A welcome message from the director

UC Irvine's Program in Geriatrics is an interdisciplinary group of medical professionals whose mission is to address the changing health needs of older adults and those who love them. We are committed to delivering high-quality, comprehensive patient care in a variety of settings and to being a national leader in geriataric education, research, advocacy and community outreach.

With Americans living longer, the focus of health care must shift from merely keeping people alive to making their later years healthier and more meaningful. Our goal is to help patients be at their best whether they are in excellent health or in the late stages of difficult illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease or cancer.

The Program in Geriatrics is dedicated to training future physicians and other clinicians in all specialties to provide superb care to older adults and their families. With a $2-million, four-year grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, we have launched a major initiative to further integrate geriatric medicine throughout the curricula at UC Irvine's School of Medicine.

We work closely with 14 departments - including anesthesiology, emergency medicine, psychiatry, family medicine, internal medicine and oncology - to incorporate geriatric training for medical students, residents and fellows, with a special emphasis on learning to build patient-doctor relationships. Compassionate care for elderly patients is taught through the sub-themes of health literacy, communication skills and medical decision-making.

Clinical care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of health care professionals including physicians, psychologists, social workers, pharmacologists and nurses, all of whom have advanced training in the care of older adults. The SeniorHealth Center is the centerpiece of our outpatient program and was designed to provide a physical and emotional environment that supports the best possible care for our patients and their families.

UC Irvine's Program in Geriatrics also is nationally recognized for its Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect. Through our faculty members, the center bridges academics and direct service, providing medical, forensic and victim services to abused and neglected seniors. It also serves as a central resource for best practices information, policy evaluation and multidisciplinary training to address elder mistreatment.

Thank you for visiting the Program in Geriatrics. You are welcome to contact me at 714.456.5530 or via e-mail.