Most medical students as they pursue their career will largely be providing care to older patients. UC San Diego offers multiple opportunities for medical students to receive training or enhance their knowledge of geriatrics.

 

MED 410: Introduction to Geriatrics: Caring for Your Older Patients

This two-week selective course is designed to provide medical students in their 3rd year with a broad overview of the unique medical concerns of an older adult population and the field of geriatrics. It includes exposure to clinical care provided in a variety of settings, including outpatient primary care, skilled nursing, home care, palliative care, and specialized dementia care. Students will learn about the most common geriatric syndromes, along with the importance of preventive care, assessing functional status, addressing memory concerns and dementia, and the benefits of an interdisciplinary team approach to the provision of care. For more information, please contact Ian Neel, MD, Course Director at ineel@health.ucsd.edu.

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MED 452: Clinical Geriatrics

This four-week elective course is designed to provide medical students in their 4th year with an overview of geriatrics, along with the unique medical concerns of an older adult population.  Students receive an introduction to clinical care in a variety of settings, including outpatient, inpatient geriatric psychiatry, specialized dementia care, RCFE’s, extended hospital care, adult day care, and neuropsychological testing. Students will gain knowledge of geriatrics syndromes and important geriatric proficiencies, in addition to good preventive care and the recommended general approach to care for the older adult patient. Case-based learning and an interdisciplinary team approach are emphasized.  Clinical and didactic instruction methods are used. For more information, please contact Veronica Gonzalez, MD, Course Director at vgonzalez@health.ucsd.edu.

 

Student Geriatrics Interest Group

UC San Diego does have a student geriatrics interest group. Currently, this is largely made up of medical students, but other students are welcome!

GENERAL GOALS

• Foster a community among students who have an interest in geriatrics

• Support a pipeline of students toward a career in geriatrics

• Engage the medical school community and students from other disciplines about issues related to geriatrics

If interested in learning more about upcoming activities, please contact James Templeman, MD, Faculty Advisor at jtempleman@health.ucsd.edu or Jennifer Reichstadt, MSG, Director, Geriatrics Education and Development at jreichst@health.ucsd.edu.

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