Program Information
This 2-year subspecialty program in Geriatric Medicine follows 3 years of core Internal Medicine training and is approved by the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada.
Subspecialty trainees spend their 1st year learning the basics of Geriatric Medicine. This includes completing comprehensive geriatric assessments, assessing and managing acute and chronic illness and common geriatric syndromes, in addition to learning about the medico-legal aspects of geriatric practice.
To attain these skills, 2 months are spent on inpatient Acute Care of the Elderly units (ACE) at two tertiary hospital sites, one month in consultative work in a hospital setting, and one month on an inpatient senior's rehab unit at a tertiary rehabilitation hospital and in outpatient care.
Under supervision, the resident is expected to take a significant role in a scholarly project during their training. A dedicated research block is provided in both the 1st and 2nd year of residency. A quality improvement curriculum has been implemented in the 1st year of training.
The 2nd year is geared to the resident's interests and career goals, with 5 elective blocks provided.
The 2nd year will also have further exposure to the acutely ill older adult on the ACE units and inpatient consultations where a more independent role is expected such that the resident functions as a junior consultant. The resident spends a month with the palliative care service in acute care and the community. Home visits and consultations in supportive living occur during an outreach exposure in which the resident may also visit day programs in the city, the Alzheimer's society, the Multicultural Health Centre, the Elder Abuse team, the Public Guardian's office and a driving assessment centre. A 2-week osteoporosis rotation, including rounding with a fracture liaison service, has recently been added to the curriculum. The resident spends a further 4 weeks on ambulatory care with different Geriatrician preceptors.
The internist geriatricians have a wide variety of research interests, including continence, osteoporosis, falls, frailty, dementia, postural hypotension, geriatric cardiology, community engagement and quality improvement. Under supervision, the resident is expected to take a significant role in a scholarly project during their training. Residents are encouraged to present their research findings at Resident Research Day & Geriatric Grand Rounds.
An academic half day is organized every Tuesday afternoon to provide structured educational activities and is currently being conducted virtually. This includes Geriatric Grand Rounds and interactive sessions on selected geriatric syndromes. Journal club and presentations by sta ff, the Geriatric Medicine residents and Care of the Elderly residents .
The Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Alberta is a small but very collegial one that focuses on providing excellent clinical and educational opportunities.
Job opportunities exist in a variety of different settings.
There is a continuing need to train and recruit able young physicians into this intellectually challenging specialty. The University of Alberta is actively leading a program of recruitment for the future.