A one-year, ACCME-accredited, clinical fellowship in Geriatric Medicine is offered at the University of Florida to physicians interested in clinical and academic careers in geriatrics. Fellows successfully completing the program will qualify to take the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) Examination in Geriatrics, which is given by the American Board of Internal Medicine Board in conjunction with the American Board of Family Medicine.
Graduating fellows interested in research, clinician-leader, or educator careers may pursue additional training. Pending funding availability, our program offers a wide range of mentored opportunities in clinical, educational, health services and basic science research, as well as in leadership and administration. UF has strong resources in all specialties and subspecialties relevant to the care of older adults and to advancing the understanding of aging people and societies, such as Cardiology, Care Transitions Management, Geropsychiatry, Health Services Evaluation, Medical Informatics, Memory Disorders, Movement Disorders, Neurology, Palliative Care, Patient Quality and Safety and Urology. Additional resources are available through our collaborations with the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.
The goal of the UF Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine is to train clinical, educational and academic leaders with skills in geriatrics and in research, education and administration. Fellows will demonstrate expertise in the six core ACGME competencies: medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice.
For additional information please contact our Fellowship Coordinator, Marcil Campbell
MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the University of Florida College of Medicine Geriatric Medicine Fellowship program is to produce physician-leaders who provide the best possible care to older adults across the continuum of care. Through clinical experiences in ambulatory clinics, inpatient consultations, Skilled Nursing Facility, Long Term Care, research, and educational development our geriatricians learn the values of respect, compassion, hospitality, and integrity to deliver person-centered care with a warm and approachable demeanor. Our program develops geriatricians who will contribute to the field of geriatrics using excellent clinical skills, and abundant fund of knowledge, evidence-based medicine, outcomes-based research, community outreach, and education to patients, families, medical learners at all levels, and healthcare providers.
OBJECTIVE: This one-year fellowship is designed to train physicians about the clinical care of older adults.
PROGRAM DESIGN: The geriatric fellowship is administered by the University of Florida and the Gainesville VA Medical Center. Each year four geriatric fellows are accepted. The program is directed by Candace Worsham, MD. The program provides flexibility to meet the needs and goals of individual fellows and can be modified to develop areas of expertise and interest. The optional second and third years are devoted to research, education, and /or administration.
EDUCATION: A core curriculum provides basic knowledge of biological and psychological aspects of aging. Lectures, conferences, seminars, a journal club, Grand Rounds, and university courses serve as teaching vehicles. Experience is gained in clinical care, research, teaching, and administration.
CLINICAL TRACK: Care is provided to a broad spectrum of patients: from the fit to the frail, from the independent to the dependent, and to persons from varied social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Training settings include ambulatory sites, several community skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes, and acute care consultation services. Patient management is assisted by fellows becoming members of interdisciplinary teams. Fellows will teach and supervise medical students and internal medicine house staff. Graduates will be well-prepared to pass the ABIM/ABFP certification exam in Geriatric Medicine.
RESEARCH: Research projects are tailored to each fellow’s individual needs and may be clinical, laboratory, psychosocial, epidemiologic, health services, or policy-oriented. Close collaboration between fellow and mentor permits the development and execution of a research project and acquisition of expertise in a particular area, i.e., sarcopenia, frailty, exercise physiology, memory disorders, and stroke rehabilitation.
FACILITIES: The University of Florida Health Science Center and the Gainesville VA Medical Center are adjacent to one another. The university hospital and the VA hospital combined have nearly 1,000 beds. Additional facilities for the geriatric program include the following:
- Senior Care Clinic
- Oak Hammock Retirement Community at the University of Florida
- UF Health Shands Hospital Geriatrics Consult services
- UF Health Palliative Care services
- UF Health Urology clinic
- UF Health Movement Disorders clinic
- Shands Rehabilitation Hospital
Faculty
Henrique Kallas M.D.
Bhanuprasad Sandesara M.D.
Candace A Worsham M.D.
Eber L Wright MD
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- Application deadline is November 15 of each year.
- Applicants are selected through the NRMP match system.
- Physician candidates must have completed training in either Internal Medicine or Family Practice.
- Interviews are required. Candidates should contact us at the earliest possible date.
- Application must be accompanied by three reference letters.
- Fellows are selected on the basis of past performance, interest in geriatrics, and interest in an academic career.
- Efforts are made to recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds.
For additional information please contact our Fellowship Coordinator, Marcil Campbell