Good Afternoon Network Directors,

The Office of the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Operations is sending the attached memorandum “The Department of Veterans Affairs Geriatric Scholars Program – Enrollment now open for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (VIEWS 10970730)” on behalf of the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services / Chief Nursing Officer (12). Please share with Medical Center Leadership.

FAQ About Geriatric Scholars Program FY24 Enrollment 

Greetings,

DUE DATE:  December 15, 2023 response from the field.

ACTION REQUESTED: Each VISN is responsible for identifying appropriate candidates and will receive its tailored nomination form and instructions in a separate email from the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC).  The application period is November 15, 2023, through December 15, 2023. Eligibility guidance is in the attached FAQ sheet.

Per Dr. Catherine Kelso, “Please find attached the announcement memo for the FY 24 Geriatrics Scholars Program nominations.  These will be accepted between November 15 and December 15, 2023.  At the time the memo was released last year, Dr. Saslo noted that no education would be offered to nurses, which constitute the largest portion of VA direct care staff. Over the past year, GEC has identified and reviewed geriatric nursing education materials developed and available for purchase from the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing (HIGN). HIGN has courses available for APRNs, RNs, LPN/LVNs and NAs in a variety of settings (home care, ambulatory care, long term care).

ONS and GEC have collaborated on a proposal to purchase, pilot and evaluate these materials for widespread use in VA.  ONS is presently working on a contract for proposal to PCS.”

Please send nominations to Luis G. Melendez, Education Program Administrator at  Luis.Melendez2@va.gov .

PROGRAM AREA: Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) FY 24 Geriatric Scholars Program

BACKGROUND: In FY 2024, the VA Office of Rural Health will fully fund limited enrollment slots, including tuition and travel, if any. Recommended distribution of participants serving rural-dwelling Veterans is noted in the attached Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet. Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN ) or home VA facility will be responsible for participation costs of non-rural serving nominees including, tuition or travel, if any, as detailed in the attached FAQ sheet.  

QUESTIONS: 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. Dr. Kramer can be reached at Josea.Kramer@va.gov.

We are interested in your thoughts on this memorandum. Please respond to the Operational Memorandum Questionnaire [3 questions, 1 minute]. Your input is crucial to our ability to sustain improvements to the memorandum process.