Log in


Pennsylvania GeriatricS Society

Western Division

Geriatrics Teacher of the Year Award

2024 AWARD INFORMATION and CRITERIA

Purpose: The Geriatrics Teacher of the Year Award will be presented to two (2) outstanding teachers for their dedication and commitment to geriatrics education. The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society will recognize a physician and a professional from another healthcare discipline (ex. nursing, advanced practice, physical therapy, pharmacy, occupational therapy, dentistry, audiology, speech-language pathology, social work) for their geriatrics teaching excellence.

Eligibility: This annual award will honor both a physician and a healthcare professional who have made significant contributions to the education and training of learners in geriatrics and to the progress of geriatrics education across the health professions. Members and non-members of the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society will be considered.

Eligible nominees have demonstrated leadership and inspired learners to better the care of older adults and have contributed to the growth of geriatrics in their professions. The ideal candidate meets some or all of the following criteria:

  • Contributes significantly to the teaching of students/trainees
  • Coaches and mentors the career development of students and trainees
  • Inspires students, trainees and even colleagues to join the field of geriatrics
  • Demonstrates innovation in geriatrics education
  • Exhibits dedication and sustained commitment to teaching and education in the field of geriatrics
  • Champions the teaching mission and the growth of the subspecialty of geriatrics

Teaching expertise and/or education program development are valued in the selection of the recipient for this honor.

Nomination Process: Nomination letters must outline the candidate’s specific contributions to geriatrics education according to one or more of the above criteria.  One letter of support must come from a learner of the candidate being nominated. The candidate’s updated curriculum vitae and one or two additional supporting letters of recommendation are required.

Teachers who were previously nominated may be renominated if the nominator sends a brief update letter re-emphasizing the nominee’s unique qualifications, submits additional support letters, or submits an entirely new nomination letter(s) and updated CV. Winning nominations will be selected by the Awards Committee and presented to the Board of Directors for confirmation.

Award: To recognize his/her outstanding achievement, the Geriatrics Teacher of the Year awardees will receive an award letter and a plaque to be presented during the annual Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine Conference. Each awardee also will receive a complimentary membership for the remainder of the year (non-member awardee) or a complimentary membership for the following year (member awardees).

Call for Nominations begins in January. Applications must be submitted by May 24, 2024. 

                       The Application can be

                    downloaded by clicking on:



2023 GERIATRICS TEACHER OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS

The Society is pleased to announce the recipients of the Geriatrics Teacher of the Year Award

The award is presented to outstanding individuals (within their field) for their dedication and commitment to geriatrics education. Both awardees exemplify geriatrics teaching excellence and have made significant contributions to the education and training of learners in geriatrics and to the progress of geriatrics education across the health professions.

Karen Glasser Scandrett MD has been the program director for the geriatric medicine training program at UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside Hospital since 2015. She received her medical degree from the University of Chicago, completed her primary care internal medicine residency at the Cambridge Hospital, and her geriatrics fellowship at the Harvard Division on Aging. While at Harvard she completed her master’s in public health before taking her first faculty position at Northwestern University Medical School in 2004.  She has been involved in medical education at every step of her professional journey. 

After moving to UPMC in 2012, she piloted the geriatric trauma consultation service at Presbyterian Hospital. This is now a core training site for internal medicine residents, emphasizing 5Ms competencies.   She continued to teach in subacute and long-term care, developing curricula for medical students, residents, and fellows in geriatrics and palliative medicine.  In 2019 she transitioned into her current roles in outpatient primary care and consultation, and hospital teaching at Shadyside Hospital.  Dr. Scandrett emphasizes a biopsychosocial approach in all her teaching, and truly loves connecting with her patients and with her learners.

As fellowship program director, Dr. Scandrett has expanded training opportunities in geriatrics to reach a greater diversity of fellowship candidates.  She has worked closely with IM and GME leadership to move geriatrics further upstream in the residency curriculum and to create multiple training tracks. These include an integrated 4-year IM-Geriatrics training program, an integrated fellowship in palliative medicine and geriatrics, a geriatric-cardiology track, a research track, and a geriatrics-hospitalist track. In addition, she has implemented structures for professional development, including mentorship and wellness activities, to enhance the learning experience for the fellows.  Together with other division faculty, Dr. Scandrett aims to build a program that inspires and develops future leaders in our field.

Dr. Christine O’Neil is a Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Duquesne University with a clinical practice site at St. Barnabas Health System, a continuum of care community. She is a passionate advocate for the integration of geriatrics throughout the pharmacy curriculum and promotes an interprofessional approach to care. Dr. O’Neil serves as the Residency Program Director of PGY1 Pharmacy Residency in a long-term-care facility and is thrilled with the achievements of the residents since 2012. She serves as a preceptor for pharmacy students, coordinates a Concentration in Geriatric Pharmacy, and teaches introductory lectures on geriatrics and advanced topics on Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, and palliative care. Dr. O’Neil is an active member and fellow of ASCP and serves as secretary of Pennsylvania chapter. She is the advisor of the student chapter of ASCP at Duquesne, is an active member of MSTOC subcommittee, and is a frequent contributor to The Senior Care Pharmacist. Since graduating from Duquesne with a BS/Doctor of Pharmacy and completing a PGY-1 residency at Mercy Hospital, Dr. O’Neil has focused her efforts on optimizing senior care in a variety of practice settings and is committed to sharing her passion with the next generation of pharmacists and healthcare leaders.

From 1990 through 2002, Dr. O’Neil served as Coordinator of the Medication Management Center at St. Francis Health Care System. Building on this prevention and wellness experience, she was cofounder and director of the Center for Pharmacy Care, a university based-wellness center, from 2002 through 2010.  From 2004 through 2013, she maintained an active consultant practice at St. Clair Senior Care Network. In 2011, she developed her current practice model which involves providing on-site clinical pharmacy services within a senior continuum of care. Dr. O’Neil is the author over 40 publications and the recipient of several teaching, scholarship, and service awards including the Armon Neel Senior Care Pharmacist Award from ASCP in 2019.


About us

The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all older persons. It is a non-profit organization of physicians and other health care professionals committed to the provision of quality health care for older persons.


Contact us

Pennsylvania Geriatric Society - Western Division
850 Ridge Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA  15212
412-321-5030 

Chapter Administrator: Eileen Taylor | etaylor@acms.org



Copyright © Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software