuing Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship Training

Abstract

Highlights What is the primary question addressed by this study? This study analyzes survey data from Scholars Program participants (2010–2018) to identify demographic characteristics, attitudes toward components of the Scholars Program, and behaviors after the program that were independently associated with the decision to pursue fellowship training in geriatric psychiatry. What is the main finding of the study? Rating the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) Scholars Program as important for meeting potential collaborators, maintaining AAGP membership and attending a subsequent AAGP annual meeting were all associated with the decision to pursue fellowship in our final model. What is the meaning of the finding? The AAGP Scholars Program plays a role in recruiting trainees into the field of geriatric psychiatry.

Managing medical and psychiatric multimorbidity in older patients

“… 222 Initiatives, such as the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Scholars Program, 223 , 224 which encourage more trainees to enter fields such as geriatric medicine and geriatric psychiatry – both of which have experienced problems recruiting – can increase the number of specialists available to join multidisciplinary teams and promote improved care for older patients with multimorbidity. 225 …”

Predictors for Matriculation into Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship: Data from a 2019–2020 National Survey of U.S. Program Directors

“…In a study of Canadian residents, participation in a geriatric psychiatry rotation before the third year of residency was independently related to interest in geriatric psychiatry as a career choice; notably, 36.7% of respondents interested in geriatric psychiatry as a future career completed a geriatric psychiatry rotation in medical school [ 10 ]. Early exposure to geriatric psychiatry and thus geriatric psychiatry faculty connects interested junior residents with national opportunities such as the AAGP’s Scholars Program and the annual AAGP meeting, repeated attendance at which is positively associated with the decision to pursue fellowship training [ 10 , 16 , 17 ]. The Scholars Program, which aims to inspire interest in geriatric psychiatry training and careers, provides formal mentorship and active engagement in programming events as well as a scholarly activity requirement [ 16 ].…”

Why Does the US Overly Rely on International Medical Graduates in Its Geriatric Psychiatric Workforce?

“…16 Furthermore, access to a robust pipeline scholarship program that provides greater understanding of the field of geriatric psychiatry in addition to offering excellent mentorship during psychiatry residency (eg, the AAGP Scholars Program) possibly attracts IMGs to geriatric psychiatry. 16,17 In addition, non-US IMGs often come from countries and cultures where older adults are an important part of the extended and multigenerational family structure and therefore may experience greater comfort and confidence in working with older adults, even those with psychiatric disorders. Surveys of IMGs indicate that they may harbor more favorable cultural and societal attitudes toward elderly patients.…”