Pennsylvania GeriatricS Society

On Thursday, November 2, 2023, the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society-Western Division met in person for the first time since 2020 for their annual Fall Program. This year’s program was a debate on offering lecanemab to patients with dementia. The society had a great showing with over 70 internists, family practitioners, geriatricians, pharmacists, nurses, nursing home administrators and social workers in attendance at the Rivers Casino Baquet Center.

Speakers this year included Alison O'Donnell, DO, MPH, Geri-PACT Medical Director, Veterans Administration Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Steven M. Handler, MD, PhD, CMD, Associate Chief of Staff, Geriatrics and Extended Care, Veterans Administration Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and Eric Rodriguez, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Geriatric Division, University of Pittsburgh. The debate and Q&A sessions were moderated by James D Tew, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychiatry.

This year’s Fall Program was designed to educate attendees on currently available therapeutic options for major neurocognitive disorder, highlighting new monoclonal antibody therapies. The risks and benefits of the use of these novel agents were highlighted through a pro-con debate style interactive learning session. Attendees walked away with the knowledge to be able to recognize currently available therapeutic options, compare risks and benefits of monoclonal antibody therapy in major neurocognitive disorder, and identify dosing and monitoring strategies for safe use of monoclonal antibody therapy in major neurocognitive disorder.

A huge thank you to our planning committee members, Lauren Cotherman, DNP, Heather Sakely, PharmD, James Tew, MD, Lyn Weinberg, MD, and Rollin Wright, MD, as well as our PAGS-WD members and guests for making this event a huge success.

Thank you to our Fall Program sponsors Astellas Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Vaccines, and Xeris Pharmaceuticals.

This years Fall Program featured panelists across Pennsylvania that have obtained Age Friendly Health System recognition and/or certification

Age-Friendly Care PA GWEP, Penn State Nese College of Nursing

Allegheny Health Network

UPMC Mercy

UPMC St. Margaret’s

Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System

The Willows, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network

The Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society – Western Division hosted their annual fall program on Tuesday, October 1 at the University Club. Over 70 internists, family practitioners, geriatricians, geriatric psychiatrists, pharmacists, nurses, nursing home administrators, and social workers attended the evening dinner program.  

The annual fall program, which began in 2003, has been a popular program attracting distinguished guest speakers, comprised of both national and local faculty.  This year was no exception, with an expert panel comprised of local faculty exploring: Drinking and Dementia: a toxic cocktail in senior residential communities.

Leading the panel presentation was Rollin Wright, MD, MS, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Director, Geriatric Track Program UPMC Internal Medicine Residency Training Program. The remaining panel members included:  Brendan Hanley, Division Chief of Care Coordination, Area Agency on Aging; LalithKumar K. Solai MD, Chief and Medical Director, Geriatric Psychiatry; Medical Director, Center for Interventional Psychiatry; Director, Patient Safety, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Lianne Glaus Vighetti, DHCE, LSW, Gerontological Social Worker, UPMC Shadyside.   Namita Ahuja, MD, MMM, President of the Society, served as moderator.

Presenters explored the controversial case in detail, each providing their expertise to the question of the ramifications of behavior problems related to obligations and rights of the patients, healthcare providers, personal care facility, and power of attorney.  Discussion with audience members during the panel Q&A was enlightening with numerous comments and questions on how to deal with these complex situations and what are appropriate guidelines for proper intervention being foremost.  The program agenda offered stopping points throughout the presentation to elicit audience opinions as to the decision.

l. to r. Fred Rubin, MD; President Namita Ahuja, MD, MMM; Presenters:  Rollin Wright, MD, MS, MPH; Lianne Glaus Vighetti, DHCE, LSW; LalithKumar K. Solai, MD; Mr. Brendan Hanley

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.