Geriatric Medicine Section News

Stanford Geriatric Fellowship Director, Dr. Vinita Shastri, gave a lecture entitled, “Humanism in Medicine” as part of the VA Health System’s Geriatric Scholars Webinar Series on February 21, 2024.  It was very well attended, with 318 participants from across the nation. Her talk resonated with many, causing them to reflect on their own level of humanism in clinical practice, how it has changed over time, factors affecting it, and personal opportunities to enhance humanism across different domains.

On January 19, 2024, the first annual Geriatrics Fellowship Alumni Networking event brought together graduates from the past twenty years, current fellows, and fellowship faculty for an evening filled with engaging conversation, delicious food, and rekindled connections. This gathering, which took place at the Stanford Barn, not only fostered reunions but also offered current fellows a valuable networking platform for their impending job searches. The event is set to become an annual tradition, with alumni continuing to build their community through ongoing meetups.

Thanks to 21st century science, people are living longer. And although it's true that, with age, the risk of chronic disease increases, Deborah Kado, MD, professor of medicine, says people age differently -- there's natural variability in individual health and ability as people get older. Living a longer, healthier life has little to do with supplements or fad longevity treatments.

"I've seen a lot of life-extending supplements come to market in my time, many of which were developed by reputable scientists who take the supplements themselves. None of those scientists are known for extreme longevity," Kado said.

Staying healthy and able in old age has more to do with behavior, Kado said. For instance, patients should practice mobility (safely moving their bodies every day) and mental activity  (prioritizing mindfulness and sleep) that's tailored to individual conditions or recovery protocols. Clinicians should also take care to prescribe only medications that are strictly necessary, Kado said, as increased medication use can be detrimental to the microbiome, the beneficial bacteria that live in the gut and aid digestion. And a healthy gut flora supports healthy aging.

Link to the talk:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lWau-ORLZM

Stanford Health Care’s Geriatrics Section for the first time in history has been ranked in the top 10 of all geriatrics programs across the United States. Since the inception of the Geriatrics Section in Primary Care and Population Health under the leadership of Drs. Sang-kick Chang and Marina Martin in 2015, Stanford Geriatrics has continued to rise in the rankings. In 2021, we were #16, in 2022 we increased to #15, and we are proud to announce that we are #10 in 2023. To achieve such recognition is a reflection of all the hard work and dedication our multidisciplinary teams have put in to improve the health care and outcomes of our older patient population.