Statement from Fernanda Ninin, M.D.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
I am applying for the position of AGS Fellow-in-Training (FIT) Section Co-Chair because I see it as a unique opportunity to grow as a leader while contributing to a community that has been instrumental in my training. I am passionate about shaping the future of our field by preparing the next generation of geriatricians to lead, teach, and advocate for a rapidly aging population.
As life expectancy increases, we must acknowledge the shortage of geriatricians both nationally and globally. I want to contribute to the development of future geriatricians by equipping them with skills that extend beyond knowledge of aging, physiology, and specific challenges. Part of our role is to disseminate this knowledge among other disciplines and specialists involved in patient care and to lead the essential transformation into an Age-Friendly Healthcare System. It is key to re-think the fellowship curriculums to foster these skills.
Currently, I am undertaking an additional fellowship year as part of the Clinical Operations and Quality Improvement (COQI) track at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. This opportunity provide me with dedicated time for scholarly growth and leadership development. My quality improvement project focuses on narrative medicine in long-term care, aiming to enhance patient-centered care while addressing healthcare worker burnout through fostering connections with our patients. I recognize that projects like mine depend on finding appropriate support and mentorship. I would love to create opportunities for collaboration and project development among teams that may not be geographically connected.
I am also deeply committed to teaching. I have helped lead journal clubs, clinical reasoning sessions, and aging physiology lectures for my fellowship, and I have served as a preceptor for Harvard Medical and Dental students during their immersion in geriatrics. This position would help me refine my skills as an educator and gain experience in curriculum development based on feedback from current and former fellows. I would prioritize open communication within our community to understand the challenges they face in their education and determine how we can address them.
If selected as Co-Chair, I hope to contribute by expanding mentorship opportunities for fellows exploring diverse career paths in geriatrics; supporting the development of fellow-led initiatives in areas such as research, leadership, and teaching—skills that are crucial for extending our impact beyond the bedside; and promoting cross-specialty initiatives that integrate geriatric principles into the education of non-geriatricians. I believe these efforts will help build a more connected and impactful FIT community. Thank you for considering my application.
Fernanda Ninin, M.D. is a geriatrics fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, currently completing an additional fellowship year in the Clinical Operations and Quality Improvement (COQI) track. Their work focuses on advancing patient-centered care through a quality improvement project on narrative medicine in long-term care, which also seeks to address healthcare worker burnout by fostering stronger patient–clinician connections.
Deeply committed to teaching and mentorship, Fernanda has led journal clubs, clinical reasoning sessions, and aging physiology lectures for fellows, as well as precepted Harvard medical and dental students during geriatrics rotations. They are passionate about preparing the next generation of geriatricians to lead, teach, and advocate, while also promoting the integration of geriatric principles across specialties to advance Age-Friendly Healthcare Systems.
As a candidate for Co-Chair of the AGS Fellow-in-Training (FIT) Section, Fernanda aims to expand mentorship opportunities, support fellow-led initiatives in research, leadership, and teaching, and build a stronger, more connected FIT community. Their vision is to equip fellows with the skills and resources needed to extend their impact beyond the bedside and to shape the future of geriatrics.