Residency

Family Medicine

Family practice physicians encounter older patients with a variety of medical concerns. The Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology works with the residents in Family Medicine to educate them about the unique medical needs of older patients through required month-long rotations.

Geriatric rotations often include one or more workshops, didactic and interactive events facilitated by experts in their fields. Topics of particular focus include:

• Polypharmacy
• Cognitive issues
• Long-term care and insurance
• Psychosocial aspects of aging, including elder mistreatment

Each resident also is assigned to provide nursing home care and will visit a nursing home once each block. View a sample rotation schedule ›

Internal Medicine

Requirements in geriatrics training for Internal Medicine residents have been revised for the 2009-2010 academic year to require two weeks during the intern year. In this introduction to geriatrics as a medical sub-specialty, resident interns will work with geriatricians, pharmacists and other members of our program. Self-tutorial didactics provide instruction in some of the major geriatric medical issues. Our faculty members will identify patients who illustrate the learning objectives. Internal medicine residents are often surprised to learn that working with older patients can be extremely rewarding.  

The Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology also collaborates with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Long Beach to give third-year Internal Medicine residents a two-week rotation concentrating on the needs of older patients. View a sample rotation schedule ›

In line with competencies suggested by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, both rotations increase the resident's knowledge of:

• The unique medical and concomitant needs of older patients and their loved ones
• The geriatrician's role in various treatment modalities for older patients
• The roles of various interdisciplinary team members in meeting the needs of older patients
• Community resources available to support treatment goals.

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Elective Residency

UC Irvine and external residents who opt for an elective in geriatrics do so for two main reasons: to explore pursuing a fellowship in geriatrics and to increase their knowledge of older patients' needs. Our elective curriculum is focused on educating these physicians about the unique medical, psychological and social needs of older patients. Our faculty members enjoy sharing the challenge and gratification that comes from working with this interesting population.

Topics of particular focus are:

• Polypharmacy
• Cognitive issues
• Function and quality of life
• Psychosocial aspects of aging, including elder mistreatment

Goals include educating the physician about:

• The role of the geriatrician in various treatment modalities serving older patients
• The roles of various interdisciplinary team members in meeting older patients' needs
• Community resources available to support treatment goals and patient autonomy
• Palliative care options for terminal illness

To meet these goals, residents are assigned experiences in:

• Ambulatory care
• The interdisciplinary Health Assessment Program for Seniors (HAPS)
• Varied community agencies
• The Braille Institute of Orange County
• Adult Protective Services
• In-Home Supportive Services
• Elder Abuse Forensic Center

View a sample rotation schedule ›

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For more information about our residency programs, contact:

Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology
200 S. Manchester Ave., Ste. 835
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: 714.456.5530
Fax: 714.456.7933