Postdoctoral advanced geriatrics fellowship

The VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System and the Eastern Colorado GRECC offer a 2-year Advanced Geriatrics Fellowship. This fully accredited program is designed to prepare leaders for careers in aging-related geriatric/gerontology research.

Eligible applicants include clinical providers (Physician Fellows, or Allied Health Fellows) who have completed clinical training and are board certified or eligible in their subspecialty. Eligible Associated Health candidates include individuals with advanced degrees in audiology, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, psychology and speech pathology. Other clinical providers may be eligible on an individual basis.

This two-year advanced research fellowship requires a minimum commitment of 75% of time in scholarly pursuit of geriatrics (coursework and research) and no more than 25% in clinical care. Research can be conducted at either the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA-ECHSC) or University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus (CU-AMC). All clinical time must be conducted at the VA-ECHSC.

While the application is open to physician and non-physicians, with or without previous geriatrics or gerontology training, the research must be aging related and highly relevant to Veteran populations. Applications that fall within the selected Eastern Colorado GRECC foci (gender-related health issues, treatment and complications of obesity, rehabilitation of older adults, and palliative/end-of-life care) are highly encouraged, but this is not a requirement.

The applicants selected will work with faculty mentors to develop an individualized learning plan, based on previous experience, for didactic sessions in core research skills and geriatrics topics specific to the proposed research project. VA-ECHSC and University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus offer a variety of research, clinical and educational resources that enable the customization of a two-year curriculum. In addition to research skills and geriatrics knowledge cores, each fellow will participate in a leadership, medical education, and quality improvement curriculum. Each topic will include early core didactics followed by experiential learning and application of techniques.

Please contact Alfred Qualls (alfred.qualls@va.gov) with your interest to verify eligibility and receive application materials. Mr. Qualls can also provide assistance identifying mentors and areas of potential study.

The application requires a 3-page description of the research and career development/mentoring plan, NIH-style biosketch, and two letters of support. The submission deadline is March 1, 2024.

The GRECC Executive Committee will review the applications for eligibility, scientific merit, aging and veteran-related focus, and likelihood for career success.

Final awards are expected to be announced by March 15, 2024. The target start date can be July or August 2023.

Awardee performance and progress will be evaluated by the Committee at the end of Year 1 to determine Year 2 funding.

For more information on eligibility:
Advanced Fellowships - Office of Academic Affiliations

To apply:
Alfred Qualls, Program Coordinator
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center
ECHCS Rocky Mountain VA Medical Center
alfred.qualls@va.gov
720-788-6733

Eligibility

Physician Fellows

Have completed an ACGME- or ECCOPT-accredited physician residency program. Physicians whose initial certification is in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine or Psychiatry must also have completed an accredited subspecialty residency in Geriatrics or another subspecialty. Special Fellows are expected to be board certified in their primary specialty and board eligible in their subspecialty by the time of VA Fellowship in Advanced Geriatrics appointment and to meet credentialing and privileging requirements to qualify as a licensed independent practitioner.

Additional requirements:

• Are not enrolled simultaneously in another accredited physician residency program.
• Have an active, full and unrestricted license to practice in the U.S.
• Are ABMS or ECCOPT- recognized board certified or eligible with demonstration of active pursuit of board certification. Physicians whose initial certification is in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Psychiatry must also be sub-specialty board certified or eligible, with demonstration of active pursuit of sub-specialty board certification.
• Have required Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) documentation.
• Citizens of countries other than the United States must possess appropriate visa to participate in this program. U.S. citizens shall receive preference.
• Demonstrate special interest in geriatrics.
• Demonstrate likelihood for embarking on a geriatrics-related career that will be of service to U.S. Veterans receiving care from the VA.

Associated Health Fellows

Have graduated from an accredited clinical doctoral program including all required residency or internship experiences that prepare them for eligibility for VA employment. This includes clinical disciplines such as audiology, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, psychology and speech pathology. Psychology fellows must have completed an accredited doctoral program, including an internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Additional requirements:

• Have completed one year of postdoctoral clinical training in the discipline, preferably but not exclusively in geriatrics.
• Are not enrolled simultaneously in another accredited post-doctoral program in an associated health discipline.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Demonstrate special interest in geriatrics.
• Demonstrate likelihood for embarking on a geriatrics-related career that will be of service to U.S. Veterans receiving care from the VA.

Finding Mentors

Applicants selected for the position will work with faculty mentors to develop an individualized learning plan, based on previous experience, for didactic sessions in core research skills and geriatric topics specific to the proposed research project.

To help you find a mentor who meets your interests, please email joe.huggins@va.gov with a brief note describing your research interests and we will provide a few hand-curated suggestions.

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System offer a wide variety of research, clinical and educational resources that will further allow customization of a fellow's 2-year curriculum. In addition to research skills and geriatrics knowledge cores, each fellow will participate in leadership, medical education, and quality improvement curriculum. Each topic will include early core didactics followed by experiential learning and application of techniques as the fellowship progresses.