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PAGS-WD President Message 2025 | Heather Sakely, PharmD
I am pleased to report that our organization remains robust, active and highly interprofessional. The 2024 year was notably productive, marked by several educational events that underscored our commitment to teaching and learning on the care of older adults.
Highlights from this year include:
The Geriatric Medicine Clinical Update is our premier offering for healthcare providers across all disciples to gather and refresh their knowledge on caring for older adults. The year 2024 marked our fourth successful year of hosting the conference virtually, with robust attendance. Led by course directors, Neil Resnick, MD, Shuja Hassan, MD, and Lyn Weinberg, MD, the curriculum highlighted core geriatric syndromes of dementia and delirium, high risk medications, a cardiology symposium and infectious diseases in older adults. The discussions were lively, and attendance was substantial. We expressed tremendous gratitude to Dr. Resnick for his 25 years as course director and Dr. Hassan for his 17 years, as they retired from those roles. Their ability to maintain the clinical applicability and attract experts in the field as course faculty ensured the course remained appealing and accessible to an interprofessional audience. Dr. Weinberg will welcome Shauna Assadzandi, MD and David Nace, MD, MPH as co-directors for the 2025 Update.
The 2024 Fall Program, Is it worth it? A Debate About Hip Fracture Repair in Later Stage Dementia, featured a discussion with Rollin Wright, MD, James Tew, MD, Allan Philp, MD and Suzanne Colilla, DNP, examining the merits of surgical interventions following hip fracture for older adults in a skilled nursing facility. The panel and audience engaged in a dynamic debate multimorbidity and what mattered most to the patient.
Geriatrics Teacher of the Year Award, initiated in 2016, recognizes outstanding educators for their dedication and commitment to geriatric education significant contributions to the training of learners in the field of geriatrics. This year Lyn Weinberg, MD was received the Physician Award, Christine Ruby, PharmD received the Healthcare Professional Award, and Fred Rubin, MD received the honor of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Physicians and other healthcare professionals are eligible. The call for nominations starts annually every January. I encourage all members to submit a nomination on behalf of a colleague. Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society - WD - Teacher of the Year (pagswd.org)
David C Martin Award: Named after Pittsburgh’s first fill-time geriatrician, this award provides financial support for up to six medical students and other healthcare professional trainees with scholarly work accepted for presentation at the national meeting of the American Geriatrics Society. A student may receive funding for conference travel. This year, John Crookston and Lauren Yu were awarded the David C Martin Award and presented their posters during the AGS Annual Scientific Virtual Meeting. Since its inception, the Society has granted more than $93,000 to awardees. We are pleased to continue to offer this student award as it aligns strongly with our educational and geriatric training mission.
Membership is steady with 220 professional members, including 46 students, residents, and fellow members, representing all groups of health professionals who provide care for older adults. The Society waives membership dues for the length of training. We hope this initiative will inspire physicians and healthcare professionals in training to care for older adults and create a pipeline of providers into the field of geriatrics and our organization. Please encourage your students, residents and fellows to learn more about the society and consider joining. Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society - WD - Join us
Sincerely,
Heather Sakely, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP
Pennsylvania Geriatric Society – Western Division, President
Past President Receives Special Recognition
The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division recognized Karen A. Powers, MD, for her leadership and length of service at the Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine on Friday, March 6, 2024. Dr. Powers was elected as the Society’s first president; Fred Rubin, MD President-Elect; and Judith Black, Secretary Treasurer on January 29, 1991. She was instrumental in drafting the Bylaws and creating the organizational structure, which included five standing committees: membership, education, legislative affairs, by-laws, and nominating, all which remain today. Starting with 23 members, the society boasts a healthy membership of 230 members, comprised of not only physicians, but also nurses, pharmacists, and other health care professionals who share a commitment to improving the health of older people. After her tenure as president, Dr. Powers continued to serve on the Board of Directors until 2019. She is currently a member of the Planning Committee. |
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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.
About usThe 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 usPennsylvania Geriatric Society - Western Division Chapter Administrator: Haley Thon | hthon@acms.org
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