Geriatric Medicine
Geriatric medicine is the branch of internal medicine dealing with the medical management and care of older people. Geriatric medicine has become a major branch of medicine, because of the demographic shifts leading to increasing numbers of older people, associated with an increased prevalence of chronic illness. The world population of older people has been growing at the rate of 2.8% per year. All medical practitioners are finding that an increasing proportion of their patients are older and look to geriatricians for expert advice and opinion.
In Australia, and world wide, there are increasing numbers of specialist positions in geriatric medicine. At present we have 130 advanced trainees in geriatric medicine and at the end of their training, jobs will be waiting for them!
Geriatric medicine is very satisfying and rewarding. It combines intellectual challenge, good medicine and team work. It brings together acute and chronic care as well as hospital and ambulatory medicine. Rehabilitation is also a major focus. Opportunities for research and teaching are considerable.
Advantages of starting a career at TPCH
- Broad choice of core and elective terms
- Supportive consultant and peer groups
- A good place to start your research project – active research unit and mentors availalbe
- Plenty of formal and informal learning opportunities
- You will be welcomed as a valued team member
Training Overview
Entry requirements to Training Program
- General Registration
- Must pass Basic Physician Training (BPT) parts 1 and 2 prior to applying
Overview of Training Program
- Three (3) years of advanced training -24 months core units and 12 months elective units
What rotations are recommended prior to applying
- General Medicine
- Ortho-geriatrics
- Geriatrics
How to improve your chances of selection
- Research (Geriatric Medicine research available at TPCH)
- Recommended rotations as stated above
- Attend Advanced Trainee Geriatric Training sessions (these are statewide education sessions) – please contact Dr Pandy prior to attendance
Frequently Asked Questions
- Provision of general and holistic care for patients
- Older and more interesting patients
- Work with a multidisciplinary team
- Wide variety – acute, sub-acute, outpatients and community
- Commitment as team player
- Passion for looking after and advocacy for older persons and their families
- Interest in geriatrics and holistic management
- Acute: Mon-Fri with approximately 1:4 or 5 weekends on-call (usually have to come in)
- Subacute: Mon-Fri with approximately 1:4 weekends on-call (usually consultation per telephone)
Have some exposure to working in Geriatrics and see if it is what you like.
Not glamorous, have to get your hands dirty. Options for procedures and higher renumeration is limited.
Contact us
Medical Education Unit
Email: TPCH-Medical-Education@health.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 3139 4221
More information
Dr Shaun Pandy
Coordinator of Geriatric Medicine Advanced Training
Dr Lucy Dakin
Director of Rehabilitation & Sub Acute