Internal Medicine

Division of Internal Medicine

Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program

Objective:
This one-year fellowship is designed to train physicians about clinical care of older adults. A second (or third) year of training may be available to fellows who want to pursue a career in academic geriatrics.

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 John R. Meuleman, M.D. 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. The program is linked with the University of Florida Department of Aging and Geriatrics and Institute on Aging and the VA Medical Center’s Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center.

Clinical Training:
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. Emphasis is placed on comprehensive longitudinal care, including all levels of care. Training settings include acute care and ambulatory sites, a teaching nursing home, and consultation services. Patient management is assisted by fellows becoming members of interdisciplinary teams.

Research:
Fellows who opt for a second or third year select a research mentor. 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.

Education and Administration:
Fellows teach students and house officers in their disciplines and participate in teaching various health care disciplines (e.g., pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy). Administrative experience is gained at clinical sites and in supervising students and house staff activities.

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:

University of Florida:

  • Senior care
  • Memory Disorder Clinic
  • Shands Rehabilitation Hospital

VA Medical Center:

  • Geriatric Clinics
  • Geriatric Consult Service
  • Nursing Home
  • Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Unit
  • Home Based Primary Care Program
  • Palliative Care Unit

Academic Units:

  • GRECC
  • Institute on Aging
  • Center for Health Policy Research
  • Center for Exercise Science
  • Oak Hammock Lifecare Community

Communitiy Facilities:

  • Palm Garden Nursing Home
  • Haven Hospice

Faculty:

  • John R. Meuleman, MD,
    Program Director
  • Marco Pahor, MD,
    Director, IOA
  • Ron Shorr , MD, MS,
    Director, GRECC
  • Miho Bautista, MD
  • Rebecca Beyth, MD
  • George J. Caranasos, MD
  • Christy Carter, PhD
  • Nannette Hoffman, MD
  • Henrique Kallas, MD
  • David T. Lowenthal, MD, PhD
  • Stephen E. Nadeau, MD
  • Leslye Pennypacker, MD
  • Constance R. Uphold, PhD, ARNP

Current Fellows:

  • Luis Burgos, MD
  • Antje-Mareike Floegel, MD
  • Doris Iturrino, MD
  • Julia Kaci, MD

Eligibility and Selection Criteria:

  • 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.
  • Application deadline is December 15 of each year.

To submit an electronic application for the Geriatric Fellowship, click here.

For additional information contact:

John R. Meuleman, M.D.
VA Medical Center, (GRECC 182)
1601 SW Archer Road
Gainesville, FL. 32608
Phone: 352-374-6077
Fax: 352-374-6142

E-Mail Secretary to the Director: Norma.Morrison@med.VA.Gov

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