Curriculum

Clinical block rotations and continuity clinical experiences are designed to provide the fellow with training opportunities in acute care, long-term care, ambulatory care, home care, hospice and palliative medicine, neurology, psychiatry, geriatric oncology and geriatric rehabilitation. Fellows will work closely with physician specialists in surgery, oncology, cardiology, neurology and physical medicine to deliver high quality care for older adults. Interprofessional teamwork is the cornerstone of geriatric practice and fellows will work collaboratively with nurses, social workers, therapists, advance clinical practitioners, dieticians and other health professionals.

Elective rotations allow fellows to enhance clinical skills in a specialty area or in a specific clinical setting. Although the one-year fellowship is clinically focused, fellows may also spend their elective time engaged in clinical research or quality-improvement projects related to geriatrics.

Formal didactic sessions complement the clinical training experiences for Geriatric Medicine Fellows. A weekly core lecture series covers important topics in geriatrics and prepares the fellow for the certification examination in Geriatric Medicine. Fellows also participate in resident noon conferences and clinical case conferences relevant to geriatrics and adult medicine. A quarterly interdisciplinary geriatric journal club provides a critical review of important research studies which influence clinical geriatric practice.

In addition to clinical training, fellows are expected to develop their skills as educators. Fellows participate in the family medicine residency training and provide formal lectures as well as bedside teaching related to geriatric care. They provide lectures to a local retirement community on health-related topics. Fellows are evaluated on their ability to teach patients and families and to effectively engage them in a plan of care.

Geriatric Medicine Block Diagram

Longitudinal Training Experiences (12 months):

• Continuity Clinic- located at hospital-based Family Practice Center (site 1)
• Senior Oncology Clinic (site 1)
• Continuity nursing home care, assisted living and home visits (site 5- Continuing Care Retirement Community)
• Psychiatry outpatient consults (site 5- Continuing Care Retirement Community)
• Memory Clinic- outpatient consultation clinic (site 8)

Vacation is encouraged during elective blocks; generally, no longer than 7 days; no vacation during Neurology, Psychiatry, or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation blocks

*Sample Electives: Urology, Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Wound Care, Palliative Care and Hospice, Pain Management, Ethics, Orthopedics, Medical Direction, Dementia Care, or Research.

Devin Petrone, MD (Geriatric Medicine Fellow 2022-2023), Presenting Abstract at American Geriatrics Society (AGS) National Conference.	Christine Kim Freeman, DO (Geriatric Medicine Fellow 2023-2024), Presenting “Year in Review,” important articles in geriatrics for the past year.
2023 – 2024 Fellows from programs across North and South Carolina.