Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society

Who We Are

As a regional affiliate of the American Geriatrics Society, the organization provides leadership for professionals, policy makers and the public in the area served. The organization aids in the efforts of the American Geriatrics Society in developing, implementing and advocating programs in patient care, research, professional education, public policy and public information for the Pennsylvania and region. 

27th Annual Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine - Registration now open

 April 25-27, 2019

Pittsburgh, Marriott City Center

Pittsburgh, PA

Click to Register and for additional details on this award winning conference.

              Nominations now closed.

     TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD 

Awardees will be announced Mid-March.

Namita Ahuja, MD, assumed the role of president of the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division (PAGS-WD) on January 1, 2019, serving a two-year term. Dr. Ahuja will oversee the Board of Directors, which is comprised of 17 healthcare professionals representing various disciplines and local institutions throughout the region. 

As president, Dr. Ahuja will work with the Board to further the Society’s goals, which include:

• Develop, support and promote the clinical practice of geriatrics and support practitioners who provide such care.

• Increase the number of physicians knowledgeable about geriatrics and committed to the clinical care of the aged.

• Engage with the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) on public policy efforts that will result in improved health care for older people.

•  Increase the membership base of the society, to foster and encourage active participation by its members and to serve the needs of the membership.

• Develop and maintain productive and collaborative relationships with other professional organizations, provider groups, political and lay organizations concerned with the health care of older persons.

Dr. Ahuja succeeds Fred Rubin, MD, who was a founding member of the Society and who served as president of the PAGS-WD since 2010. Dr. Rubin also was an elected officer of the Society when its members met for the first time on January 29, 1991.

During Dr. Rubin’s term, the society has seen consistent growth in membership. He was instrumental in offering a new educational program called Controversies in Geriatric Medicine, now in its fourth year. The Society has been recognized by the AGS and awarded the State Affiliate Achievement Award for Innovative Programming, an honor bestowed upon the society on three separate occasions, two of which when Dr. Rubin was serving as president.

Dr. Ahuja and the Board of Directors are dedicated to building upon the success that Dr. Rubin established during his tenure and to fulfill the mission of the society, which has remained the same for nearly 30 years.

Dr. Ahuja earned her medical degree from Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital in her native country of India in 1994. She came to the United States the following year and completed her internal medicine residency at Methodist University Hospital of Memphis, TN in 1999, serving as chief resident for one-year. During her residency, Dr. Ahuja developed an interest in geriatric medicine. She completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2005 and has practiced within the University of Pittsburgh’s Division of Geriatrics since that time.

Dr. Ahuja currently serves as senior medical director, Medicare and Geriatric Programs, UPMC Health Plan. She is also a clinical assistant professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Board certified in geriatric medicine, Dr. Ahuja maintains certification in Hospice and Palliative Care, in addition to seeing patients in a nursing home clinic.

                                      Namita Ahuja, MD, President

                        Fred Rubin, MD , Immediate Past President

NEIL RESNICK, MD NAMED AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY (AGS)

COSAR CO-CHAIR

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) announced that Neil M. Resnick, MD, AGSF will be the next Co-Chair for its Council of State Affiliate Representatives (COSAR). Dr. Resnick is Thomas Detre Professor of Medicine and Chief of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC.

Dr. Resnick brings a wealth of leadership and knowledge to the role. His experience includes 15 years as a Board member and COSAR representative for the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society Western Division (PAGSWD). PAGSWD is a three-time winner of the State Affiliate Achievement Award, including in 2018.

Dr. Resnick has also been active in AGS, having won its Outstanding Excellence Award for Research in 2004 and having served as an AGS Leadership Scholar, a member of 3 AGS committees, and a mentor in its national mentorship program.

Dr. Resnick is excited by his new role as he believes that State affiliates should serve the national organization in two ways: by providing AGS with information from the trenches regarding practitioners insights and priorities and by serving as AGS’ implementation arm for its education and policy initiatives. He plans to use a team approach to learn from each affiliate’s success and challenges and to identify ways to increase the value of each affiliate. His hope is to help increase the number and  membership of affiliates. He will assume his new position after the American Geriatrics Society national meeting in May, 2019.

COSAR, the governing body of the AGS State Affiliates is recognized as an important, deliberative body to promote and support affiliates. It is consists of elected member representatives, one from each of the proposed, provisional and active State Affiliates.  It meets regularly to exchange information on State Affiliate activities, and to share new ideas on development, advocacy, education, membership, public policy and other affiliate business.

FALL PROGRAM FEATURES KAREN WOLK FEINSTEIN, PhD

The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division (PAGS-WD) held their annual fall program on Thursday, November 1 at the University Club in Pittsburgh. Over 50 internists, family practitioners, geriatricians, pharmacists, nurses, nursing home administrators, and social workers attended the evening dinner program.  Thank you to the following who provided support: Aspire Healthcare, Astellas, CommunityLIFE, naviHealth, Optum, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and Valeritas.

The audience welcomed Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) and its three operating arms, The Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative (PRHI), Health Careers Futures (HCF), and the Women’s Health Activist Movement Global (WHAMglobal). Dr. Feinstein presented Living a Good Life – Not Just a Long One, which explored the challenges to find new meaning and purpose in life as we age.  Her discussion delved into the roles that define adult years – doting parent, accomplished professional and weekend warrior athlete and the changes that occur when they start to fade.  Dr. Feinstein presented that a growing body of research suggests that finding renewed purpose later in life can, quite literally, be a life-saver.  Seniors who have a clear sense of purpose in their lives tend to have better physician, mental and even spiritual health compared to those who do not. 

The annual fall program, which began in 2003, is a popular and well-respected program attracting distinguished guest speakers, comprised of both national and local faculty. For more information on becoming a member of the Society, please visit www.pagswd.org.  Members receive complimentary registration for many programs hosted by the Society. Questions may be directed be directed to Nadine Popovich, administrator by email to:  npopovich@acms.org or to (412) 321-5030.

 (left to right):  Namita Ahuja, MD; Board of Director; Judith Black, MD, MHA, Secretary/Treasurer; Fred Rubin, MD, President; and           Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD, Guest Presenter

4th Annual Controversies in Geriatric Medicine

June 19

The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division welcomed attendees to the 4th annual Controversies in Geriatric Medicine program held June 19th at the Herberman Conference Center, Pittsburgh, PA.  The program was made possible with sponsorship from:  Medstart^TM , naviHealth, Optum, Portolo Pharmaceuticals, and Sanofi Pasteur.

Navigating Difficult Decisions presented the case of an 80-year old woman with diabetes and generalized atherosclerosis who underwent repair of a 5.7 cm AAA with an endovascular stent. She had a stormy post-operative course and spent the next 4 months in the hospital.

Leading the Panel discussion was Nivedita Gunturi, MD, Fellow, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, who presented the case, and stopped at various key points to elicit audience opinions.  Jane Schell, MD, FNKF, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, Division of Rental Electrolyte, University of Pittsburgh discussed the evaluation of decision-making capacity, the risks and benefits of hemodialysis in a frail elderly patient and the challenges of establishing goals of care when the patient had made no advance directive and family that disagree. A lively discussion from panelists and audience members concluded the presentation. Moderator for the evening was PAGS-WD President, Fred Rubin, MD.

This is the fourth Controversies in Medicine program hosted by the Society and is a part of the yearly educational series, which was recently awarded the American Geriatrics Society State Affiliate Award for Innovative Educational Programs in Geriatrics.

From left, Fred Rubin, MD, president, and panelists Nivedita Gunturi, MD and Jane Schell, MD, FNKF