Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Application Guide
Geriatric fellowship programs are based in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine programs and are either one or two years in duration. (Applicants can have completed either residency.) The second year is generally devoted to research and is not ACGME accredited. (J-1 visa holders are eligible for only a one-year program.) Some programs offer both one-year and two-year positions. All programs must offer acute care, outpatient care, long-term care, and home care experience. Palliative care is usually offered as well.
Fellowship applications are completed through the American Association of Medical Colleges' Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), which is accessed online. Information regarding registration, policies and procedures may be found on the ERAS website: www.aamc.org/audienceeras.htm.
Timeline for applications for training beginning July 1, 2012
Mid-June 2010: MyERAS Guide is available.
July 1, 2010: MyERAS website opens to applicants to begin working on their applications.
July 15, 2010: ERAS opens to July application cycle programs for downloading.
Early to late fall 2010: Interviews are conducted. Decisions are made on a rolling basis: the earlier one completes an application, the better the chances for availability of openings.
Application Information
There is currently no match for Geriatric Medicine Fellowships. Many but not all programs participate in ERAS. Most programs require 3 letters of recommendation from your Program Director and other faculty submitted with the ERAS application. The personal statement and interview are important and offer you the opportunity to express your interest in geriatrics. Research interest and experience is appreciated but not required. Many programs will accept paper applications earlier than July 1.
General Advice
Geriatric Medicine Fellowships are excellent training for residents interested in pursuing academic careers. This is still a "young" and under-populated specialty; many areas of research await investigation, and clinician-educators are in great demand. Geriatricians must have a broad range of skills in teaching, clinical work, research, and administration. Residents planning careers in clinical medicine have a variety of career options available to them after they complete a geriatric medicine fellowship. These include becoming a hospitalist or a medical director of a long-term care facility, or joining an outpatient or home-care practice. Trainees from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell will not have difficulty finding an excellent position.
Anyone in the Division of Geriatrics would be delighted to speak to you about your plans.
Contacts
Barrie Raik, MD
Program Director
Tel: 212-746-1751
Email: bar2008@med.cornell.edu
Arun S. Rao, MD
Assistant Program Director
Tel: 212-746-1729
Email: arr2003@med.cornell.edu
David B. Aronson
Fellowship Coordinator
Tel: 212-746-3539
Email: dba2004@med.cornell.edu
