The VA Advanced Fellowship in Geriatrics at the VA Puget Sound, directed by Katherine C. Ritchey, DO, MPH, offers post-specialty research training to foster the development of leaders in the care of older adults. The program capitalizes on the international prominences of VA’s Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers (GRECCs) to provide outstanding training opportunities in clinical practice, to contribute to the improvement of clinical practice, and to advance scholarly pursuits that will benefit care for elderly veterans and all older Americans. The two-year program seeks to develop a group of physicians who are committed to excellence in geriatric research, education, and clinical care and who desire further training in research training.
Fellowship Type(s):
Psychiatry Fellowship, Psychology Fellowship, Research Fellowship
Fellows spend 75 percent of their time in research pursuits in geriatrics and no more than 25 percent of time in clinical care, which is mostly conducted at VA facilities. Every fellow will perform research with at least one mentor who will provide assistance and guidance in interpersonal and professional development. Fellows who have not completed approved Geriatrics training can learn the fundamentals of geriatrics and gerontology during their course of study. The Fellowship’s research focus is in neuroendocrinology, neurogenetics, health services research, molecular genetics, psychopharmacology, andrology, prostate cancer, metabolic basis of Alzheimer’s disease and blood-brain – barrier function.
Physician fellows must have completed an ACGME or ECCOPT accredited residency program. Physicians whose initial certification is in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Psychiatry must also have completed an accredited subspecialty fellowship in Geriatrics or other subspecialty. Physicians must be board certified or board eligible. Physician fellows must have an active, full, and unrestricted license to practice in the US; international medical graduates must have the required Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduate (ECFMG) documentation. Citizens of countries other than the United States must possess an appropriate visa to participate in this program.
Postdoctoral associated health fellows from nursing, dentistry, optometry, psychology, podiatry, pharmacy, or audiology/speech pathology must have graduated from an accredited clinical doctoral program including all required residency or internship experiences that prepare them for eligibility for VA employment. Psychology fellows must have completed an accredited doctoral program, including an internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). In addition, associated health fellows must have completed one year of post-doctoral clinical training in their discipline, preferably but not exclusively in geriatrics. Associated health fellows must be US citizens.
For questions concerning application materials, please contact:
Elizabeth Aigbe, Administrative Officer
VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
S-182 GRECC
1660 S Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98338
Email: Elizabeth.aigbe@va.gov
Phone: (206) 764-2308
