Geriatrics Scholarly Concentration Programs Among U.S. Medical Schools

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Medical Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Limited exposure to geriatric competencies in standard medical school curricula.
• Need to foster interest in geriatric medicine subspecialties.
• Importance of specialized training for an aging population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe Geriatric Scholarly Concentration Programs (GSCPs) in U.S. medical schools.
• To understand the structure, components, and outcomes of existing GSCPs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic internet search, forum postings, and word-of-mouth to identify GSCPs.
• Online surveys completed by GSCP directors.
• Interviews with key faculty from representative programs.

Main Results:

• Nine GSCPs identified; eight responded to the survey.
• Programs featured mentoring, specialized clinical experiences, and research.
• Common challenges included low student interest and faculty availability, yet student satisfaction was high.
• Half of graduates from reporting programs pursued residencies with geriatric training options.

Conclusions:

• Geriatric Scholarly Concentration Programs are scarce in U.S. medical schools.
• GSCPs can enhance geriatric competencies for interested students.
• These programs show potential to increase the number of physicians entering geriatric subspecialties.