Medical College of Wisconsin Geriatrics Fellowship Program

Angela Beckert, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine; Program Director, Med-Ger Residency and Fellowship, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine

Cara C. O'Brien, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine; Associate Program Director, Med-Ger Residency and Fellowship, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine

Faculty

The faculty of the Fellowship Program in Geriatrics is composed of experienced graduate educators and researchers in the field of Geriatric Medicine.

• Elizabeth Bukowy, DO, Assistant Professor of Medicine; Medical Director, Lutheran Home and Horizon Home Hospice, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
• Kathryn Denson, MD, Professor of Medicine; Chief, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine; Medical Director, Home-Based Primary Care, VA
• Steven Denson, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine; Medical Director, Geriatrics Inpatient Consults, Froedtert Hospital; Medical Director, VA Geriatrics Consults
• Edmund Duthie, Jr., MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
• Evan Henricks, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine; Medical Director, Geriatrics Clinic, Froedtert Hospital, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
• Will Lyon, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine; Medical Director, Congregational Home, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
• Kathleen B. Sawasky, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine; Medical Director, Community Living Center (CLC) at the Milwaukee VA, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
• Ellen Schmitt, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine

We train physicians in Family Medicine and Internal Medicine to work in the field of Geriatrics and Gerontology. The population is aging, and the need for Geriatricians is great. There are many opportunities for physicians to develop their careers in exciting ways that fit their interests. We tailor our fellowship program to meet the educational and career needs of each physician. We offer:

One-year Geriatrics Fellowship

This program focuses on developing excellence in the area of patient care and medical knowledge. Research and educational opportunities are available and encouraged, as well.

Medicine-Geriatrics Combined Residency Program

Our program is a leader in innovative geriatrics education. We created the first Medicine-Geriatrics combined residency program in the nation. This has been in place since 2001 and has had great success! Based upon the model of Medicine-Pediatrics combined residency programs, our combined residency program trains accepts two residents yearly to continue in this four-year program. These residents incorporate the two specialties together over the four year period. As a result, there are up to 8 geriatrics trainees (in various years of training) at any given time. We have a great group of residents and fellows who all work together.

The course of study will run from July 1 through June 30. Fellows may start on a different cycle, if this fits with the fellow's needs and those of the fellowship program. There are four main components within the Geriatrics Fellowship Program They are: the patient care experience, the core curriculum educational experience, and the research experiences.

Patient Care Experience

Our patient care experience focuses on broadening the scope and depth of your previous training in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine. All clinical training is supervised by Medical College of Wisconsin faculty and integrates Internal Medicine housestaff and medical students whenever possible. We work closely with many different disciplines to form effective interdisciplinary teams in patient care.

During training, rotations generally include:

• VA Geriatrics Consults, inpatient geriatrics assessment and treatment/rehab unit, at the Zablocki VA Medical Center
• Geriatrics primary care continuity clinic at the Zablocki VA Medical Center
• Home visits through Home Care Medical and Horizon Home Care and Hospice
• Palliative Care inpatient rotation
• Lutheran Home and Congregational Home
• Froedtert Hospital Geriatrics Consults service
• Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) outpatient center (multidisciplinary outpatient and day center program)

Core Curriculum

Educational Experiences

We present educational material in various formats. This allows for various learning styles, and brings in much more interaction and fun. Some ways we teach (and learn) include:

• Geriatrics Division Journal Club (weekly)
• Geriatrics Division Interest rounds to discuss challenging and interesting patient cases (weekly)
• Interdisciplinary Team rounds with social work, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychiatry, pharmacy, nutrition
• Online mini-courses in various geriatrics topics
• Computerized standardized patient video clips with learning questions
• Participation in a regional telephone forum with other academic geriatrics fellowship programs to discuss interesting cases (monthly)
• Attendance at the Wisconsin Board Review Course and Update in Geriatric Medicine (hosted by our MCW faculty and those at UW Madison)
• Video DVDs covering geriatrics topics from the Wisconsin Board Review Course
• Small group sessions, individual one-to-one time with faculty and the program director
• Geriatrics Fellows' conference (weekly)
• Department of Medicine Grand Rounds (weekly)
• MCW combined fellowship conference (monthly)

Core Curriculum topics include:

• Overview of Geriatrics
• Diabetes in the Elderly
• Depression
• Urinary Incontinence
• Nursing Home Medicine
• Cardiovascular Changes Related to Aging
• Intro to Geriatric Dentistry
• Falls and Injury
• Geriatric Assessment
• Geriatric Health Care Teams
• Economics of Aging
• Infectious Disease in the Elderly
• Delirium
• Drug Therapy in the Elderly
• Dementia
• Metabolic Bone Disease
• Decubitus Ulcers
• Atypical Presentation of Cardiovascular Disease

Research Experiences

We offer frequent and wide exposure to research methodologies and opportunities based on the needs and interest of each fellow. These research experiences include:

• Geriatrics Research Seminar (monthly) – This seminar highlights ongoing research and scholarship by MCW faculty and guests on topics relevant to the field of Geriatrics. It incorporates statistica6l analysis, study design, and research methodology.
  
  
• Research topic/project conducted under the supervision of a Research Mentor, selected by the Fellow. The research activities are tailored to the Fellow's interests and are structured to be able to be completed easily in the available time.
  
  
• Month-long research/education block – A one-month period is set aside for each fellow to develop or continue with a research or educational project or quality improvement project.

To apply for the Geriatrics Fellowship Program, please use the ERAS System. If you fit the prerequisites below, you may also contact us by email or phone to see if there is a position available.

Prerequisites

To join the combined Medicine-Geriatrics (Med-Ger) Residency Program, applicants must:

• Complete a course of study including an MD or DO degree.
  
  

To join a 1 year Traditional Geriatric Fellowship Program, applicants must:

• Complete a course of study including an MD or DO degree.
• Provide board eligibility to sit for the Internal Medicine/Family Medicine Board Exam.
• Complete a graduate medical education program in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine.

Fellowship stipends are fixed in accord with all other training programs at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

See MCWAH Benefits, Conditions and Terms of Employment on the Benefits Main Page and through Meeting the ACGME Requirements (PDF).