Grant supports new approach to geriatrics training

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant to The Medical College of Wisconsin to support a new initiative focused on geriatric training for physicians in non-primary care residency training programs. 
 “The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation stands as one of the nation’s leading philanthropic organizations in support of better geriatric physician training to improve the quality of life for America’s growing elderly population,” said Dr. John Raymond, Sr., president and chief executive officer of The Medical College of Wisconsin.  “We are deeply honored and grateful for the Reynolds Foundation’s continued support of our efforts to advance education in geriatric care.”
The grant is one of 10 awards across the country granted to medical schools by the Las Vegas-based Reynolds Foundation. The foundation awarded grants totaling almost $10 million to support comprehensive projects in academic health centers to train medical students, residents and practicing physicians in geriatrics. 
All those awarded grants are required to match one dollar for every two dollars granted from the foundation.
The grant will be used to develop new approaches to residency training of non-primary care physicians to assure that physicians are prepared to care for older people in their respective specialties.  The effort is led by Dr. Edmund Duthie, professor and chief of geriatric medicine; Dr. Kathryn Denson, associate professor of medicine; and Deborah Simpson, PhD, associate dean for educational support and evaluation and the Elsa B. and Roger D. Cohen, MDs Professor in Medical Education at both the Medical College and Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. 
“With the exception of pediatrics and neonatology, physicians in every specialty field of medicine are caring for an increasing number of elderly patients,” said Dr. Duthie.  “We need to ensure that the next generation of physicians is grounded not only in their specialty field, but also in the special needs required to care for older patients.”
The new Medical College geriatric training initiative will engage 17 residency and fellowship specialty training programs to develop geriatrics education teams within each program that systematically develop, deliver, access and evaluate specialty-specific geriatrics instruction. 
“The Reynolds Foundation has now committed almost $90 million under this initiative,” said Fred Smith, chairman of the Reynolds Foundation’s board of trustees. “The Foundation’s goal is to improve the quality of health care for elderly people across America by preparing physicians and other health care providers to address their special needs.”