Geriatrics Division

History

Thank you for your interest in visiting our website. Although the Geriatric Medicine Division is in its infancy, geriatrics in general is in its adolescence due to the vision and contributions of Dean Steven Berk, the former Regional Dean of the medical school in Amarillo. Over the past few years, the Division has rapidly grown and has plans for continued growth to meet the needs of the institution and our region. The Division is in a unique position as it is supported by the resources of the departments of Family and Community Medicine and Internal Medicine. As a collaborative effort, we are able to provide geriatric education to our students, residents, and fellows. Education is also provided for non-geriatric faculty, community physicians, and other healthcare providers. This allows us to serve the community by offering excellence in clinical services and outreach programs to our region.

We have been blessed by the generous support of our community in the development of a number of programs. This includes a fully accredited Geriatric Fellowship supported both by the Bivins Foundation and Veteran Affairs.   In addition, the Endowed Chair of Geriatric Oncology and our Alzheimer's Academy (a family caregiver support and community educational program) is supported by the Bivins and the Amarillo Area-Harrington Foundations. Through private donations, we have established the Mirick-Myers Endowed Chair of Geriatric Medicine and the Billye Brown Geriatric Clinical Center.  We appreciate our community being advocates in addressing the needs for seniors and their support as we tackle issues at the state and federal levels.

Education

Clinical instruction and patient care cross multiple disciplines.  Members of the geriatric division include:  Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Pharmacy. Teaching and instruction is coordinated within the community to include the local community college, the area university, and the public.  The Amarillo Campus is home to third and fourth year medical students, residents, and geriatric fellows.  The campus has mandatory training in geriatric care.

Faculty Profiles

Division Initiatives

It is our mission to enhance education in geriatric health care, including the special needs and ethical issues of the older adult and their family caregiver. A grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, awarded in 2006, allows the school to implement a curriculum in geriatrics clinical study.  It has ensured movement toward the adoption of a school-wide mandatory geriatric curriculum for medical students that encompasses Amarillo, Lubbock, Permian Basin, and El Paso.  As the population ages, it is crucial that all health care providers who serve older adults and their caregivers be informed and taught the most up-to-date information available.  Through the Geriatric Education Center federal grant funded by HRSA, Texas Panhandle higher education institutions have come together to disseminate content that will enhance the skill and ability of our area's health care providers.  The Amarillo Alzheimer's Academy provides support and information not only to the public, but also provides a valuable learning experience for medical students.  The Academy strives to enhance students' ability to communicate in an empathic and supportive manner with caregivers of persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

For the Public