Medical and Health Sciences Student Education in Geriatrics

Interprofessional Geriatrics Course

The Interprofessional Geriatrics Course is a week-long, hands-on immersion in the principles of geriatric medicine and team-based care. A required component of the medical school curriculum, this course brings together learners from across the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of the Health Sciences to reflect the collaborative nature of caring for older adults. Participants include students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, social work, nutrition, and dental medicine. Through case-based learning, clinical simulations, and interprofessional discussions, students gain a deeper understanding of aging, chronic disease management, and person-centered care.

Geriatric Medicine Stream (Healer Category)

As part of the Three Rivers Curriculum, the Geriatric Medicine Focus Area, or “Current,” within the Healer Stream offers medical students an in-depth, longitudinal experience focused on the care, science, and systems that support older adults. Building on Pittsburgh’s national leadership in geriatric medicine, this track prepares students to become compassionate, evidence-based clinicians and innovators in the field of aging.

The Geriatric Medicine Focus Area is designed for students who want to explore the complexities of aging through an integrated approach combining clinical care, research, mentorship, and community engagement. Students gain hands-on experience working with older adults across care settings—outpatient, inpatient, rehabilitation, and long-term care—while learning the principles of interdisciplinary, person-centered care.

Participants develop skills and understanding in:

• Physiologic and psychosocial aspects of aging
• Management of geriatric syndromes (falls, dementia, polypharmacy, frailty)
• Systems of care for older adults (transitions, home-based care, long-term services)
• Research and innovation in geriatric medicine and population health

Throughout the curriculum, students engage in a blend of didactic, experiential, and scholarly activities that bring geriatrics to life. Interactive workshops and seminars introduce essential topics like cognitive aging, ethical decision-making, and transitions of care. These sessions often feature interprofessional collaboration, with participation from colleagues in pharmacy, nursing, social work, and rehabilitation sciences.

Experiential learning is a hallmark of the stream. Students complete a minimum of 20 hours of guided, hands-on engagement tailored to their interests—whether shadowing geriatricians, contributing to clinical quality improvement projects, or working directly with older adults in community settings. Many students participate in Pitt Health Buddies, a collaborative program that pairs medical, pharmacy, and rehabilitation science students with older adults at risk of social isolation. Through regular phone calls and check-ins, students build relationships that deepen their understanding of aging beyond the clinic walls.

Other signature experiences include the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Noon Case Series, a student-led case discussion that integrates geriatric principles into complex clinical scenarios, and the Evening Institutes, interactive, aging-themed events designed and hosted by students in partnership with faculty. These activities foster both professional growth and a sense of community among learners committed to advancing geriatric care.

Mentorship plays a central role in the Geriatric Medicine Stream. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor who helps guide individualized learning goals, shape clinical and research experiences, and support capstone development. Flexible elective and flex-week options allow students to tailor their geriatrics focus—whether deepening clinical expertise, pursuing translational research, or exploring population-based approaches to healthy aging.

Each student completes a capstone project, which may align with their Longitudinal Research Project (LRP) or take another form such as a quality improvement initiative, community outreach effort, or educational innovation. Capstones reflect sustained engagement and intellectual curiosity, often resulting in tangible products like scholarly manuscripts, educational resources, or patient-centered interventions.

Students who complete all stream requirements receive formal recognition in their Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) as completing the Healer Stream: Geriatric Medicine Current, a mark of distinction highlighting advanced training and leadership in aging and elder care.

Interested students should contact Leslie Scheunemann, MD, MPH, at scheunemannlp@upmc.edu.