VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network
VISN 6 Recognizes Geriatric Scholars Program Gradu
VISN 6 is pleased to recognize graduates of the VA Geriatric Scholars Program.
Now in its 10th year, with 800 Scholars in more than 370 clinics, the VA Geriatric Scholars Program is a workforce development program offered by VA’s offices of Rural Health, and Geriatrics and Extended Care, to integrate state-of-the-art geriatric health care into primary care practice.
The program trains providers who may treat elderly patients in typical or emergency medical settings, to be alert for and prepared to handle health conditions they may not see as often with younger patients. Currently, 22 VISN 6 providers have graduated from the program and are clinically active.
The opportunity is available to a limited number of primary care clinicians, pharmacists, and psychologists, working in Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) or Home Based Primary Care (HBPC).
Geriatric Scholars study an intensive, accredited, didactic education course in geriatric medicine offered through prominent universities or VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers (GRECC).
They also participate in an intensive quality improvement (QI) workshop led by the widely-acclaimed VA / Robert Wood Johnson National Quality Scholars program. Each Geriatric Scholar is then required to initiate their own QI project, that will help local facilities in meet performance improvement goals required of all PACT programs. Some examples are included with the list of participants below, for categories: timely screening and treatment of common Geriatric diagnoses, Veteran access to care, and Caregiver Support.
Primary Care staff who become Geriatric Scholars can recognize, evaluate, and provide referral and/or treatment for common geriatric medical issues, such as cognitive impairment, falls, and maintaining independence in the home setting.
By integrating geriatric medicine into primary care practices, VA Geriatric Scholars Program has a multiplier effect, spreading geriatric medicine expertise to many more Veterans. The program encourages an inter-professional team approach toward innovation and creatively promoting function and independence in older adults. It is an example of VA’s commitment to high quality care for all Veterans.
Six VISN 6 employees, listed below, recently completed the core course of the VA enterprise-wide Geriatric Scholars Program and are now eligible to continue the program to gain additional skills. They are joined by six more VISN 6 staff just starting participation, beginning in March 2018:(Kia Livingston (Salisbury VAMC), Rhonda Weinhold (Staunton VA CBOC), April 2018: Emmeline Cook (Richmond VAMC), and Ashley Mosely (Asheville VAMC), September 2018: Abigail Ellis (Hampton VAMC), Beth White (Staunton VA CBOC).
Additional information about the Geriatric Scholars Program can be found at: www.GeriScholars.org. Nominations are generally accepted once a year in the fall; nomination is made through your facility and the VISN Geriatrics and Extended Care Clinical Lead, Dr. Judy Brannen (judy.brannen@va.gov, 804 675-5481).
Scholar’s Name |
Discipline |
Facility |
QI Project Title |
Marie Barker |
PhD |
Rutherford VA CBOC |
Improving Dementia Screening for HBPC Older Veterans |
Diane Hancock |
GNP |
Richmond VAMC |
Post-Hospital Follow Up Visits in Geriatric Health Care Center |
Mary Jacobs Dodson |
PsyD |
Salem VAMC |
Dementia Screening and Triage in Primary Care |
Tabitha Sierra |
PsyD |
Hampton VAMC |
Increasing Group Attendance in a Veterans Affairs CLC |
Tasha Simmons |
PsyD |
Chesapeake VA CBOC |
Education and Support for Caregivers of Veterans with Major Neurocognitive Disorder |
Jennifer Wartella |
PhD |
Charlottesville VA CBOC |
Increasing Detection and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders in a Geriatric HBPC Program |
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In addition, we would like to recognize prior alumni of the Geriatric Scholars Program, who remain clinically active and share their geriatric expertise with their Veteran Patients and their co-workers:
2009 Karen Austin MD Biloxi VAMC
2010 Holly Harris MSW Rutherford County VA CBOC
2012 Shubhada Iruvanti DO Hampton VAMC
2013 Mary Caputi PharmD Hickory VA CBOC
2013 Mary Morehouse DO Fayetteville VAMC
2013 Laura White LCSW Asheville VAMC
2015 Karen Grindstaff MSN Rutherford County VA CBOC
2015 Devin Kelly MSN Asheville VAMC
2016 Vicki Dull MD Staunton VA CBOC
2016 Diane Hancock GNP Richmond VAMC
2016 Tabitha Sierra PsyD Hampton VAMC
2016 Tasha Simmons PsyD Chesapeake VA CBOC
2017 Lynn Telford MD Asheville VAMC
2017 Angela Lucas MSW, LCSW Greenville VA CBOC
2017 Marie Barker PhD Rutherford County VA CBOC
2017 Jennifer Wartella PhD Charlottesville VA CBOC
2017 David Benthall MSOT Hillandale VA CBOC
2017 Rhonda Hensley FNP, DNP Asheville VAMC
2017 Carvin Harmon LCSW Albemarle VA CBOC
2017 Felicia Jones MS Chesapeake VA CBOC
2017 Tony Curry BS Robeson County VA CBOC