Geriatric Medicine Program Director's Message

Welcome to the UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program! We take great pride in training our fellows to become the best geriatricians of tomorrow. This is exemplified through our core values of dynamic medical education, leadership, innovation, and quality patient-centered care. It is my pleasure to share with you an inside look at our program and the outstanding educational experience we provide our trainees. We look forward to meeting with you during your interview and answering all your questions as you explore our program and the opportunities that exist here at UMass Chan Medical School - Baystate.

Baystate Medical Center, with 716 beds, is the flagship of the 2nd largest hospital system in Massachusetts and maintains an intimate atmosphere in a state-of-the-art tertiary care academic medical center. Our Institution has received multiple national recognitions as a top hospital in Massachusetts.

Our program affords many opportunities to develop research, QI, and educational skills. Our curriculum is designed to emphasize caring for frail, underserved patients with complex medical and social needs. To do this we must work in inter-professional teams and collaborate closely with community-based partners as well as patients themselves and their loved ones.

Since there will never be enough geriatricians to provide direct care for all older adults, our mission is to sup-port our graduates to become superb clinician leaders with an impact which extends beyond the individual patients for whom they care. Each of us must find a way to improve resources and care for older adults. This may be through teaching, public advocacy, quality improvement and program development, scholarship, etc.

When fellows are asked: “Why did you choose to come to Baystate?” they cite the camaraderie with faculty, the emphasis on learning and the diversity of the patient population. They are also grateful for the individual mentoring as well as flexibility in tailoring the program to meet their career goals.

If you are looking for a unique program that assimilates a highly academic and innovative culture at a large nationally recognized tertiary care center, consider making Baystate Medical Center your home. The Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program is a great place to train and work. The geriatrics team, the current fellows and I are looking forward to meeting you!

Sincerely,
Maura Brennan, MD