Geriatric Medicine Research Training
The Division offers a range of research training opportunities designed to prepare the next generation of clinician-scientists and interdisciplinary investigators in aging and geroscience. The Pitt Integrated Clinical and Geroscience Research Training Program (T32) provides structured pre- and postdoctoral training that bridges clinical, translational, and biological approaches to aging. Trainees engage with research across core themes while gaining hands-on experience through individualized mentoring, formal coursework, and collaborative research. With access to extensive NIH-funded resources and expert faculty across medicine, biology, and public health, trainees develop the knowledge and leadership skills needed to advance the science and therapeutics of aging.
Complementing the T32, the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) offers two nationally recognized postdoctoral fellowships. The Special Fellowship in Advanced Geriatrics prepares interdisciplinary clinician-investigators to lead research in health services, clinical rehabilitation, and translational aging science, with an emphasis on improving care for older Veterans. The Fellowship in Medication Safety and Pharmacy Outcomes, offered in partnership with the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion and Pharmacy Benefits Management Services, trains pharmacists in geriatric pharmacoepidemiology, medication safety, and quality improvement. Together, these programs cultivate a diverse and collaborative research community dedicated to promoting healthy aging and improving outcomes for older adults.
Pitt Integrated Clinical and Geroscience Research Training Program (T32)
The Pitt Integrated Clinical and Geroscience Research Training Program (T32) develops the next generation of investigators equipped to bridge clinical, translational, and biological approaches to aging. By uniting scientists and clinicians across disciplines, the program prepares trainees to lead innovative studies that reveal the mechanisms of aging and translate discoveries into strategies that extend healthspan and independence.
At the University of Pittsburgh, trainees engage directly with cutting-edge investigations in drug discovery, energetics, late-life functional phenotypes, and diversity of risk within aging. These integrated research themes provide a dynamic platform for translational and reverse translational studies that connect molecular insights to clinical outcomes. Trainees benefit from access to extensive NIH-funded infrastructure, a vibrant collaborative culture, and mentorship from highly experienced, well-supported investigators across medicine, biology, public health, and behavioral science.
Training Structure
The Pitt T32 offers two primary tracks:
- A2–3-year postdoctoral program for physician investigators and research fellows.
- A2–3-year predoctoral program integrated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and available to select predoctoral students pursuing multidisciplinary aging research.
Training is grounded in five core areas of competence:
- Clinical, translational, and biology of aging research methods
- Collaborative team mentoring and leadership
- Professional and career development skills
- Topical expertise in geroscience and aging
- Responsible conduct of research
Trainees pursue individualized career development plans supported by formal coursework, thematic seminars and workshops, and integrated mentoring teams that include both clinical and basic science faculty. Structured oversight and continuous feedback ensure steady progress toward professional independence.
Program Goals
The overarching mission of the program is to build a cross-disciplinary and translationally oriented workforce poised to advance the science and therapeutics of aging. Specific goals include:
- Delivering rigorous, individualized training that builds foundational and advanced skills in aging research.
- Assembling multidisciplinary mentoring teams that guide research from concept to publication.
- Fostering collaboration across scientific domains to bridge mechanisms of aging with clinical application.
- Addressing high-priority areas identified by the NIH for training in aging and geroscience.
For more information about this T32 program, please contact Elena Loedding (enl44@pitt.edu)
Affiliated T32 programs:
Training in the Epidemiology of Aging
Population Neuroscience of Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (PNA)
VA Special Fellowship in Advanced Geriatrics
The Advanced Fellowship in Geriatrics (AFiG) at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System’s Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) is a two-year, nationally recognized training program designed to prepare future leaders in geriatric medicine, research, and health care innovation. The program cultivates interdisciplinary clinician–investigators who are committed to advancing the health and well-being of older Veterans by generating, translating, and implementing new knowledge about aging and geriatric care.
Fellows pursue an individualized, mentored research and career development plan within one of three broad domains: health services research, clinical and rehabilitation sciences, or translational and bench-to-bedside inquiry. Training integrates rigorous scientific investigation with hands-on clinical experience, leadership development, and educational activities tailored to each fellow’s career goals. In addition to developing expertise in a focused area of geriatric research, participants gain a deep understanding of the VA’s mission, structure, and research enterprise, positioning them to make meaningful contributions within the nation’s largest integrated health care system.
The curriculum emphasizes mastery of core competencies essential for successful academic and clinical leadership, including research design and methodology, interdisciplinary teamwork, patient safety and quality improvement, teaching and mentorship, and project management. Graduates emerge equipped to lead research teams, develop innovative models of care, and serve as educators and advocates for older adults, both within the VA and across the broader health care landscape.
Fellows may be post-residency physicians or professionals from associated health disciplines. While the program does not confer board eligibility in Geriatrics, it provides an unparalleled foundation in geriatric research and leadership development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
For more information about the program, eligibility or how to apply, contact Dawn M. Fuhrer, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System GRECC Administrative Officer, at dawn.fuhrer@va.gov.
VA Fellowship in Medication Safety and Pharmaceutical Outcomes
The VA Fellowship in Medication Safety and Pharmaceutical Outcomes at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is a two-year, postdoctoral training program dedicated to developing the next generation of pharmacist–investigators who will lead advancements in medication safety, geriatric pharmacotherapy, and health system improvement. Conducted in partnership with the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP) and VA Pharmacy Benefits Management Services (PBM), the fellowship provides an exceptional environment for pharmacists to integrate clinical expertise with cutting-edge research in pharmacoepidemiology and outcomes science.
Fellows gain the skills to become independent practitioners and investigators focused on improving the safety, quality, and value of medication use among older adults. The program emphasizes a dual focus on clinical excellence and research innovation, training participants to design, conduct, and translate studies that inform safe and effective medication use across health systems. Through mentored research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and participation in ongoing VA initiatives, fellows contribute to national efforts to enhance medication safety for Veterans and the broader aging population.
Core areas of concentration include:
- Geriatric pharmacovigilance and prevention of adverse drug events
- Geriatric pharmacoepidemiology and outcomes research
- Medication safety across care settings
- Dual use of pharmacy benefits between VA and non-VA systems
Fellows benefit from access to extensive VA data resources, mentorship from leading investigators, and immersion in a culture of continuous quality improvement. Graduates emerge as national leaders prepared to advance research, education, and policy initiatives in medication safety and geriatric pharmacotherapy.
Qualifications:
- U.S. citizenship
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree
- Demonstrated interest in geriatric clinical and research pharmacy practice
- Commitment to improving medication safety within and beyond the VA health care system
Read more about the VA’s Medication Safety and Pharmacy Outcomes Fellowship here.