Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 1, 2004|Volume 33, Number 5

Renewed support will promote center's
goal of improving care for elderly

The Yale/Hartford Center of Excellence (CoE) in Aging has received renewed funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation to increase the amount of research, education and leadership in aging issues within medical specialties.

The CoE -- led by Dr. Mary E. Tinetti, the Gladys Phillips Crofoot Professor of Medicine, and professor of epidemiology and public health at the School of Medicine -- was created with funding from the Hartford Foundation in 1998.

"Our ultimate goal is better and more appropriate care of older patients through educating physicians in geriatric principles," Tinetti says. "Our approach at Yale has been to accomplish this goal by identifying and supporting talented and committed researchers who have the best potential for evolving into leaders in their field. We expect that the CoE scholars will influence not only their own direct trainees, but also the entire field through their work and their leadership."

Tinetti adds, "This focus on physician scientists is important at a research-intensive medical school such as Yale, where research productivity and reputation are important measures of success and influence."

The CoE fills a gap in the need for subspecialty physicians to bring geriatric principles to their fields and complements the clinical, educational and research programs already available at Yale for designated geriatric trainees and faculty.

The strategy of the Yale CoE has been, and will continue to be, building on existing strengths throughout the institution and integrating geriatrics into existing research programs. Tinetti says this strategy ensures the best possible program, entices the strongest candidates, leverages resources, and further enhances the prestige and importance placed upon geriatrics and aging at Yale.

Yale faculty members who have been supported by the CoE in Aging at Yale include:

Dr. Daniel Goldstein (cardiology): "Immunologic issues related to success of cardiac transplantation among elderly patients with CHF."

Dr. Joanne Foody (cardiology): "Older persons preferences for preventive cardiac treatments."

Dr. Vincent Quagliarello (infectious disease): "Nursing home acquired pneumonia as a multifactorial geriatric syndrome."

Dr. Manisha Juthani-Mehta (infectious disease/geriatrics): "Development of improved diagnostic criteria for urinary tract infection (UTI) in nursing home residents."

Dr. Albert Shaw (infectious disease): "The role of presenilin mutations associated with early onset Alzheimer's disease in lymphocyte development and function."

Dr. Margaret Pisani (pulmonology): "Cognitive impairment in older patients in the MICU."

Dr. Insoo Kang (rheumatology): "Effects of aging and immunosuppresion on viral specific T cells in the elderly with rheumatoid arthritis."

Dr. Elizabeth Jonas (neuro endocrinology): "Insulin receptors in the nervous system: a study on neuronal longevity."

Founded in 1929, the John A. Hartford Foundation supports training, research and service system innovations that promote the health and independence of America's older adults. Additional information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.jhartfound.org.

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