2003 State Affiliate Achievement Award

Latest Newsletter

David C. Martin, MD Award

Student Application

Membership Application

Educational Courses / Conferences

Mark Your Calendar

2009 Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine

March, 19-21, 2009
Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA


Pennsylvania Medical Directors Association

American Geriatric Society


Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney

Advance Health Care Directives and Health Care Decision Making for Incompentent Patients


713 Ridge Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Phone: 412-321-5030
FAX: 412-321-5323

Pennsylvania
Geriatrics Society

Western Division

713 Ridge Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Phone: 412-321-5030 FAX: 412-321-5323

President Michael Yao, MD
Secretary/Treasurer Judith S. Black, M.D., M.H.A
Mission Statement: The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society - Western Division is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all older persons. It is a non-profit organization of physicians and other health care professionals committed to the provision of quality health care for older persons. As a regional affiliate of the American Geriatrics Society, the organization provides leadership for professionals, policy makers and the public in the area served. The organization aids in the efforts of the American Geriatrics Society in developing, implementing and advocating programs in patient care, research, professional education, public policy and public information for the Pennsylvania and region.
Educational Programs Annually sponsors the Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine Conference held each spring. The winner of the 2003 American Geriatrics Society State Affiliate Achievement Award, this dynamic local conference features an array of in-depth topics on geriatric conditions. Formats include lectures by internationally respected authorities. Continuing medical education credits are also available.

The Fall Educational Program provides members a clinical review and update of common problems affecting the elderly. Each year, a different medical specialty or subspecialty is featured.

Newsletter and Website Keeps those in the field updated on programs and issues related to geriatrics on a local and state level. The newsletter is published twice a year. The website offers timely information for members regarding other geriatric programs in and around the area, as well as public policy issues that are being addressed.
Public Policy Forum Provides representation at the national and state level of the American Geriatrics Society. By communicating with elected representatives on the state and regional level, the Society has the opportunity to influence policy and educate Congress about the important role geriatricians and other health care professionals play in caring for the nation's elderly.
Awards and Grants: One of the goal's of the PA Geriatrics Society - Western Division is to encourage and support medical students who are interested in the field of geriatric medicine. The David C. Martin Award helps defray the cost of attending the American Geriatrics Society Annual Conference by offering recipients an honorarium of up to $1,500 to exhibit their work. In addition, a medical student research grant is also awarded to local students taking part in summer research programs. Over the last 5 years, the Society has awarded approximately $32,000.00 to medical students and is confident that this support will encourage medical students' interest in geriatrics with the goal of preparing future physicians in the field of geriatric medicine.
Dues:
MD, DO, RN, CRNP
or other healthcare professional
$40.00 per year
Resident $20.00
Student $10.00
No. of Members: 133

H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008


Changes to the "Welcome to Medicare" Physical Exam


Geriatrics Society hosts meeting at Grand Concourse

A record number of registrants attended the fall program of the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division held November 6 at the Grand Concourse in Pittsburgh. Nationally renowned guest speaker, Robert Palmer, MD, MPH, Director, Clinical Geriatrics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, presented 'Acute Hospital Care of the Elderly.' Dr. Palmer's presentation included invaluable information on Acute Care for Elders (ACE) units. ACE units are based on interdisciplinary team rounds, discharge planning, and medical review in a prepared environment which fosters patient self-care and improve function. Assessing and acting upon key indicators in four to five major domains can make a difference for patients' hospital trajectories. He presented detailed information on five key domains; focus on activities of daily living (ADLs); cognitive assessments; malnutrition associated with mortality; mood and affect play a role in patients' outcome; and, importance of social and living situation. Geriatric patients, wherever they reside, should have the best possible care, explained Palmer. Establishing the geriatric principles of care and applying them to acute care hospital setting and post-acute setting such as skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, rehab centers, and outpatient clinics and home care is how the best possible care for geriatric patients can be accomplished.

The annual fall business meeting is complimentary to members of the society! For membership information, please contact Nadine Popovich, administrator at 412-321-5035 ext 110 or email to npopovich@acms.org.

Guest speaker, Robert Palmer, MD, MPH (at left) with Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division President, Shuja Hassan, MD during the annual Fall program held at the Grand Concourse.

Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division Board of Director, Fred Rubin, MD (at left) presents a plaque to Victor M. Rudkin, MD for his outstanding leadership as course director of the Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine.

 

Victor Rudkin, MD honored as Course Director

Victor M. Rudkin, MD who served as Course Director of the highly successful Clinical Update in Geriatic Medicine conference, was honored during the fall business meeting of the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division. Speaking on behalf of the membership, Fred Rubin, MD (board of director), expressed grateful appreciation to Dr. Rudkin for 16 years of outstanding leadership and dedication by serving as course director. During Dr. Rudkin's tenure, the conference consistently increased attendance each year and attracted prominent international and national lecturers, as well as nationally renowned local faculty. In 1993, the conference was awarded the American Geriatrics Society State Affiliate Award for Excellence in a CME program.

 

2009 Clinical update in geriatric medicine

Planning is underway for the 2009 Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine conference, presented by the Society and the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging. The conference is scheduled for March 19-21, 2009 at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA. Highlights include: Patient Safety / Risk Management; Common Office Problems; Symposium on Hospitalized Care of the Elderly. In addition, 15 breakout sessions are planned. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.

For more information on conference details and credit offerings, contact CCEHS at 412-647-8232 or email to ccehsconfmgmt101@upmc.edu. Brochures will be mailed in January 2009.


Clinical Update held in April

1 More than 400 individuals participated in the 2008 Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine Conference held in April at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, the largest group attending since the conference inception in 1993.

The three-day program featured an array of in-depth and key topics on geriatric conditions, end of life care issues, medical legal issues, appropriate antibiotic use, palliative care and long-term care issues. Local faculty conducted 18 breakout workshops designed to provide participants with greater insight and practical information on patient care.

Geriatrics professionals from all disciplines, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, long term care and managed care providers, and health care administrators participated in key plenary sessions and three outstanding symposia on Responsible Antibiotic Stewardship, Controversies in Prescribing Drugs in the Elderly and Medical Legal Liability Issues.

Previously awarded the American Geriatrics Society Achievement Award for Excellence in a CME Program, the annual event continues to draw respected international and national authorities, as well as nationally renowned faculty to present lectures. Additional sponsors include the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging; and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences. Victor Rudkin, MD, Judith Black, MD, MHA, and Neil Resnick, MD served as course directors.


Geriatrics society honors medical students

Congratulations to the 2008 David C. Martin Award recipients, Shaan Alli, Maria De La Luz Nieto, David Hamel, Jr., Gerhardt Konig, David Mendelson, David Montag, Laura Raducha-Grace, Jean-Claude Rwigema, Elissa Stern, Bryan Ward, and WanWan Xu, each a medical student attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

This prestigious award supports medical students' interest in geriatrics by offering recipients an honorarium to defray the costs of attending the American Geriatrics Society national conference. This year's awardees each received an honorarium of $700.00. Recipients were honored at a dinner meeting held April 3, 2008 at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA. The dinner was held in conjunction with the 2008 Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division; the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging; and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences. Each student was presented with a certificate of excellence along with the honorarium check. Below are the titles of the winning abstracts.

Shaan Alli ~ Daf-2 Regulated Genes in Sarcopenia

Maria De La Luz Nieto ~ Cognitive Predictors of Physical Function in Older African Americans

David Hamel, Jr. ~ Humoral Fingerprints of Health Status in Order Adults

Gerhardt Konig ~ Bioreactor for Long-Term Culture of Cartilage Constructs

David Mendelson ~ Age-Dependent Effects of Inhibitory Function on Balance

David Montag ~ CD56 is a Functional Immune Receptor For Aging T Cells

Laura Raducha-Grace ~ Demographic and Psychosocial Factors Associated with Concordant Knee Pain Patterns in Osteoarthritis

Initiative Study Participants With BiLateral Knee Pain

Jean-Claude Rwigema ~ The Relationship of White Matter Hyperintensities

(WMH) Location and Volume, on Executive Function and Mood in the Elderly

Elissa Stern ~ Can the Fried Criteria Be Used to Detect Changes in Frailty?

Bryan Ward ~ Focal White Matter Hyperintensity in the Aging Vestibular System

WanWan Xu ~ Height Loss, Vertebral Fractures and Misclassification of Osteoporosis

The award is named after David C. Martin, MD, who established the first geriatric fellowship in Pittsburgh, PA. The ultimate goal of this prestigious award is to encourage and prepare future physicians in the field of geriatric medicine. Since its inception, the Society is proud to have awarded over $39,700.00 to medical students interested in the field of geriatric medicine.



Membership is open to all who are interested in improving the health and well-being of the elderly.

Click here to become a member. , or contact Nadine Popovich at 412-321-5030,
or email:
npopovich@acms.org.



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Allegheny County Medical Society