Profiles in Geriatrics

I’ve been a member of the American Geriatrics Society since my first year of residency, so it’s been nearly a decade now. I joined as a trainee member because I knew I had an interest in geriatrics and became a full member in 2019—and I’ve enjoyed wonderful career-boosting benefits ever since.

As just one benefit of my AGS membership, I’ve met and worked with a diverse group of geriatric professionals from many different institutions. When I first got involved, I was responsible for the Residents’ Sessions. Through that experience, I got to know a lot of trainees who were strictly on the geriatrics track. During my eight years there, I was able to work with and build collaborations with other geriatrics trainees, and now I’m the Vice-Chair of the Cancer and Aging Special Interest Group. That role allows me to foster collaborations among healthcare professionals who are interested in cancer and aging.

When asked which came first, my interest in oncology or my interest in geriatrics, I’d have to answer that I’ve been interested in oncology since medical school, when I became involved in cancer research. From there, I developed an interest in the clinical side, and found that seeing patients with cancer really taught me a lot—the advances in research and clinical practice makes the specialty really interesting and challenging.

It wasn’t until my residency that I became aware of geriatrics—I hadn’t realized that geriatric oncology existed. The field was new, and had only really begun in the early-to-mid 2000’s. My residency program at that point was at Bay State where I got to work with Dr. Maura Brennen. She’s very active in AGS and she really nurtures residents’ interest in geriatrics. Truth be told, when I did a geriatrics rotation during my intern year, I wasn’t sure that it was for me at first, because of the challenges that older patients and their often-complex medical problems can present. 

But by the end of that rotation, I found that I’d learned a lot of medicine—and the experience taught me a great deal in terms of approaching patients who have 10 or 15 other medical problems. I came to see that working with older patients was both challenging and rewarding, but I had a hard time figuring out how to combine geriatrics and oncology. And then I learned that Boston University had a combined geriatrics and oncology fellowship that was perfect for me. I ended up applying for it, and now I specialize in taking care of older adults with cancer, specifically those with blood cancer.  

Recently, I was delighted to receive the Arti Hurria Award for Emerging Investigations in Internal Medicine Focused on the Care of Older Adults, awarded by AGS and the AGS Health in Aging Foundation. 

I was especially honored to receive this award, because Dr. Hurria is a close friend of my mentor, the geriatric oncologist Dr. Supriya Mohile. I got to interact with Dr. Hurria quite a bit since meeting her in my third year of residency. I think of her as kind and a fierce advocate for older adults — she has an amazing ability to unite people around her vision. She was a devoted mentor with a passion for raising up the next generation of geriatric oncologists. This has affected me deeply, and I strive to continue her work and live up to the example she set. So, getting this award really means a lot to me, and I hope I can inspire people that taking care of older adults with cancer is important and rewarding work.
 

My inspiration to become a geriatric nephrologist came to me during my nephrology fellowship. I’d encountered some difficult clinical scenarios that centered around older adults on dialysis who had repeatedly been admitted from nursing homes, and whose families wrestled with the complicated decision to start dialysis. 

It wasn’t until I was exposed to the idea of geriatric nephrology during my fellowship curriculum that I realized there was a way to specifically care for older adults who had kidney disease, and that there were abundant research opportunities that focused on the field. Since then, I have been very interested in the care of older adults, their mobility and cognitive impairment, and about learning the principles of geriatric medicine. 

Although I didn’t complete a geriatrics clinical fellowship, I had deep exposure to geriatrics through my advanced fellowship in geriatrics administered through the VHA. 

I’ve been an AGS member since 2017—it took my first trip to an AGS Annual Meeting to convince me that the resources and community AGS offers is a great fit for me and my career goals. I enjoy meeting and networking with the community of healthcare professionals whose  drive for improving care for older adults is similar to mine. That’s particularly inspiring for someone like me who’s bridging geriatrics to nephrology. Professionally, my membership means I’m presented with opportunities for career development, mentoring, and collaborations through AGS. 

As a very special benefit of my AGS membership, I recently was honored by winning the Arti Hurria Memorial Award! This really means a lot to me. I know how bright Dr. Hurria’s star shined, and I can only strive to have my research have as huge an impact as hers did. 

A normal day in my life looks like at least a couple of hours writing for a manuscript or a grant. The rest of my day may be interpreting research findings, attending research meetings, or seeing patients in my clinic. I have been grateful for my geriatric nephrology clinic at the Durham VA healthcare system because it allows me to incorporate geriatric principles into caring for older people with chronic kidney disease. It fuels my research.

I find it very rewarding to be in a position to view clinical care from both perspectives, geriatrics and nephrology, and to give that unique lens to my patients. 

My time away from work is primarily spent with my family. Things are really challenging in the world today on top of building a research program, so some things that keep me steady are practicing mindfulness and journaling every day. 

'I’ve wanted to be a doctor ever since I was a little kid. It sounds cliché, I know, but my motivation was that I just wanted to help people. Although I didn’t start my career with an interest in aging, it developed when I was a neuroscience major in college studying Alzheimer’s disease. I found the topic fascinating and worked in Alzheimer’s labs during my undergrad years and before medical school.

Then, when I became an internal medicine resident at Columbia early in my fellowship, I noticed how many older adults there were in the ICU. I became interested in how certain geriatric factors, like frailty and functional dependence, affected the outcomes of these patients—especially those who survived their ICU stay. 

I realized that many of them were going home with low levels of physical function, and I hated seeing that happen. I wanted to understand how we can make sure that we’re helping older adults to stay independent and live their lives in their communities, even if they’ve been through an illness that put them in the ICU.

What I like best about my work is that, whether I’m doing research or administering clinical care in the ICU, it all has a unified goal: helping people to function better and preserve their quality of life after they’ve been in the ICU. I love that feeling of being able to help people in ways that matter to them. 

For me, the AGS has been an amazing resource over the years. I joined at the very beginning of my career, when I started my geriatrics fellowship in 2013. The AGS provides a forum for specialists of all different backgrounds who are interested in aging to come together—and that community has been an important part of my career development. 

I now co-chair AGS’ sub-specialty section, which I joined in my early days as an AGS member The entire AGS group was very welcoming to me. That hospitality is  so important  to aging-focused specialists like me, because you need to be part of the geriatrics community when you’re trying to raise the visibility of geriatrics and aging in your specialty.

Another great reason to be an AGS member is the Annual Scientific Meeting! Although it was held virtually this year, the AGS staff planned really well for it,  pre-recording many of the sessions. The diverse format preserved the excitement of meeting in person. We’re all looking forward now to finally meeting in one place next year in Orlando!.

When I’m not working, I go on a daily run, and I spent time with my two wonderful children, ages five and seven, and my wonderful husband every day. This year, we’ve moved our fun times outdoors. We went hiking every weekend during the fall, and we skied every weekend in the winter. We wanted to be sure we were spending active time together in a safe way.

Here’s my message to you: please know that the AGS is a great community for specialists who do aging-focused research, and there’s actually quite a large community of member specialists. Come join us!"

I grew up in my family’s trailer park in rural Arizona raising cattle and sheep. If you told me then I would be a geriatrician one day, I would not have believed it. My first encounter with octogenarian
healthcare was with my Great Aunt Mary, who was my surrogate grandmother growing up, and taught me how to “eat like a lady.” When I was 9 years old, we went to visit her, but this time was different. The color was gone from her body, her hair was grey, and her eyes were closed. I was too afraid to talk to a woman I loved dearly. I didn’t know it then, but this was my first experience with home hospice. She died an hour after I left. 

I carried the guilt of being afraid to say goodbye with me as I decided to go to college. I was involved in scientific research and interested in physiology, but something was missing. So, sort as of an amends for my 9-year-old self, I started volunteering for a hospice agency. My life changed in those years. I learned the value of a story, and what amazing stories they were. I learned about the struggles older adults face and how to hold their hands through it. I didn’t have the language at the time, but I learned to focus on what mattered most. I finally found the missing piece: passion. 

In medical school, I sought out ways to increase my knowledge of healthcare for older adults. I found a mentor in Dr. Mindy Fain at the Arizona Center on Aging who taught me all about frailty and how care for the older adult requires complex understanding of the physiology of aging. She introduced me to the American Geriatric Society and accompanied me to my first meeting as a medical student in 2018. At that meeting I met many additional mentors including Dr. John Burton and members of the Johns Hopkins University Division of Geriatrics, who eventually became my colleagues during my residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview and subsequent fellowship with the division. 

Over the years since that first meeting, I have been blessed to attend several in person meetings despite the pandemic, and to meet so many friends and colleagues across the country that make a difference for older adults ever day. This is why I am an American Geriatric Society member and have been since I was a student. It’s the people. There is a passion that is palpable in the AGS across all fields of geriatrics given the unifying goal of improving the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people. For instance, I may be researching ways to make surgery safer for older adults, but at the AGS I can not only share my piece of the puzzle, but also see the awesome work my colleagues are doing across fields, putting our pieces together to make a beautiful picture.  

My joy I feel being a part of this community has led me to become involved in leadership and I am now starting my time as the new American Geriatrics Society Early Career Professional Ex Officio Board Member. I have finished my Clinical Geriatrics Fellowship and am now completing two years of research training as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow supported by the NIA Training Program in Health Services and Outcomes Research for Aging Populations T32 under the mentorship of Dr. Cynthia Boyd and Dr. Esther Oh. I will also be pursing an MHS in Clinical Investigation at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

I look forward to many years of forming great pictures of the future of geriatrics with my friends and colleagues in the AGS. As I look back on all the lessons my Great Aunt Mary taught me, I now know the value of her story and focusing on what mattered most to her in that time - being home surrounded by loved ones - was the most pivotal. It just took me some time and mentorship from other geriatricians, like those you meet in the AGS, to learn it. P

"I’ve known that I wanted to be a doctor since I was young. I was a sickly child, often in and out of the hospital, and I became fascinated with science and being able to heal people. When I look back on it, I think that because I’m an Indigenous person and a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, I was searching for the healing aspect that was a part of my culture. 
We didn’t get a lot of exposure to geriatrics in med school until I did a family medicine residency. I did a geriatrics elective, and I fell in love with everything about it. I discovered that geriatricians are awesome—they’re interesting, and they have great personalities. These people are advocates who fight for the underdog.

That, plus the fact that geriatricians were so humanitarian, prompted my decision to specialize in geriatrics, despite the resident faculty member who tried dissuading me by suggesting that I’d “get plenty of geriatrics in primary care practice.” Then, while I was in med school, my dad’s father developed severe vascular dementia and went to live in a memory care unit. My mother’s mother had severe Alzheimer’s disease; both mom and dad cared for her at home until her death. The care they gave her was excellent, and I wanted both to model that and learn to help others deal with the challenges and rewards of that process.

In my tribal community, where I’m Chief Clinical Consultant for Geriatrics and Palliative Care for the Indian Health Service, there’s an urgent need for geriatricians. In fact, geriatricians are rare in my community—I know of only one other who, like myself, is a tribal person.

I joined AGS in 2010, even before I became a geriatrician. I’d worked with a geriatrician in the VA, who told me about AGS after I mentioned how I wanted to learn from and talk to other geriatricians. I'm in a rural area, so it's not like I have an academic setting with a million people I can talk to. He said that AGS is something I needed to join because it's multi-disciplinary, and it's for clinicians who also have an interest in leadership and research. I think my first annual AGS meeting was in 2010, and I immediately fell in love with everything about it I value all the knowledge that I gather and appreciate the networking at AGS meetings. I see former fellows and mentors—it’s a special time to reset and learn a ton of information. 

I rely on so much that AGS membership offers. Geriatrics at Your Fingertips is an amazing resource that I've used frequently. There’s JAGS to stay current with research. I use MyAGSOnline, the online member portal, and I've signed up for the virtual mentor match, where I help mentees get the most out of their membership.

Thanks to my AGS membership, I’ve spent three years on the Ethnogeriatrics Committee—it’s been a huge benefit to network, to meet regularly, and to hear about people who have a passion for geriatrics, as well as for inclusion and addressing diversity and what can be done on a bigger scale. So many of these geriatricians serve in academic settings and other places where they're doing amazing things. It helps me to hear about how others are working on programming and policy change."

"From the time I was a little kid, I’ve enjoyed science and learning about the human body. I knew that I wanted to be a physician at the age of five, because it seemed like such a great way to help others. Once I realized that being a doctor combined science, the body—and helping others—I knew it would be the perfect career trifecta for me. 

During medical school, I had some amazing experiences helping care for older adults, and in my family medicine residency I was struck by the joy I felt when working with the geriatric population. I appreciated the wisdom and stories older adults shared with me, and their care often required me to think critically when I encountered their complex medical conditions and the many drugs they often took. Those experiences inspired me to pursue additional training in geriatric medicine to provide the very best care I could for this amazing patient population.
 
At my current job at the University of Florida, I split my time between inpatient geriatric consults and the outpatient geriatric clinic. It’s rewarding because I have the opportunity to work with medical students, residents, and geriatric fellows in each of these settings. Being a part of an academic institution allows me to participate in research as well, which I hope to get more involved in next semester. 

I joined AGS as a family medicine resident in 2019, because I wanted to learn a bit more about the Society as I prepared to apply for my geriatric fellowship. 

I’ve gained so much from my membership! For example, as a fellow last year, I was a part of the Fellows-In-Training section which provided me with networking opportunities and career guidance as I embarked on the interview process for faculty positions. For the upcoming year, I’m excited to be Chair of the FIT Committee, because I truly believe the key to our future success as a specialty is not only attracting people passionate for geriatrics but providing them with the tools they need to be successful.

I attended my first AGS Annual Scientific Meeting last year, and was I honored to present my research project, “Vitamin D Supplementation After Fracture,” as a virtual poster presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the various speakers and presentations and look forward to the chance to connect with folks in-person at #AGS22 in Orlando.

The meeting offers change-your-practice types of learning experiences. One of the most interesting talks I attended discussed the risks associated with long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), and after attending the lecture I became something of a champion for deprescribing unnecessary PPIs in the nursing home for the rest of my fellowship year.

In my off hours, I enjoy volunteering at my church, dancing, and spending time in nature. I’m an avid jogger and completed three marathons in three different states in the past few years and aim to do my next marathon in 2022." 

"I guess you could say that becoming a doctor was in my genes—my father is a private practice solo physician in Wausau, Wisconsin and my mother was an emergency medicine nurse. I grew up in the healthcare system, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to go into medicine. 

I became inspired by geriatrics during my med school training at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where I was lucky enough to have amazing mentors. In fact, in my very first year, Dr. Edmund Duthie, MD, the chief of MCW’s Division of Geriatrics/Gerontology, introduced me to AGS—he was a member of long standing—during the early weeks of classes.

As my interest in geriatrics grew, I found myself wanting to learn more about the field. The school had an apprenticeship program—you got to pick one specialist with whom you spent clinical time during your first and second year. I chose Dr. Angela Beckert, who’s now MCW’s program director in the internal medicine geriatrics track. So, between Dr. Duthie and Dr. Beckert, I got an indelible introduction to the field of geriatrics.

My personal life also paved the way for my decision to enter geriatrics. Very sadly, during medical school, my mother was diagnosed with Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s disease. The challenges that came from this difficult family experience led to my interest in working with people who have neuro-cognitive impairment, and geriatrics combines that interest with an internal medicine focus.

I’m finding the field extremely rewarding. Recently, I was appointed as the American Medical Association’s Resident and Fellow Section chair—and as exciting as that appointment is, it’s even more exciting because I’m the first geriatrics fellow to hold that post. It’s an honor to be elected and to represent my field next year.

Another rewarding aspect of my career is working with trainees. I enjoy mentoring them—helping them publish and encouraging them to get involved in healthcare advocacy and policy.

For me, membership in the AGS was invaluable when I was a trainee. And I’m sure that my AGS membership will be even more valuable when I’m a young physician starting out to practice. 

Of course, another huge benefit of AGS membership is the Annual Scientific Meeting. Due to the pandemic, my first meeting was a virtual one—but we all made it work. I volunteered with organizing the Residents’ Section activities, I moderated a Q & A session with geriatrics fellows, and I presented one of my clinical vignettes. Now that I’m 20 weeks pregnant, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it to #AGS22 in Orlando in May—but I’m sure going to try!

I feel that the best part about AGS membership is how it enables us to advocate for older adults. It gives us a seat at the table where the decisions about our patients’ welfare are made.

As busy as my professional life is, my personal life is also happily hectic. My husband and I are the proud dog parents of four rescue pups, who keep us active walking and playing outside. We also love to cook and try new recipes together, and we enjoy kayaking and cycling."
 

When did you know you wanted to be a geriatrics healthcare professional?

My “Aha!” moment came during my internship at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. Before entering medical school I had worked in the breast oncology clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. I had entered medical school and internship with plans to become an oncologist. I was fortunate to have had a wonderful mentor, and at the end of my intern year we had a chat.

She told me she saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself—that I was drawn to palliative care (then a relatively new field), for example, and we started talking about geriatrics. I spent time in the geriatrics department, and I realized her encouragement was spot-on.

What’s your favorite thing about working in this field?

Geriatrics satisfies me in so many ways. I love the older adults I care for, in large part because I love hearing their stories. It’s rewarding to help older adults regain function and the ability to interact with people. I’m doubly fortunate in that my work at the Yale University School of Medicine in Connecticut also entails helping train future geriatrics healthcare professionals. My work teaching is every bit as gratifying as my clinical work, though for equally special yet unique reasons. When I work with trainees, I get to see things through their eyes; their perspectives are enlightening. Teaching really is a two-way street!

How has being part of an interprofessional community helped you in your career and professional life?

A terrific aspect of geriatrics is the community it represents. We all seem to be kindred spirits and a success for one is a success for all. I’m definitely living proof of that, because recently, I was extremely honored to receive the AGS’s Outstanding Mid-Career Clinician Educator of the Year Award. It’s a testament to the AGS that our members are so big-hearted: I was thrilled to receive so many congratulatory notes and accolades from my colleagues. Receiving the award was not only a wonderful professional tribute for me but also underscored the importance of the work we do together.

I suppose that’s part of why I’ve been an AGS member since 1999. Events like the AGS Annual Scientific Meetings have helped me celebrate my peers’ successes while also affording me the opportunity to see what they and other leaders are doing. Membership in the AGS is one key way I’ve learned about innovation in our field so I can stay current with research.

Another key aspect of my membership is that it exposes me to the advocacy AGS leads on our behalf. With health policy in flux these days, we all need to be advocates for our field, and—thanks to AGS—I’m inspired to add that to my own list of important things to do.

Tell us a patient care story where your geriatrics training was especially useful.

A few months ago, I had recently graduated from the Harvard Multi-Campus Geriatrics Fellowship, and I was flying off for vacation when drama ensued. Over the speaker came the question: “Is there a doctor or nurse onboard?”

I was the only physician on board, and I answered the call along with a cardiac nurse. We discovered our patient was a middle-aged passenger in the throes of crushing chest pain. We managed to stabilize the passenger and recommended that the plane divert for landing. Thankfully, the passenger made it to the hospital alive.

I’d done plenty of emergency simulations during my internal medicine residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, but this situation demonstrated how my geriatrics training was particularly helpful. As a geriatrics fellow, we learned how to handle cases where there’s a lot of ambiguity. Geriatrics teaches you how to embrace whatever happens and how to provide compassionate care for an older person, the family—and yourself.

That’s an incredible story. What happened next?

I knew that my experience would be useful to other healthcare providers, so I tweeted out anonymized details of the in-air rescue, using the “tweetorial” format because it allowed me to tell the story in a way that suited the case. I had originally started using Twitter to keep up with research literature, because it helped me read more articles and engage in discussions about them.

But then my tweets went viral! I thought my 20 or so followers would enjoy reading about my experience—but I ended up getting over 18,000 “likes” and just over two million total views. The response was overwhelming. I heard from lots of folks who’d been in similar situations—even a former surgeon general left a comment.

It seems like this is a lesson in the power of social media as a tool for clinicians.

Social media has a positive role to play in our medical careers. It gives professionals who aren’t researchers a voice and a platform to share their experiences. Typically, researchers have always had a place to share their work, but I think using social media helps give us all a forum—particularly for stories that may not fit neatly in a journal.

How has your openness about your experiences on social media translated into your professional life?

In some respects, that same openness is what makes a community like the AGS so important. I became an AGS member right after I decided to apply for a geriatrics fellowship in my last year of residency. I hadn’t met a lot of people who were interested in geriatrics, so this was a great way to meet like-minded folks. Once I joined, I found lots of online groups to engage with and share ideas with.

For instance, at #AGS19 in Portland, I presented some of my research, and attended the Healthy Aging Special Interest Group session. I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Louise Aronson, MD speak about using personal narratives and how stories can impact our practice.

Looking ahead to the future, I can see how the trajectory of geriatrics is trending toward the positive. It used to be that we focused on the ‘negative’ syndromes, like falling, incontinence, and dementia. Now we’re also focused on healthy aging, and I look forward to helping my patients realize the positive aspects of the aging process.

What do you value about AGS membership?

The stellar annual conferences advance interdisciplinary collaboration, offering opportunities to network and exchange ideas with colleagues. Having a background in nursing, I value the multidisciplinary collegial environment, which encourages healthcare professionals with an interest in geriatrics to contribute equally. Our collective expertise has influenced the practice of geriatrics, aging research, education, and health policy and has strengthened our voice in advocating for older adults. The AGS and its members share my passion to improve the lives of older adults, and it is my privilege to belong to and serve this valuable organization.

How has AGS membership helped you in your career and professional life?

The AGS has helped me to stay current on clinical issues such as medication management, the quality of care in nursing homes, identifying and treating depression and dementia in older adults, new clinical care guidelines, and the latest in scientific advancements in clinical aging research. I continue to use AGS information and materials as a teaching resource for nursing and other healthcare students and trainees.

The AGS has also proved invaluable in my own research on urinary incontinence in older adults with chronic diseases like heart failure or who undergo hip fracture repair. Many of my research collaborators are AGS members and the scientific meeting is a great venue to network and further these and new collaborations.

How did you choose to become a geriatrics health professional?

My path to my practice as a physician assistant (PA) in geriatrics was certainly inspired by my grandmother. A Russian émigré who died at 101, she was still navigating public buses in Southern California when she was 99. Her life was the epitome of what it means to age well.

However, geriatrics wasn’t the first profession I considered. In college, I spent a gap year in Africa. That trip changed my life. I cast aside other career notions (among them becoming a primatologist) and decided to train as a PA. I returned to college back in the U.S. and did my post-grad PA studies at Johns Hopkins University.

Initially, my PA training was in primary care. A former classmate encouraged me to work with him at a multi-disciplinary medical practice in Los Angeles. The practice had just joined the Medicare Advantage program and they needed someone to work with older adults. It became a perfect fit for me.

While there, I was offered a yearlong geriatrics fellowship training opportunity at USC, and that’s when I joined our Society.

What do you value about AGS membership?

I attended my first Annual Scientific Meeting back in 1985 or so, and I realized when I arrived that I was among people who shared my worldview and my commitment to caring for older adults.

Even though there were few other geriatric PAs back then, the physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and social workers were indeed my kindred spirits.

I’ve built great personal relationships with AGS members over the years, and I’ve been actively involved in various committees. The Annual Scientific Meetings provide great opportunities to meet the people whose research you’ve been following over the years. Another thing I love about the field, and I think this may be unique to geriatrics, is how eager we are to share our knowledge with others. I’ve enjoyed seeing AGS evolve over the years to become totally inclusive, and I really appreciate its focus today on interdisciplinary teamwork.

What do you wish people knew about your job?

One question I get a lot about my work in geriatrics is, “Don’t you find it sad to work with people who are so close to death?” And my answer is that it’s not sad at all. I get to travel to different cultures and even different eras through my work, because older people are so willing to share their life stories. I’ve heard first-hand about experiences I’d previously heard about only in history books. Geriatrics means you don’t just practice medicine; you get to know people, and to take care of them within the context of their own lives.

Why did you choose geriatrics?

I grew up around older adults, and that stimulated my desire to learn more about their medical needs. As I studied medicine, my interest became a passion to specialize in geriatrics. During my training and after I became a geriatrician, I realized how much work there is to be done in our field. I also realized that we have plenty of opportunities to improve the care we provide to older adults.

You split your time between patients and students as a clinician-educator. What’s that like?

Touching the lives of my patients and their families and making a positive difference for them is extremely rewarding. In my practice, being part of interdisciplinary teams and working with dedicated colleagues inspires me every single day. I also love the teaching opportunities my job offers—I enjoy working with different learners and I feel like I’m a teacher in doctor’s clothing.

What’s your AGS story?

I’ve been an AGS member since my fellowship training in 2010. It seemed like a natural move to join—the AGS is the professional home for geriatrics healthcare professionals. Plus, I got a little push to join from my mentor and the faculty of my fellowship program. The opportunities the AGS offers during our Annual Scientific Meetings to share work and network with other fellows was also enticing.

I happen to have a special interest in transitions of care. The AGS helps me connect and work with others who share that passion in the Transitions of Care Special Interest Group. Its members are subject-matter experts who meet to share their knowledge, ideas, and experience.

My AGS membership affords me plenty of opportunities for collaboration, networking, and career development. I’ve made friends outside my own institution and I’ve worked on projects with colleagues I’ve met through the AGS. What’s more, I’ve been able to participate in activities that have contributed to my professional growth, including attending career development courses, finding mentors outside my home institution, and participating in review panels.

What do you like most about AGS Annual Meetings?

Some meetings have been particularly memorable. In 2012, my abstract was selected for an oral presentation. As it happened, the meeting was in Seattle, where my wife’s best friend and some of our family live—so my family got to watch my presentation; that was pretty special.

I’ve only missed one AGS Annual Scientific Meeting in the eight years I’ve been an AGS member. To me, the meetings are like family reunions where I reconnect with friends and colleagues. I get rejuvenated and inspired from hearing about the growing recognition for our work and its relevance in health care. As we engage with each other and get to share what we’re doing, I always learn something new. And I return to my institution with new ideas to share and implement.

How has being part of an interprofessional community helped you in your career and professional life?

As a clerkship director, I was looking to make changes for fourth year medical students and was feeling alone, so I turned to the greater geriatrics community on MyAGSOnline (AGS’s discussion forum). By posting just one question to ask for advice, I had chairs and clerkship directors from all over the country emailing me and sharing their curriculum, which was extremely helpful. While going for a promotion to Associate Professor with tenure at my university, it was very helpful to find external reviewers. They gave invaluable advice for the promotion. I have to say thank you to my AGS community.

As a young professional, what types of AGS resources are most important to you?

Clinical, educational, and research resources, as well as updates on health policies and new changes proposed.

How have your personal experiences and stories helped shape the way you practice?

I had complications while pursuing my geriatrics fellowship after an emergency surgery. It took a whole year to be fully diagnosed after many physician and specialist visits, and finally was resolved completely when a surgeon patiently listened to my full story. It taught me important lessons to listen to my patients and to believe them, as it can change their quality of life and get them the help they need. It has also helped me make healthier lifestyle choices, which I always discuss and encourage my patients to follow.

What inspires you?

Everyone at AGS inspires me, and that is why I keep coming to the meeting every year. It is an honor to meet hard working, motivated folks in geriatrics who every day go above and beyond what is expected of them to make someone else’s life better.

Do you have a favorite story about a patient, family caregiver, mentor or other person who has touched you personally and/or professionally?

Mrs. D was my first patient in my fellowship at a geriatric clinic. We started rather awkwardly—I introduced myself and told her I was new. She smiled, reassuring me we’d get along fine. At the end of the session she reminded me to send her the lab work early, and complimented me on a thorough visit. We had many more sessions over the next decade.

We discussed more than her health – her life, work and her children. When my twins were born, she brought them hand-knitted sweaters and socks. She never left a visit without seeing a picture of my children or asking how they’re doing. I realized there is never a one-way exchange in a relationship between physicians and patients.

After Mrs. D’s death, I called her daughter and she told me that many times in her last days, she remembered me and proudly discussed with the hospital staff that she had seen all the progress of my career. I feel truly blessed that she was my patient and it was an honor to know her.

Can you tell us about your professional history before you came to The John A. Hartford Foundation? How did your geriatrics training help you in your leadership positions outside geriatrics?

The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society gave me an excellent opportunity to tell my story in the Pioneers section of the July 2015 issue. In the article, I was able to describe my extraordinary good fortune to begin my career at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston during the years when the Harvard Division on Aging was founded. Jack Rowe, along with a stellar group of interdisciplinary colleagues, gave me a platform to delve into understanding the essence of acute care geriatric nursing and elaborate on what the profession of geriatric nursing could be. There, I also began my elder abuse research, which to this moment is central to my work. Those years were the harbinger for Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystems Elders (NICHE) and for the exciting work I was able to do at the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (HIGN) with Mathy Mezey and the outstanding HIGN team. One of the important lessons I learned working in geriatrics is that addressing the needs of older adults improves care for all people. For example, all patients benefit from person-centered care and team care. And because resources traditionally have not been as plentiful in the field of aging as in some other areas, there has always been a strong emphasis on collaboration and partnership. I believe that having that understanding makes me a more effective leader whether I’m working specifically in geriatrics or other areas.

Your career has spanned the clinic, the community, and the classroom in support of expert eldercare. Can you tell us a bit about why you have an interest in geriatrics and what led you to your new position at The John A. Hartford Foundation?

My interest in geriatrics was immediate as a young nurse, when I saw the opportunity to step up and lead improvements in practice for the frail older people who were in our care. There are many ways to influence better care for older adults. Whether you are teaching the next generation of clinicians, conducting research to generate new knowledge that improves care, informing policymakers with research, or focusing on practice models that improve care, there are many ways to make a meaningful difference. I had not considered the role of foundation president as a part of my career trajectory. However, when the opportunity presented itself and I began to explore the possibilities with the search committee, everything fell into place. I knew this would be one more exceptional way for me to improve care of older adults and I am thrilled to be at The John A. Hartford Foundation. This Foundation has shaped my career in innumerable ways and I am so grateful and proud to be able to serve as the President.

It seems most geriatrics professionals have a personal reason for the choices they’ve made in a career path. What brought you to the field?

My interest in geriatrics was inspired by my especially loving relationship with my maternal grandmother. I’d decided to become a doctor, and as I progressed through residency, my grandmother became ill and frail. I didn’t live close to her, yet I could see how fragmented her care became. It was frustrating that I didn’t have the tools to help her.

That sparked my realization that while I had great skill in being able to care for children and middle-aged adults, I didn’t feel so confident caring for older people. I felt that specializing in geriatrics would give me the tools I needed. I discussed this with Dr. Ken Brummel-Smith, the chair of the department of geriatrics at my medical school, Florida State University. He encouraged me to pursue and apply for a geriatrics fellowship position.

How has AGS membership helped you as you’ve navigated your career?

I joined AGS as soon as I became a geriatrics fellow and I can say honestly that membership has enhanced every single aspect of my professional life. Just for starters, AGS gives me access to countless resources and to a community of people, all dedicated to making the lives of older adults better. And that makes me a better geriatrician.

For example, in addition to my “day job,” I’m Chair of the AGS Teachers Section and in that role, I communicate through the MyAGSOnline Teachers Section Community to engage other AGS educators. It’s a fantastic tool for so many needs—it’s a great way to find reviewers for your abstract, for example. And if you have a query, you can put it out to this large group of amazing people and are sure to get scores of helpful answers in return.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I think it’s a privilege to teach others how to care for older adults. It’s something that health care professionals think they know how to do, but when you show them the nuances, you see all these lightbulbs go off in their heads.

In my teaching work, I focus on making geriatrics personal. One way I accomplish this is by giving each student an index card. I ask them to write down the name of an older adult who has meant the most to them—then we share their stories. I tell them that when they get distracted, they can bring their focus back to that person. “They’re the reason you’re sitting here,” I remind them.

What’s one way you’ve tried to “reframe” aging to your students—a way of speaking about and interacting with aging that breaks away from popular stereotypes or expectations?

Another aspect of practicing geriatric medicine is understanding what healthy aging can look like. I realize that very often, students only see older adults when they’re sick and in the hospital. So, they’re mostly seeing frail, sick older people—not those who are aging well.

Working with a retirement community in our hospital’s neighborhood, we arranged to bring med students there to have dinner with the residents every few weeks. It turned out to be a tremendous success—and it’s hard to tell who has the most fun, the students or the residents! Seeing healthy older adults gives the students a whole new perspective on their work in geriatrics—it shows the range of experiences we have as we age and illustrates the need for truly person-centered care. That’s the greatest teaching point of all!

As a pharmacist member, what types of AGS resources are most important to you?

The AGS provides me with a number of useful resources, both in print and at the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting. The most obvious resource is AGS’s commitment to keeping the Beers Criteria relevant by updating it every three years. Since it was first released, the AGS Beers Criteria^® has been a useful tool for pharmacists to use when performing drug regimen reviews in nursing homes and when educating prescribers about the appropriate use of medication for older adults.

The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) is also very useful. In fact, that’s how I was introduced to the AGS. I subscribed to the journal for a number of years before I realized that I could join the AGS as a pharmacist. I also use the Geriatrics Evaluation & Management tools and Geriatrics at Your Fingertips. These are easy to use and helpful when teaching students.

The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting is a great meeting for pharmacists to attend. I really appreciate that the AGS makes sure to provide pharmacists with continuing education (CE) credits for a lot of the sessions. The educational sessions are informative and high-quality, and I can get much of my annual required CE from the meeting. The AGS even sponsors a breakfast for pharmacist members. It’s a great time to network and share ideas with other pharmacists practicing in geriatrics.

What inspires you?

I am inspired and motivated by the importance of providing quality and dignified care for older adults. I am inspired by my patients, some of whom live with multiple co-morbidities that can make their care unique but all of whom maintain a positive attitude that’s essential to well-being. 

I am also inspired by my students. It is so important to me that I impress upon my students the importance of geriatric care. I try, by example, to instill in them an appreciation not only for the unique needs of older men and women but also for the role  pharmacists play in older adult care—a role that goes beyond pharmaceutical issues. I tell my students that geriatrics is a holistic practice and a team sport. My favorite quote, one that I include in every rotation schedule, is: “Patients don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” That’s the meaning and joy in practicing geriatrics, no matter the profession. It’s noticing the little things when you enter a person’s room, and asking if there’s anything else you can do for them—whether it’s getting some fresh water or helping them make a phone call. I love taking my students on “social rounds” at the end of the day once we’ve finished with the medication-related issues. It helps them see the men and women they’re caring for as real people, and not just as diagnoses.

What does geriatrics mean to you? (If you’re up to the challenge – describe this in 3 words).

Caring, Complexity, Interdisciplinary.

How did you become involved with the AGS?

I’m not a geriatrician—my field is urology—but I’ve been involved in geriatrics since the mid ‘90s. I joined the AGS in 1998, and became a fellow of the society in 2012. The AGS has launched and plays key roles in a wide range of programs that improve healthcare for older adults, and this is important to me.

I first got involved with the society after my mother, who had Alzheimer’s, moved to a long-term care facility. I discovered that the urologic care there was poor. I said something to the nursing home, but was, essentially, told to stay out of it because I wasn’t “on staff.” So I went to the American Urological Association and spoke with the then-Secretary of the organization about what had happened. I’ll never forget what he told me. He said, “How interesting! The American Geriatrics Society has called, looking for someone to represent urology in its Geriatrics for Specialists Initiative (GSI).” That’s how I became the GSI’s urologic representative.

What do you value about AGS membership?

I’ve attended every one of the AGS’ annual meetings since becoming a member. To learn more about geriatrics, I made a point of going to the meetings’ educational sessions. They were invaluable. The personal contacts are important; I’ve gotten to know a number of nationally prominent geriatricians very well and personally. Other benefits are all the resources the AGS has created, including Geriatrics at Your Fingertips, and the Geriatrics Syllabus for Specialists.

How did you become involved in the AGS?

Early in my career, I was part of a panel presentation - my first contact with the AGS.  I was struck with the approachability of all AGS members, from the world renowned to a variety of interdisciplinary students.  Everyone was accessible and interested in a dialogue or discussion of aging issues. The milieu of the AGS continues to be supportive, encouraging and open.  My involvement has broadened my knowledge and has given me resources and connections at my fingertips.

As a Social Worker member, what types of AGS resources are important to you?

Professional contacts and the accessibility of those members and AGS staff. (Staff even connected me with an unknown relative!) I keep up and participate in legislative and lobbying efforts.  Of particular interest are mental health issues, aging women, and cultural issues.  I have been involved in education and furthering the AGS's goal of interprofessional representation and input in their membership. The AGS has been on the forefront of developing this inclusiveness.

What do you enjoy most about geriatrics?

I am constantly amazed and humbled at the diversity, heterogeneity, and survivorship of this group of individuals. Their stories and the lives they have lived continue to challenge and humble me as a health care provider. One cannot make assumptions about this generation.

How have your personal experiences and stories helped shape the way you work?

I try to maintain an approach of dignity and communication. I listen.  My goal is to help the person say what they want and need and to help translate those concerns to others.  One of my strengths is translating theory, medical issues into very practical steps. Also I believe in the concept of "who you are now, is what you were when”-- how the past affects your present day behavior, for example, living through the depression and how money is spent or saved. Historical time lines can help us understand our patients’ behavior.

What drew you to geriatrics as your chosen career path?

A gut feeling. I took a leap of faith when I decided to go for a geriatrics fellowship after my residency at LSU University Medical Center—Lafayatte (now part of Lafayette General Medical Center) because I was the first one in my program to enter geriatrics.

I guess you could say my choice was unexpected, since I’d done a nephrology fellowship in West Africa before moving to the United States. So, when I arrived at Tulane University to begin my geriatrics fellowship, I didn’t know what to expect. I did know I’d return to my community after completing my geriatrics fellowship so that I could give back—there are so few trained geriatricians in Louisiana. I knew I’d enjoy working with older adults and making a positive difference in their lives.

What does your work environment look like, and how have your interactions with other health professionals driven geriatric care forward?

I joined the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in 2004 because I saw the need to care for the large population of older adults who’d served our country. I’ve been active with the VHA Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team (or GeriPACT) and in my community by offering geriatrics lectures to other healthcare providers. Though there are still too few geriatricians, my goal is to help train every healthcare provider around me in geriatrics expertise.

To that end, I’ve seen how my AGS membership has benefitted me personally and professionally. Today, I enjoy providing high-quality and person-centered care to our nation’s veterans—and I’m happy to belong to a community of colleagues who are living proof of that same passion every day.

You are a regular attendee of AGS Annual Meetings. Can you share a favorite meeting story?

When I attended my first AGS Annual Scientific Meeting in 2002 as a fellow-in-training, I was impressed by the friendly, supportive atmosphere, though I knew no one there. The AGS members were wonderful, and I knew I needed to belong to this organization.

During that first meeting, I was also struck by the willingness of AGS members to support and mentor junior fellows like me. For example, after I attended a lecture by Laura Mosqueda, MD, AGSF, on elder abuse, I introduced myself to her and she immediately volunteered to be my mentor and cheerleader. She believed in me and inspired me to complete my fellowship program. At that meeting I also met Kenneth Shay, DDS, MS, AGSF, and we talked about the prospect of working at the VA. I’ll always be grateful for that, especially since it led me to the career path I am on today.

Why do you continue to attend the AGS Annual Meeting—what are the benefits of returning each year?

I still attend the AGS Annual Meeting each year—even though it often coincides with my wedding anniversary! I’ve benefited from the many networking opportunities and I’ve made great friends from all over the country. I enjoy the meeting’s fun, diverse atmosphere, which fosters my professional growth. For example, the support I receive from AGS meetings enabled me to reach a personal goal of becoming an AGS Fellow in 2017.

The AGS is a place where everyone is valued and all opinions are respected. As a junior member, I suggested to then-AGS-President Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, AGSF, that new AGS Fellows should be recognized on stage during the Members Business Meeting. I was thrilled when that change was enacted.