title: The Medical College of Wisconsin's program to strengthen geriatrics education.
abstract: Medical care for geriatric patients requires physician training that promotes the acquisition of attitudes, knowledge and skills that will permit future practitioners to meet the health needs of increasing numbers of aged patients. MCW has strengthened its traditional curriculum by focusing on student attitudes in the early pre-clinical years through outreach and interest groups programs. Knowledge is integrated throughout the 4-year curriculum using our aging virtual patients. These patients are a teaching resource to the entire faculty. Attitudes, knowledge, and skills in geriatrics are further developed through an M3 geriatrics medicine option and the M4 Integrated Selective. Geriatric-specific skills are emphasized through the use of standardized patients and objective structured clinical examinations in the M4 Selective. It is anticipated that these students efforts will create interest in a novel residency experience (Med-Ger) that will ensure that upon successful completion of the program, residents are expert in geriatric medicine practice and meet criteria for board certification in geriatric medicine.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Medical College of Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Tovah
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohan
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: G Richard
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Olds
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Edmund H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Duthie
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012577:Schools, Medical; D014481:United States; D014922:Wisconsin