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Sections
Sections are groups that were created to encourage networking among specific disciplines or trainees that are members of the American Geriatrics Society. All sections meet during the AGS Annual Meeting. Active Sections are:
Fellows-in-Training Section
Chair: Andrew Rosenzweig, MD
Staff Contact: eharanas@americangeriatrics.org
Medical Subspecialties Section
Co-Chairs: Keith Kaye, MD, MPH & Lona Mody, MD, MSc
Staff Contact: jdouglas@americangeriatrics.org
Nurses Section
Chair: Mary Cadogan, DrPH, RN, GNP-C
Staff Contact: dmcalpin@americangeriatrics.org
Pharmacists Section
Chair: Catherine Lindblad, PharmD
Staff Contact: dmcalpin@americangeriatrics.org
Social Workers Section
Chair: Irene Moore, MSSW, LISW, AGSF
Staff Contact: dmcalpin@americangeriatrics.org
Section of Surgical and Related Medical Specialists
Chair: Jeffrey Silverstein, MD
Staff Contact: eharanas@americangeriatrics.org
Teachers Section
The Teacher's Section serves the American Geriatrics Society under the Education Committee. This Section provides a forum for teachers in geriatric medicine to network, exchange ideas and innovations and promote faculty development as educators. The Teacher's Section sponsors three Model Geriatric Programs: Materials and Methods Swap sessions at the AGS annual meeting. These sessions allow educators to submit abstracts for peer review and selection for presentation as a means to disseminate education models and methods that can be replicated at other universities or teaching sites. The Teacher's Section also sponsors an annual Networking Session at the AGS meeting. This session allows members to discuss teaching strategies and career development and plan workshop submissions for the upcoming AGS annual meeting.
Chair: Annette Medina-Walpole, MD
Staff Contact: dmcalpin@americangeriatrics.org
Special Interest Groups
Staff Contact: dmcalpin@americangeriatrics.org
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These grass-roots groups meet once a year during the May annual meeting to network and discuss areas of mutual interest. Depending on member interest, SIGS are active throughout the year, communicating electronically. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are open to all AGS members with an interest in the area their area of focus. Members of SIGs are encouraged to develop symposia proposals for submission to the Annual Meeting Program Committee, and to present collaborative project ideas to committees. Active participation in a SIG is encouraged for members who are interested in becoming engaged with AGS Committees, subcommittees, and liaison activities.
Active Special Interest Groups
Please note, this list will be updated in early 2008 with a preliminary list of groups meeting during the 2008 Annual Meeting.
Acute Hospital Care
Chair: Robert M. Palmer, MD, MPH
The mission of the Acute Hospital Care Special Interest Group is to improve the outcomes of hospitalization of elderly patients through improvements in clinical care, dissemination of research findings and promotion of health professional education. Innovative approaches to acute hospital care are discussed at AGS meetings.
Cancer and Aging
Co-Chairs: Arash Naeim, MD, PhD, & Arti Hurria, MD
The Cancer and Aging Special Interest Group is an interdisciplinary assemblage of geriatric, gerontologic, and oncologic professionals whose collective mission is to: (1) promote multidisciplinary-centered cancer prevention, assessment, and management of older adults; (2) promote education and training in geriatric oncology concepts; (3) promote research in geriatric oncology; (4) facilitate linkages among those organizations and institutions which serve or focus upon geriatric and/or oncologic causes; and (5) champion and advocate for those elders and their families who are impacted by cancer.
Clinical Research in Dementia
Chair: Malaz Boustani, MD
The aim of the Special Interest Group on Clinical Research in Dementia (SIG-CRD) is to bring together AGS members who are dedicated to advancing the health care of older adults suffering from dementia by advancing clinical research in geriatrics, across disciplines and care settings. In addition the SIG-CRD aims to disseminate interdisciplinary, evidence-based clinical knowledge about the management of dementia in older adults.
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The Cochrane Collaboration: Health Care of Older People Field
Chairs: Gilbert Ramirez, PhD; Shelley de la Vega, MD, MSc; David James Stott, MD; Susan Bravard
The goals of the Cochrane Collaboration are to build relationships with creators and consumers of Cochrane Reviews, and to engage in cross-group research efforts that enhance the representation of older adults in future reviews, ultimately influencing identification of treatment effects in the aged, and promoting incorporation of evidence-based treatment for the elderly into clinical practice.
Disaster Planning and Preparedness
Chair: Charles A. Cefalu, MD, MS
This new SIG will provide up-to-date, accurate, and useful information as well as guidance to all geriatric healthcare professionals regarding disaster planning and preparedness. It is open to health professionals who work with older adults in all geriatric health care sites, including acute, long term care, rehabilitation, and home settings.
DOs in Geriatrics
Chair: Janice Knebl, DO, MBA
The DO's at the AGS SIG is a special interest group of osteopathic geriatricians that provides a forum for networking and discussion about the opportunities in geriatric medicine within the osteopathic profession and at the osteopathic medical schools.
Elder Abuse and Neglect
Chair: Carmel B. Dyer, MD
The Elder Abuse and Neglect SIG is an interdisciplinary group of gerontologic professionals whose interests lie in the prevention and intervention of elder mistreatment. The purpose of this SIG is to promote education, research and clinical initiatives to improve the care of mistreated elders. The group strives to inform the AGS membership by providing educational sessions at the annual meetings as well as service and advice to the various committees such as ethics, public policy and education.
E-Learning in Geriatrics
Chair: Jorge Ruiz, MD
The e-learning special interest group (el-SIG) is working on developing, standardizing, sharing, using or evaluating e-learning resources in support of geriatrics blended learning instruction of health care professionals. It is important to begin this effort early and on a national scale in order to minimize duplication of effort. The goals of the group are to understand the current state of e-learning resources and how members use them. Furthermore, it reviews materials to establish benchmark examples of e-learning content.
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Ethnogeriatrics
Chair: Upinder Singh, MD, CMD, AGSF, FACP
The Ethnogeriatrics SIG is open to anyone with an interest in the relationship between aging, ethnicity and community research teams. The group's endeavors are to find out challenges and practical solutions to providing appropriate care to different cultures and ethnicities in our diverse country.
Family Physicians in Geriatrics
Chair: Erik J. Lindbloom, MD, MSPH
This Special Interest Group is devoted to discussing and acting on issues of concern to family physicians caring for older adults. Issues pertinent to family medicine fellows and residents are also of interest. This group works in collaboration with the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Group on Geriatrics.
Geriatrics Consultative Services
Chair: Taryn Lee, MD
The goal of this SIG is to generate an exchange of ideas and experiences that will allow practitioners to provide more effective geriatrics consultation services. SIG members learn from other practitioners how geriatrics consultative services are provided in various clinical settings. Discussion topics include the extent to which our services are in demand; types of patients whom we are asked to see; various collaborative efforts with other services; billing processes and concerns; incorporating geriatrics teaching within the consultative setting; and types of problems we encounter.
Geriatric Dermatology
Chairs: Barney Spivack, MD & Robert Norman, DO
The goal of this SIG is to create a link between the AGS and the professional dermatologic community including the American Academy of Dermatology and the International Society of Geriatric Dermatology. This group brings together geriatric clinicians, researchers, and other professionals with the common goals of professional education and evidence-based guideline development for the prevention and therapy of dermatologic disease, sharing of best clinical practices, clinical research and development, and improved quality of life for older adults.
Geriatric Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Aging
Chairs: Yuri Nakasato MD and Raymond Yung, MD
This SIG Strives to provide a better understanding of musculoskeletal and immune system aging and its effect on frailty and disability, and to improve the care of the elderly with musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases. Their goals are: Creation of a multidisciplinary group of professionals interested in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases of the elderly; Education of the geriatric community about Geriatric Rheumatology and the effects of musculoskeletal aging; and to stimulate collaborative research to enhance the care of the elderly with rheumatic diseases and musculoskeletal aging.
Health Care Systems
Chairs: Robert Schreiber, MD & Rosemary Laird, MD
For many of us, making medical decisions is the easy part; dealing with the health care system is what makes our professional lives challenging. The Health Care Systems SIG is committed to improving health care systems to more effectively meet the needs of older adults and their caregivers. This SIG strives to support the effectiveness of geriatric providers within health care systems. For professionals concerned about the future of health care for older adults, this is the SIG to become involved with now. All interested health care practitioners, no matter where they practice in the health care continuum, are encouraged to join and share their time and talents.
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Healthcare for Low-Income Seniors
Chair: Steven R. Counsell, MD
The Healthcare for Low-Income Seniors SIG strives to improve the quality and outcomes of healthcare and maximize independence among low-income seniors by bringing together geriatrics professionals dedicated to the care of the poor, disseminating practical solutions and innovative geriatrics team care models, and advocating for public policy change to better address the needs of this population.
Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)
Chair: Sharon K. Inouye, MD, MPH
The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is an innovative model of hospital care designed to prevent delirium and functional decline and to improve overall quality of hospital care for older persons. The goal of this SIG is to allow all current and potentially interested HELP sites to come together to discuss successes and challenges in the implementation process. You need not have an active HELP site to join, just an interest in improving hospital care for older persons.
Information Technology Issues
Chair: F. Michael Gloth, III, MD
The Information Technology (IT) Issues Special Interest Group (IT Issues SIG) represents members of the American Geriatrics Society who see Electronic Health Records (EHR) as a means for improving medical care by reducing error rates, improving efficiency, augmenting communication, facilitating optimal reimbursement and decreasing expenses. The mission of the IT Issues SIG is to provide a venue for members with an active interest in Electronic Health Records to review new EHR developments, provide input into the progress of EHR in the area of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, and to facilitate communication regarding EHR.
International Activities
Chair: Liliana Oakes, MD
Any member or non-member with an interest in the development of international geriatric initiatives within the AGS should join the International Activities SIG. This group works on proposals for the Annual Meetings regarding aging around the world, educational issues, and partnerships in geriatric care. The emphasis is on improving care of older adults around the world by enhancing networking and establishing partnerships that can translate in improving geriatric education and support geriatricians and interest professionals around the world. Immediate goals are: presentation of the international geriatric education symposium, encourage partnerships with other organizations around the world and start an active network of cooperation in international geriatrics.
Junior Faculty Research Career SIG
Co Chairs: Sean X. Leng, MD PhD & Jim Rudolph, MD
The Junior Faculty Research SIG strives to facilitate and foster the research career development of junior faculty members at the AGS. Our major efforts include: 1) Sponsoring symposium/workshop at AGS meeting on important research career development topics; 2) Networking among junior faculty/fellows across the nation and making connections between junior faculty/fellows and senior leaders in geriatrics and aging research; 3) Continuing our well-established research mentor-mentee program; 4) providing Junior Faculty liason to the AGS research committee; 5) Updating funding opportunities for junior faculty/fellows at the AGS website.
Long-term Care
Co Chairs: Deborah W. Robin, MD & Jean K. Pals, RN,BC, BSN
The Special Interest Group on Long-Term Care (SIG on LTC) is a resource and voice to the AGS, the public, healthcare practitioners, policy-makers and various educational centers regarding issues on the availability, delivery, quality and regulation of LTC in the U.S. All members of the SIG on LTC along with other interested AGS members are invited to attend our session at the AGS Annual Meeting and actively participate with our primary goals of education, advocacy and public policy as they relate to LTC.
Medical Humanities
Chair: Louise Aronson, MD, MFA
The Medical Humanities Special Interest Group aims to use the humanities to illuminate medical practice and illness experiences in ways inaccessible via traditional methods of scientific inquiry. Drawing on both the content and methods of literature, creative and reflective writing, film studies, history, philosophy, cultural studies, and the visual arts, this group hopes to foster a new and productive discourse on the social and moral issues that arise daily in our clinical work and teaching about the care of older adults.
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Mentoring
Chairs: Rebecca Silliman, MD, Stephanie A. Studenski, MD, MPH & Kenneth Schmader, MD
Mentoring is critical to the development of new professionals in geriatrics. While a knowledgeable and experienced mentor is invaluable, mentoring skills are not necessarily innate and must be developed and continuously refined. In addition, the mentoring needs of various trainees are heterogeneous, and mentoring must be individualized. The mission of the Mentoring SIG is to promote knowledge and skills about mentoring.
Needs of Older Gay and Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Persons
Chair: David O. Staats, MD
Geriatrics has not yet fully considered the needs of older gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. This Special Interest Group is dedicated to delineating these needs and advocacy for older GLBT persons.
Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases
Chair: Kenneth W. Lyles, MD
The Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases SIG discusses future strategies to promote improved education and care with regards to bone loss in older adults. This SIG focuses on developing symposium topics for the AGS annual meetings.
Palliative Care
Chair: David J. Casarett, MD, MA
The Palliative Care SIG promotes awareness of palliative care issues in the Geriatrics community and identifies and builds on synergies that exist between geriatrics and palliative care.
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Polypharmacy (a joint SIG with Society for General Internal Medicine)
Chair: Michael Steinman, MD
The AGS/SGIM Polypharmacy SIG is a collaborative effort of the two societies to address the issue of polypharmacy in older adults.
Private Practice Providers in Geriatrics
Co-Chairs: Cheryl Woodson, MD & Michael Wasserman, MD
Private Practice Providers in Geriatrics SIG members discuss challenges and share success strategies with other geriatricians who have chosen to serve seniors through private practice. Their discussion topics include: patient flow and practice management, billing and reimbursement, staffing, alternate revenue streams, marketing, institutional LTC or not, and comprehensive geriatrics assessment.
Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
Chair: Melinda Lee, MD
This SIG is aimed at those who are in the early phase of PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly) development, may be considering the establishment of a PACE program, or have an interest in the provision of primary care within PACE. This comprehensive, fully integrated model provides community-based care for the frail elderly.
Public Education
Chair: Moira Fordyce, MB ChB, MD, FRCPE
The Public Education SIG focuses on how different groups in a community can work effectively with senior centers and volunteer organizations to advance public education on older adult health issues.
Rehabilitation
Chair: Neil Nusbaum, MD, JD
The Rehabilitation Special Interest Group focuses on topics of particular interest to those addressing the rehabilitative needs of frail older adults.
Residents
Chair: Eileen Kehoe, MD
Meet other residents and discuss your own ideas about the field and ways to get more involved in AGS. All residents are encouraged to join!
Society for General Internal Medicine Geriatrics (SGIM)
Chair: Hollis Day, MD, MS
The Society for General Internal Medicine Geriatrics SIG is a source of collaborative activity between AGS and SGIM. This interest group focuses on ways to collaborate on developing workshops for the AGS & SGIM annual meetings, as well as fostering ongoing collaborative efforts and better communication between the two groups. We welcome researchers, clinicians, and educators at all levels of training and expertise to join.
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Student SIG
Chair: Joy Guerrieri-Bang
Meet other students and discuss your own ideas about the field and ways to get more involved in AGS! All students are encouraged to join.
Veterans Health Administration
Co-Chairs: Thomas Edes, MD & Kenneth Shay, DDS
This SIG offers an opportunity to discuss in an open forum announcements and key issues relating to geriatrics and extended care clinical programs and to research and education initiatives. All AGS members who are also part of the VHA staff are invited to join.
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How to Establish a Special Interest Group and SIG Reporting Requirements
Any AGS member may initiate development of a new Special Interest Group by submitting a proposal to the Executive Vice President care of Dennise McAlpin (dmcalpin@americangeriatrics.org). The proposal should identify the name and purpose of the special interest group, describe its mission and goals, list proposed activities, include the names of 10 AGS members who support the development of the SIG and include the primary contact person for the group.
Required Annual Report on SIG Activities
A minimum of 15 members is required to maintain a SIG. Established SIGs will be required to submit a summary report immediately following the annual meeting that includes a list of the SIGs members and the group's objectives for the coming year. Established SIGs will have two years to demonstrate that they have 15 active members. If they are unable to do this, the SIG will be dissolved. New SIGs will have two years from their inaugural meeting to reach 15 members. SIGs are considered "provisional" during this start-up period. Provisional status ends when the group reaches 15 members. If 15 members have not joined the SIG within 2 years, it will be dissolved.
2007 Summary Reports should be edsubmitted as a word document to Dennise McAlpin (dmcalpin@americangeriatrics.org) by JULY 31, 2007.
SIGs may also be dissolved by the membership upon a vote at their business meeting or may be dissolved by the Board of Directors for cause or if the SIG fails to comply with AGS policies. Additionally, SIGs will be automatically dissolved by the Executive Vice President, if membership falls below 15 members for two consecutive years, or if the SIG does not convene a meeting at two consecutive AGS Annual Meetings. A SIG which does not meet at the Annual Meeting and which does not submit the group's objectives for the coming year will also be dissolved.
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