Mitchell T. Heflin, MD, MHS
The Dennis W. Jahnigen Award recognizes an AGS member committed to working with students and advancing geriatrics education in schools of health and medicine The AGS has named Mitchell T. Heflin, MD, MHS, the winner of this year’s Jahnigen Award in recognition of his commitment to advancing health professions education that enables health care providers in a variety of settings to care effectively for older adults.
Dr. Heflin, a tenured Professor of Medicine, is Vice Chief for Education in the Division of Geriatrics and Associate Dean for Interprofessional Education and Care at the Duke University Schools of Medicine and Nursing. As a Principal Investigator on a prestigious Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Dr. Heflin made lasting connections with many agencies that support older adults. In addition, he has mentored and supported scores of fellows and junior faculty from multiple specialties and professions who aspire to become advanced clinicians and educators.
Dr. Heflin’s career in geriatrics has focused on development, deployment and evaluation of education programs aimed at health professions learners from a variety of disciplines and professions, and the introduction of innovative models of care with a specific emphasis on community-based and perioperative care of frail older adults.
He served as Duke Medical School’s Geriatrics Fellowship Program Director for 11 years and, over the same span, directed the HRSA-funded Geriatrics Education Programs at Duke, including the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP). He served as the site director at Duke for the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation Program on Faculty Development to Advance Geriatrics Education (FD~AGE) from 2004-2016. Dr. Heflin also led the implementation of the Duke Perioperative Optimization of Senior Health (POSH) program and co-directed the VA Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) funded Specialty Care Education Center of Excellence for the VA POSH Program. As Associate Dean and Director of the Interprofessional Education and Care (IPEC) Center, Dr. Heflin works with educators and clinicians across campus in the design and implementation of educational programs aimed at improving our ability to use interprofessional collaborative practice to deliver safe, effective, person-centered care.
Past Recipients of the Dennis W. Jahnigen Memorial Award
2021 Helen Fernandez, MD, MPH
2020 John Murphy, MD
2019 Nicole Brandt, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, BCPP, FASCP
2018 Jane Potter, MD, AGSF
2017 Maura Brennan, MD, AGSF, FACP, FAAHPM, HMDC
2016 Annette (Annie) Medina-Walpole, MD, AGSF
2015 Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, AGSF
2014 Elizabeth K. Tanner, PhD, RN
2013 Gail Sullivan, MD, MPH
2012 Leo M Cooney, Jr., MD
2011 Sharon A. Levine, MD
2010 G. Paul Eleazer, MD
2009 Samuel C. Durso, MD, MBA
2008 Rosanne M. Leipzig, MD, PhD
2007 Steven R. Counsell, MD
2006 Kenneth Brummel-Smith, MD
2005 Harvey Jay Cohen, MD
2004 Terry T. Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN
2003 William Hall, MD, Rochester, NY
2002 Gregg A. Warshaw, MD, Cincinnati, OH
2001 Evelyn C. Granieri, MD, Pittsburgh, PA
2000 David B. Reuben, MD, Los Angeles, CA