American Geriatrics Society Names Rosemary Laird, MD, 2013 Clinician of the Year
April 8th, 2013
NEW YORK — The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) will present Rosemary Laird, MD, Medical Director for Health First Aging Institute in Melbourne, Florida; Clinical Associate Professor of Geriatrics at the Florida State University College of Medicine; and Past President of AGS’ state chapter, the Florida Geriatrics Society, with the 2013 Clinician of the Year Award. This award recognizes a practitioners’ valuable contributions to quality healthcare for older people and the importance of the geriatrics clinician in our healthcare delivery system. Through these clinicians' efforts, scientific advances are integrated into the practice of geriatric medicine, resulting in improved health, well-being, and quality of life for older adults.
Dr. Laird has established numerous geriatric initiatives in Florida over the past eleven years. She created a geriatric assessment clinic and in its first year, assessed 300 patients.
She has also established The Center for Family Caregivers, a RN Case Management program, and partnered with Health First Health Plans to create a Personal Visiting Physician home care program. In its 7th year, the program now cares for 900 seniors who are either homebound or in transition from hospital to home. Dr. Laird is co-author of “Take Your Oxygen First: Protecting Your Health and Happiness While Caring for a Loved One with Memory Loss.”
“Dr. Laird is an exceptional, passionate, and caring geriatrics clinician whose primary focus has been on improving care for older adults in the office, hospital, and community at large,” said Robert Schreiber, MD. “She is a master teacher, leader, and superb practitioner.”
Dr. Laird is an active AGS member, and was named a Fellow in 2004. She has served on the Health Cares Systems Committee and chaired the Special Interest Group in Health Services Administration. Dr. Laird is the second consecutive College of Medicine faculty member to be named Clinician of the Year by the American Geriatrics Society. Last year’s AGS Clinician of the Year was Niharika Suchak, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Geriatrics.
About the American Geriatrics Society
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a not-for-profit organization of over 6,000 health professionals devoted to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policy makers and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy.
