Pennsylvania GeriatricS Society

President’s Message – Heather Sakely, PharmD - Spring 2023

As president, I am pleased to report that our organization remains strong, active and more highly interprofessional than ever before. As you will read in the following pages, 2022 has been a productive year despite obstacles lingering from the pandemic. I hope you had the opportunity to attend our second Virtual Annual Clinical Update offered in the Spring.

Building from a strong start with our first virtual program offering in 2021, the 2022 Clinical Update proved to build on our early success.  The virtual format allowed for an even wider breadth of attendance from across health professions, the country and internationally.  The course remained steadfast in its purpose to provide relevant, current, and practical knowledge to our attendees. In our 2023 clinical update, we are delighted to welcome distinguished guest faculty Edward R. Marcantonio, MD, SM, internationally recognized clinical investigator and thought leader in delirium research, Paula Leslie, FRCSLT, Reg HCPC, CCC-SLP, joining us this year from the UK and is clinically licensed in the USA and UK where she is a Professional Adviser to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, as well as our Geriatric Cardiology Expert Panel featuring Daniel Forman, MD, Deirdre O’Neill, MD, MSc, FRCPC, and Eiran Z. Gorodeski, MD, MPH, FACC, FHFSA. 

The Fall 2022 Program, The State of Age Friendly Health Systems in Pennsylvania, was a wonderful testament to how our society fosters collaboration across health systems and care partners.  Represented by leaders from Age-Friendly Care PA GWEP, Penn State Nese College of Nursing, Allegheny Health Network, UPMC Mercy, UPMC St. Margaret, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System and Presbyterian SeniorCare Network:  The Willows, presenters shared experiences and pragmatics tips for incorporating the IHI 4Ms Framework for Age Friendly Care into practice.

While uncertainties linger with the pandemic, we are thankful for our membership and all healthcare workers who have continued to work hard on the front lines. Looking forward to new opportunities in 2023, including increasing membership and active engagement among trainees across all health professions, increasing geriatric educational offerings among health care professionals in underserved communities to improve equity of care of older adults, and finally to increasing partnerships with other key stakeholders of geriatric care in western Pennsylvania.

A recap of highlights from this year include:

- The Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine - The conference yielded a robust attendance, and comments and evaluation scores were superlative. This premier educational event provides outstanding and timely education to all geriatric healthcare professionals, whether it is in person or virtual.

Our conference footprint expanded as we welcomed registrants from numerous states, including California, North Carolina, New York, Texas, and Washington. For the first time in the history of the course, we welcomed attendees from Germany, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. The conference, designed by the PAGS-WD planning committee, consists of a consortium of your colleagues, including those from the community, academic and payor sectors.

- Geriatrics Teacher of the Year Award - Initiated in 2016, this award recognizes outstanding teachers for their dedication and commitment to geriatric education and who have made significant contributions to the education and training of learners in Geriatrics.  Physicians and other healthcare professionals are eligible.  The call for nominations is now open.  I encourage all members to submit a nomination on behalf of a fellow colleague.   Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society - WD - Teacher of the Year (pagswd.org)

- David C. Martin Award - Named after Pittsburgh's first full-time geriatrician, this award provides financial support for up to six medical students and other healthcare professional trainees who have had scholarly work accepted for presentation at the national meeting of the American Geriatrics Society. A student may receive funding commensurate with conference expenses for travel, registration and hotel costs. Since its inception, the Society has granted more than $80,000 to awardees.  The society is pleased to continue to offer this student award as it aligns strongly with our educational and geriatric training mission. Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society - WD - David C. Martin Award (pagswd.org)

- The total number of resident and fellow members is growing and strong at 40, along with 9 student members. The Society waives membership dues for the length of training. We hope this initiative will be a pipeline to bring young physicians and healthcare professionals into our organization.  Encourage your students, residents and fellows to learn more about the society and consider joining.

Heather Sakely, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP