Program for Friday May 01, 2026

Sponsored by the Post-Acute & Long-Term Care Special Interest Group
 

Moderator: Nicole M. Orr, MD, FACC

This session will examine gaps in care delivery within post-acute and long-term care (PALTC), particularly in nursing home (NH) settings, where clinical complexity often outpaces available resources and systems. Learning Objectives: (1) identify key barriers that limit practicing the standard of care and implementing best practices in caring for patients in PALTC, with particular attention to how systemic challenges contribute to health inequities and disparities among older adult populations; (2) gain an understanding of the key findings in the NASEM report and its significance in driving systemic change and improving quality in PALTC settings; (3) utilize practical, evidence-based strategies including GWEP Project ECHO, principles from the Hartford Foundation Teaching Nursing Home Model, and the evidence-based “4M” framework, so that geriatricians and interprofessional teams can optimize the quality of care delivered to the disadvantaged NH population and improve patient outcomes as well as collective staff engagement in these lofty efforts to deliver truly age-friendly care; and (4) utilize validated prognostic models to support shared decision-making discussions for patients and families in post-acute and long-term care.

Transforming PALTC: Insights and Implications from the NASEM Report
Annie S. Rhodes, PhD, MS

Bridging Gaps in Geriatric Care: Leveraging the GWEP Project ECHO® Model for Interprofessional Education and Quality Improvement
Theodore M. Johnson, MD, MPH

The Teaching Nursing Home Model: Creating Nursing Schools and Nursing Home Partnerships
Jane E. Carmody, DNP, MBA, BSW, RN, CENP, NEA-BC, FAAN

Implementing the 4-M Framework Model in PALTC: What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility for NH Residents
Sangeetha Shan-Bala, MD

Integrating Prognosis in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care
W. James Deardorff, MD

Sponsored by the Quality Measures and Performance Committee

Moderator: Claire Davenport, MD, MS

This session explores how accurate and strategic coding across diverse care models; outpatient fee-for-service, inpatient, and Medicare Advantage, can be leveraged to support the growth and sustainability of geriatrics. Learning Objectives: (1) analyze how coding practices in three models influence the visibility, value, and sustainability of geriatrics programs; (2) compare health system strategies that have successfully used coding improvement efforts to expand geriatrics services or collaborations; (3) design a quality improvement approach to enhance coding accuracy and alignment with age-friendly care goals in a specific care setting; and (4) apply coding-enhanced insights to advocate for geriatrics integration within institutional population health and financial models.

Outpatient Fee for Service Geriatrics: RAF Score and HCC Importance
Parul M. Goyal, MD

Inpatient Geriatrics: Balancing Quality Care with Operational and Financial
Nimit Agarwal, MD, MBA, AGSF

Managed Care and Value-Based Geriatrics: Aligning Risk Adjustment and Quality
Victor J. Legner, MD

Sponsored by the Research Committee

Co-Moderators: Megan Huisingh-Scheetz, MD, MPH & Kah Poh Loh, MD, MS, FASCO, FACCC, AGSF

Panelists: Alessandra Merino Gomez; Mfon Umoh, MD, PhD; Chelsea Wong, MD, PhD; Meghana Rajashekara Swamy, MD, MPH, MS; David Lynch, BMBS; Nikesha Gilmore, PhD; Jessica Lee, MD, MS; Peter Abadir, MD; Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH; Susan Zieman, MD, PhD

The AGS Research Committee and the Research Methods Subcommittee have coordinated this unique and timely session to facilitate an exchange of strategies among aging researchers for maintaining resilience throughout an aging research career lifespan. This session will feature representatives from pivotal stages of training: medical school, fellowship, junior faculty, mid-career faculty, senior faculty and retirement. These representatives were selected to highlight the unique challenges inherent at each juncture of an aging research career. We will harness their extensive and varied experience to delineate vital strategies for surmounting these challenges and sustaining resilience, including insights from special guest Susan Zieman, MD, PhD, a retired Medical Officer of the Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology at the NIA. In addition, we will explore avenues through which we can collectively bolster and fortify the broader community of aging researchers. Employing a panel-style format, the session will feature two moderators who will present questions, allowing each panelist ample opportunity to respond. It is our aspiration that the thoughtful questions and the informal setting will foster meaningful discussion, with a designated period for audience inquiries. 

Chair: Margaret I. Wallhagen, PhD, GNP-BC, AGSF

Join other nurses, nursing students, and AGS leaders at this special session. The Section meeting will also include time for networking and presentations by AGS nursing leaders.  

Description coming soon.

Developed by the Research Committee

Moderator: TBD

This session will present the latest peer-reviewed geriatrics research with questions and answers to follow.  Learning Objectives: (1) discuss new and original research in geriatrics; (2) describe an emerging concept or new scientific focus in aging research; and (3) summarize the key findings of projects with relevance to care of older adults.

Faculty Advisors: Maura Brennan, MD, AGSF & Kathryn Denson, MD

All residents and 4th year medical students are encouraged to attend this section meeting. Come and meet others and discuss your own ideas about the field and ways to get more involved in AGS. Geriatricians will be present to discuss geriatrics as a career and opportunities in the field. 

Chair: Lisa Strano-Paul, MD

Join the Student Community for networking and learning about the latest student news. Open to all trainees interested in attending.

Chair: Nina Blachman, MD

Come and join your fellow geriatrics clinician educators to discuss potential collaborative projects as well as proposals for next year's annual meeting.  

Description coming soon.

Moderator: Donald A. Jurivich, DO
 

Sponsored by the Education Committee

This session focuses on innovations in Interprofessional Education and thus helps attendees learn the need for and value of emerging approaches that optimize team - based, age-friendly care for older adults. Learning Objectives: (1) elevate learners' knowledge and skills of interprofessional collaboration’s role in helping to address the Geriatric 4Ms as well as social determinants of health (SDOH) leading to culturally responsive communication, and the development of coordinated care plans that equitably meet the needs of diverse populations; (2) implement updated IPE competencies along with performance evaluations in healthcare education; and (3) adopt innovative strategies to promote IPE through team - based competitions and interprofessional pop - up events centered around the Geriatric 4Ms.
 

IPE Innovations: Team Competition to Advance the Geriatric 4Ms 
Marla L. Berg-Weger, PhD, LCSW & Kristine M.C. Talley, PhD, CNP, RN, FGSA
 

IPE Innovations: Interprofessional Education Pop - Ups to Promote Team - Based Application of the Geriatric 4Ms
Sclinda Janssen, PhD, OTR/L, CLA, FAOTA & Denisé G. Dews, MSW
 

IPE Update: Practical Applications of the New IPE Competencies and Resources to Develop Team - Based Care with Team STEPP 3.0
Eric L. Johnson, MD

Moderator: Vanessa Rodriguez, MD
 

Sponsored by the Ethnogeriatrics Committee 

The “loneliness epidemic” presents a growing barrier to quality of life in the United States, with older adults disproportionately affected. Learning Objectives: (1) identify interdisciplinary strategies from geriatric medicine, spiritual care, social work, and community-based programs that effectively address and mitigate social isolation; (2) evaluate real-world interventions, such as spiritual assessment tools, home safety redesigns, and social prescribing, for their impact on physical, emotional, and social well-being in older adults; and (3) apply culturally responsive and collaborative approaches to promote connectedness, reduce disparities, and enhance quality of life among diverse and underserved aging populations.
 

Recognizing and Addressing the Spiritual Needs of Older Adults
Sarah McEvoy, MDiv, JD, NHA, Chaplain
 

Living Better by Design: Promoting Safe and Healthy Aging at Home
Laura Colin Klein, MBA, MSW
 

Social Prescribing to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults
Chris Appleton, MBA

Moderator: Peter Hollmann, MD, AGSF

Learning Objective: (1) discuss care management services, including what is new; (2) review advance care planning services, including anything new; and (3) describe collaborative behavioral health and other services, including what is new.

Developed by the Research Committee

Moderator: TBD

This session will present the latest peer-reviewed geriatrics research with questions and answers to follow. Learning Objectives: (1) discuss new and original geriatrics research; (2) describe an emerging concept or new scientific focus in aging research; and (3) summarize the key findings of projects with relevance to care of older adults.

Sponsored by the Pharmacists Section 

Moderator: Megan Carr, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP

The purpose of this symposium is to educate the audience and summarize the changes over the past year in pharmacotherapy. The speakers will examine information regarding newly approved medications, as well as clinical implications, including potential adverse effects, related to medication formulations. Learning Objectives: (1) communicate the indication for use, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, dosing, safety, and drug interactions for newly approved medications; (2) compare potential advantages and disadvantages of incorporating new medications into clinical practice; (3) discuss Medicare Part D and recent industry changes that impact access to and the promotion of medications use that contributes to polypharmacy; and (4) describe community-based models that address both medication access to and the appropriate use of medications.

Newly Approved Medications and Place in Therapy for Older Adults
Hien T. Nguyen, PharmD, BCGP

Medicare and Medication Optimization: Navigating Access and Appropriate Use
Gina Upchurch, RPh, MPH

Sponsored by the Junior Faculty Research Special Interest Group 

Moderator: W. James Deardorff, MD

It has become increasingly important for geriatric providers, researchers, policy makers, and other professionals to promote their work and maximize the impact of their accomplishments. The benefits include public awareness and interest around a research topic, promoting future funding opportunities and investment, personal professional development and advancement, and an increased national presence on a topic. Learning Objectives: (1) write a compelling narrative piece to promote awareness and interest in a topic or cause; (2) collaborate with the media to translate research for a broader lay audience; and (3) utilize digital audio media outlets or podcasts to engage with a broader scientific audience.

The Power of Narratives to Promote Awareness and Generate Support in Geriatrics
Eugene Wes Ely, MD, MPH

Science in the Media – How Geriatrics Professionals Can Effectively Engage with News Outlets to Promote Their Work
Paula Span

Scientific Podcasts – Using Digital Audio Media to Present Your Work to a Broader Audience
Alexander K. Smith, MD, MS, MPH

Description coming soon.

Moderator: Thomas Laskow, MD 
 

This symposium will explore innovative approaches to understanding and predicting physical resilience in older adults within acute care settings. Anchored by a newly proposed conceptual framework of physical resilience in geriatric medicine, the session will integrate perspectives from clinical research, data science, and emerging technologies to highlight how resilience can be measured, monitored, and supported during episodes of acute illness. Learning Objectives: (1) review the current state of physical resilience research in acute care, including conceptual frameworks and clinical relevance for recovery in older adults; (2) describe how assessments of structural clinical features, such as grip strength, and dynamic processes, such as standardized stress response tests, can be combined to profile, monitor and evaluate resilience in hospitalized older adults; (3) explain how EHR data and AI-based tools can support the prediction of recovery trajectories and help guide clinical decision-making in acute care settings; and (4) discuss how resilience-informed approaches can help identify and address disparities in functional recovery and support more equitable care for older adults.

Introduction to a Generic Resilience Framework for Geriatric Medicine
René Melis, MD, PhD
 

Functional Forecasting in Acute Care: Predicting Resilience from EHR Data
Juliessa M. Pavon, MD, MHS
 

Combining Structure and Dynamic Indicators for Resilience Profiling to Predict Outcomes in Older Patients Admitted to the Acute Medical Unit
Kirsten Bos, MSc

Description coming soon.

Developed by the Research Committee
 

Moderator:  TBD

This session will present the latest peer-reviewed geriatrics research with questions and answers to follow. Learning Objectives: (1) discuss new and original geriatrics research; (2) describe an emerging concept or new scientific focus in aging research; and (3) summarize the key findings of projects with relevance to care of older adults.