AGS is the best source of information for geriatrics health professions, whether it's information about grants, education opportunities at and between meetings, updates on best practices, issues concerning Medicare, or JAGS.   – Marc Rothman, MD

I joined the AGS while still a resident and have been a member for just over 3 years. For me, the best things about the society are the annual meeting, the opportunities to link up with mentors or experts in the field, and the platform for health professional involvement in public policy which the society provides.

I've always believed that one should advocate for the entire patient population just as one is taking care of the individual patient in front of him or her. But public policy work is tedious, logistically difficult, and hard to do alone. The AGS really promotes a solid public policy agenda on behalf of the medical needs of older Americans. And they are happy to have health professionals get involved in that.

Because I took a leadership role in the fellow's section I got to serve on the education committee. Last year in Seattle we were getting an update on public policy issues from our Washington representative, and we started talking about 2008. It dawned on me that when thousands of geriatric doctors show up in Washington, D.C., that ought to make some news, so I proposed that we hold a (very) public Geriatric Health Fair while there. To my surprise the idea was met with enthusiastic support from committee members, staff, and the leadership of the society. So this May the "Get Up & Go" geriatric health fair and falls-prevention program will be held in Washington's Union Station for the whole day on Friday during the annual meeting. It's been amazing working with staff, rounding up volunteers, and lining up partner organizations and even elected officials, and the event should be a real hit. The way I see it, any society that's willing to take an idea from a fellow and run with it must be a cool organization.

For fellows (and any trainee) the annual meetings are really a fantastic place to network with potential mentors, leaders in one's particular area of interest, or just folks from an area you might want to move towards. The meetings are just the right size too. I used to go to huge oncology conferences and they were downright intimidating. But I haven't found a single geriatrician (academic or otherwise) who wasn't willing to have a cup of coffee with me just because I expressed some interest and asked for advice. Geriatrics is really a field that is committed to mentoring and to its trainees, and I have found that most senior physicians are faithful to that ideal.

And obviously the AGS also takes care of its members professionally. It really is the best source of information for geriatrics health professions, whether it's information about grants, education opportunities at and between meetings, updates on best practices, issues concerning Medicare, or JAGS.

So for me the AGS has many aspects that I try to take advantage of and enjoy. Especially as a fellow, it's been a great experience so far.

Marc Rothman, MD, AGS Member at the Division of Community Based Medicine, Kaiser Permanente - San Francisco, San Francisco, California.