Big ‘G’ and Little ‘g’ Geriatrics Education for Physicians |
| |
| Authors: | Kathryn E. Callahan MD MS Nina Tumosa PhD Rosanne M. Leipzig MD PhD |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Section 2. on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston‐Salem, North Carolina;3. Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland;4. Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York |
| |
| Abstract: | In the July 2016 issue of this journal, Dr. Mary Tinetti proposed that geriatric medicine abandon attempts to increase the numbers of board‐certified geriatricians and change focus to the development of a “small elite workforce.” What would be gained and what sacrificed by accepting this challenge? We agree that the best clinical use of a scarce resource, specialty trained geriatricians, is to care for frail, complex, severely ill elderly adults and to help design and study novel interventions in research, education, and care models to improve the care of all older adults, but for this to happen, all other providers must attain specific competency in the care of older adults. This article responds and discusses alternative pathways for teaching geriatrics care, training specialists, and geriatrics fellows. |
| |
| Keywords: | geriatrics education and training fellowships workforce |
|
|
