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Fellows Program
Mission
The mission of the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics
Fellowship Program is to provide supervised opportunities
to fellows who wish to develop the clinical and interpersonal
skills, knowledge, professional attitudes, and practical experience
required of physicians who are competent in the care of older
persons. This is accomplished by using an interdisciplinary
approach to comprehensive geriatric assessment and care. Major
emphasis is also placed on training physicians for careers
in academic medicine and giving them the necessary expertise
to pursue research opportunities in geriatrics and gerontology.
While the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has
had a Geriatric Fellowship program for twenty years, the generous
gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation in 1997 has allowed
the Department of Geriatrics to expand its number of fellowship
positions thus greatly increasing opportunities for geriatric
training.
Fellowship Tracks
Clinical - This one-year fellowship provides comprehensive
training in clinical geriatrics and is ideal for those individuals
who plan to be involved primarily in patient care.
Clinician-Educator - This two-year fellowship will
provide training opportunities in clinical geriatrics and
experience in clinical research and education. The Clinician-Educator
track is ideal for geriatricians who wish to pursue a career
in academic medicine and spend half or more of their time
in teaching and patient care. This track will also provide
the necessary expertise to assure constructive contribution
to research.
Reynolds Scholars - This two-year, or more, fellowship
develops leaders in geriatric medicine who are well-qualified
in research design and evaluation. At the end of training,
fellows will function as independent investigators. After
twelve months of clinical training, scholars will spend an
additional twelve months or more learning research methodology
and actively participating in a mentored research program.
This experiential time will allow scholars to develop the
necessary expertise to conduct independent research in geriatrics
and gerontology.
Program Goals
The Department expects fellows to become competent geriatricians
and - excluding those who choose the clinical track - gain
skills that will prepare them for academic careers. Skills
in clinical geriatrics include an in-depth knowledge of biological
changes associated with aging and age-related diseases and
the capacity to work effectively as an interdisciplinary team
member in solving complex medical and social problems of elderly
patients. Skills in medical education include the ability
to organize and present information effectively and use educational
tools proficiently. Skills in medical research include - with
the aid of an established preceptor - understanding research
methodology, constructing and carrying our research projects,
writing abstracts and papers, and presenting at scientific
meetings.
The Sites
On the UAMS Campus, space has been designed in the new Donald
W. Reynolds Institute on Aging facility specifically for fellows.
Additional teaching sites for the fellowship program include
the Central Arkansas Veteran's Healthcare System (CAVHS) and
various community nursing homes. Within the CAVHS, the Geriatric
Research, Education, and Clinical Center provides unique clinical,
educational, and analytical research resources for geriatric
fellowship training. Fellows will participate in a myriad
of clinical programs within each of these teaching facilities.
Clinical Programs at the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences
- Reynolds Senior Health Center
- Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
- Osteoporosis Clinic
- Geriatric Inpatient Service
- Orthogeriatric Service
- Geriatric Consultation Service
Clinical Programs at the Central Arkansas Veteran's
Healthcare System
- Primary Care Geriatric Clinic
- Geriatric Specialties Inpatient Unit
- Geriatric Consultation Service
- Adult Day Health Care Program
- Home-Based Primary Care Program
- Nursing Home Care Unit
- Inpatient Geropsychiatry Unit
- Inpatient Hospice Unit
Research Opportunities
The Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics has a robust
and well-funded major research program with grant support
in excess of $26 million annually. Fellows can participate
in one of the following research efforts.
- Fundamental biology of aging that leads to declines in
cell function with age
- Biologic changes in Alzheimer's Disease
- Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease
- Caloric restriction on longevity
- Nutrition and aging
- Exercise and aging
- Clinical care and patients with dementia
- Health Services research in the Center for Outcomes Research
and Evaluation (CORE)
Master of Public Health
If a fellow pursues either the Reynolds Scholar track or the
Clinician-Educator pathway, he or she is provided an opportunity
to complete a Masters of Public Health (MPH). The UA system
now houses the School of Public Health on campus which features
a two-year masters degree in public health.
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