Section of Geriatrics Medicine
About
Program Overview
We believe it's important for everyone to learn about the issues involved with healthcare and quality of life for older people. Whether you're a medical student, fellow, or graduate student, we train you through integrated clinical care, academics, and research.
We offer intensive, round-the-clock care for hospitalized patients at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and manage the pain and discomfort of patients at other facilities upon the request of their managing physician. Instruction in geriatrics medicine is a required element of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
In addition to our geriatric medicine fellowships, we also offer training to practicing physicians and other hospital staff members who aim to expand their knowledge of integrative care of older adults. Our approach to care utilizing an interdisciplinary palliative care team prepares learners to become leaders in geriatric and palliative care in hospital-based and private settings.
Virginia Tech Carilion Partnership
Our partnership supports learners at every stage at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Our faculty teach both pre-clinical and clinical students, mentor student researchers, and serve on VTCSOM governance committees. We also collaborate with student interest groups—including humanism and ethics and the history of medicine—lead the narrative medicine elective, and host student electives in long-term care, palliative medicine, and ethics.
Mission, Goals and Strengths
We're a group of professionals dedicated to providing high-quality clinical care. We serve as instructional leaders for undergraduate and graduate medical education and provide community education on topics related to aging, supportive care, and end-of-life care. We're striving to expand our research contributions to improve the care of older adults and those suffering from advanced illness.
Programs
Publications
Research
The Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention (BESI) study is a 4-year research project funded by the National Science Foundation that examines how wearable technology and environmental sensors can provide information that helps soothe agitation in people with dementia.
Carilion is one of 200 research sites that took part in the Imaging Dementia-Evidence for Amyloid Scanning (IDEAS) study, a partnership between the Alzheimer's Association and the American College of Radiology. This 2-year study wasn't just about finding a specific treatment; it focused on improving the standard of care for those with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. It was completed in 2019. We also have ongoing scholarly articles.
Faculty
Education
Overview
The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) is a unique allopathic medical school that employs a problem-based curriculum with a particular emphasis on competency with medical research. Located adjacent to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, the school not only rounds out Carilion's transformation to a clinic model, allowing us to provide superior patient care, cutting-edge research, and education, but it also provides those in the geriatric medicine department with exciting growth opportunities.
We offer 2 fellowships in Geriatric Medicine and Geriatric Psychiatry. Our fellowships have been in existence for more than 15 years. We believe our curriculum prepares graduates to be 21st-century geriatricians. We have graduates who are practicing geriatric medicine in academic and private practice settings.
Program Overview
We believe it's important for everyone to learn about the issues involved with healthcare and quality of life for older people. Whether you're a medical student, fellow, or graduate student, we train you through integrated clinical care, academics, and research.
We offer intensive, round-the-clock care for hospitalized patients at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and manage the pain and discomfort of patients at other facilities upon the request of their managing physician. Instruction in geriatrics medicine is a required element of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
In addition to our geriatric medicine fellowships, we also offer training to practicing physicians and other hospital staff members who aim to expand their knowledge of integrative care of older adults. Our approach to care utilizing an interdisciplinary palliative care team prepares learners to become leaders in geriatric and palliative care in hospital-based and private settings.
Virginia Tech Carilion Partnership
Our partnership supports learners at every stage at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. Our faculty teach both pre-clinical and clinical students, mentor student researchers, and serve on VTCSOM governance committees. We also collaborate with student interest groups—including humanism and ethics and the history of medicine—lead the narrative medicine elective, and host student electives in long-term care, palliative medicine, and ethics.
Mission, Goals and Strengths
We're a group of professionals dedicated to providing high-quality clinical care. We serve as instructional leaders for undergraduate and graduate medical education and provide community education on topics related to aging, supportive care, and end-of-life care. We're striving to expand our research contributions to improve the care of older adults and those suffering from advanced illness.