VA Geriatric Scholars Program Brochure - FY23

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Offices of Rural Health and Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a limited number of primary care providers, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists and rehabilitation therapy assistants who work in and/or support a primary care Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), Integrated Primary Care/Mental Health clinic (PC/MH) or Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) to attend the VA Geriatric Scholars Program. The above brochure describes the program and the target audiences.

The core program includes;

(1) an intensive, accredited didactic education course in geriatric medicine offered through prominent universities or a VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) and 

(2) an intensive Quality Improvement (QI) workshop, in collaboration with the VA National Quality Scholars Program and VA National Transformational Coaching Network, and 

(3) the initiation of a QI project at scholars’ home facilities. These projects support local institutions performance improvement activities and VA’s Age- Friendly initiatives. Sample brochures from previous courses are available at: https://tinyurl.com/VAGSP.

The application period opens on November 15, 2022, through December 15, 2022. The program only accepts nominations directly from VISN offices. Each VISN will receive a nomination submission form and instructions for prioritizing nominees in a separate email from the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System GRECC, which serves as the Hub site for this national program; an example of that form is available at: https://tinyurl.com/VAGSP for your information.

Please direct program inquiries to Mr. Luis Melendez, Program Administrator, or Dr. Josea Kramer, Program Director, at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System GRECC. Mr. Melendez can be reached at 818-891-7711 extension, 36094 or Luis.Melendez2@va.gov. Dr. Kramer can be reached at Josea.Kramer@va.gov.