Big ‘G’ and Little ‘g’ Geriatrics Education for Physicians

Big ‘G’ and Little ‘g’ Geriatrics Education for Physicians

Kathryn E. Callahan MD, MS, Nina Tumosa PhD, Rosanne M. Leipzig MD, PhD

First published: 10 July 2017Full publication history

DOI: 10.1111/jgs.14996 View/save citation

Abstract

In the July 2016 issue of this journal, Dr. Mary Tinetti proposed that geriatric medicine abandon attempts to increase the numbers of board-certified geriatricians and change focus to the development of a “small elite workforce.” What would be gained and what sacrificed by accepting this challenge? We agree that the best clinical use of a scarce resource, specialty trained geriatricians, is to care for frail, complex, severely ill elderly adults and to help design and study novel interventions in research, education, and care models to improve the care of all older adults, but for this to happen, all other providers must attain specific competency in the care of older adults. This article responds and discusses alternative pathways for teaching geriatrics care, training specialists, and geriatrics fellows.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.14996/abstract