Geriatrics fellowship can make all of us feel pulled in many different directions. For example, fellows may spend time at several different hospitals and clinics in the course of a given day. We must maintain a balance of clinical responsibilities, teaching, classes, and research responsibilities. As geriatricians in training, we frequently invest emotional energy discussing diagnoses like dementia, participating in end of life care, and supporting the families of our patients. At times, it can be difficult to deliver one hundred percent effort in any one venue.
Another way to look at the multi-tasking life of fellows is that we are the academic glue that ties geriatrics divisions together. The fellows' involvement connects physicians from the hospital, the geriatric outpatient clinics, PACE programs, long-term care, and palliative care services. Educational forums such as Journal Club and Grand Rounds are invigorated by the fellows' participation. Research within our division is advanced by our efforts. Wherever we go, we are the "face of geriatrics" within the medical system. This is a more positive way of thinking about the simultaneous and diverse roles the geriatrics fellows fulfill. We should accept and take pride in our role as unifiers of the geriatrics division.
As representatives of the "face of geriatrics," it is appropriate for the fellows to get an opportunity to gather together. The Fellows-In-Training breakfast at the AGS meeting in Orlando will be a great opportunity for fellows from different programs to meet. I am looking forward to talking with colleagues from across the nation and hearing ideas about how the AGS can better serve our educational needs. This event is designed to inspire you about the future of geriatric medicine and allow you to network with fellows and geriatrician mentors from across the country. As your chair, I am excited at the chance to meet all of you and work with you to further unify our subspecialty, now and in the future.
By, Dalllas Nelson, MD
Chair, Fellows-In-Training Section
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