As a Wake Forest School of Medicine resident, there are several opportunities for exposure to geriatric medicine. Our faculty participate regularly in didactic aspects of the residency program, and they are available to support residents with any clinical or research interest in geriatrics.

Goals of the rotation experience include:

  • Gain experience and apply the geriatric "function-first" approach to care across the continuum of inpatient and outpatient settings. 
  • Perform appropriate cognitive, functional and psychosocial assessments of older adults.
  • Demonstrate appropriate care for patients with multiple co-morbidities as well as a variety of geriatric syndromes such as polypharmacy, dementia, depression, urinary incontinence, gait instability and falls. 

Curriculum

There are two structured rotations in Geriatric Medicine that are supported and supervised by experienced faculty. 

Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE)

This rotation is designed for upper-level (second or third year) residents to hone skills in the expert inpatient care of older adults in a interprofessional team setting. The ACE unit rotation offers an intensive experience in the acute care of complex, multi-morbid patients.

Residents gain expertise in

  • Care transitions
  • Patient and family communication
  • Leading the professional teams

Ambulatory Geriatrics Experience (AGE)

Interns in the Internal Medicine Residency Program rotate through this experience, which introduces first-year residents to the essentials of ambulatory and community-based care for older adults.

This includes:

  • Ambulatory primary care clinic
  • Geriatrics consultation
  • Memory assessment clinic
  • House calls
  • Nursing home-based subacute care
  • Long-term care
  • Assisted living

Additionally, interns in this rotation may participate in transition of care activities.

Electives

Several electives are available to residents who require further clinical experience in geriatrics, or would like to do dedicated research in aging. Residents should contact the geriatrics house staff liaison to arrange these rotations. 

How to Apply

Applications for an acting internship rotation in the Geriatric Medicine are accepted through the Visiting Student Application System (VSAS).

Applications will be accepted according to the dates in VSAS. Applications must be submitted 60 days prior to the requested rotation, and per university policy, all visiting students must rotate on the School of Medicine’s block dates.

Scholarship and Grants may be available for Clerkship programs.