Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program

Training leaders in age-friendly healthcare

The purpose of the Vanderbilt Health Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program is to develop leaders who provide the best possible care to their patients and make important contributions to the field of geriatrics, to healthcare, and to the communities in which they work. 

Through prioritizing education and offering varied clinical experiences, our interdisciplinary, multi-campus program at Vanderbilt Health and the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System has trained 49 fellows since its inception in 2000. 

Our fellowship program graduates have successful careers in academic medicine, community leadership, private practice, and additional subspecialty areas including Hematology/Oncology, Cardiology, and Palliative Care. 

The Vanderbilt Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program trains up to four clinical fellows per year and is open to physicians who have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program in either Internal Medicine or Family Medicine. 

We are eager to personalize your learning for your unique career aspirations to further your growth as a leader in Geriatric Medicine. 

Why choose Vanderbilt Geriatrics

  • Learning over service: Our clinical services are not reliant on staffing from fellows, so education — not coverage — drives your schedule.
  • Build your niche: The Triple Threat Track customizes your year for a second focus — for example, geriatric cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, infectious diseases, critical care, hospital medicine, or palliative care.
  • A running start: A dedicated July Bootcamp builds your geriatrics foundation before clinical demands ramp up. 
  • A national community: As a founder of GERI-A-FLOAT and the national FACETS Facilitator Training Course, you learn alongside fellows and experts across the country, not just down the hall. 

49 fellows trained since 2000 · Board pass rate 100% · Over 50% entering academic careers

Choose your path: Fellowship tracks

1. Clinical Geriatric Medicine

  • One-year clinical fellowship focused on the evaluation and management of the unique healthcare needs and treatment preferences of older adults.
  • Options are available to join the "Triple Threat Track," which customizes the experience for those pursuing multiple sub-specialties (e.g., geriatric cardiology, geriatric rheumatology, geriatric oncology, geriatric hospitalist, geriatric infectious diseases, palliative medicine).

2. VA Special Fellowship in Advanced Geriatrics

  • Two-year program that equips trainees to further clinical skills, contribute to the improvement of clinical practice, and advance scholarly pursuits that benefit care for elderly veterans and all older Americans.
  • Advanced degree (e.g., MPH) is available pending funding.
  • Completion of a one-year Clinical Geriatric Medicine track is required.

3. VA Quality Scholars Track

  • Two-year program in which participants learn to develop and apply new knowledge for the ongoing improvement of healthcare services for the VA and the nation.
  • Completion of a one-year Clinical Geriatric Medicine track is required.

4. Aging Research Fellowship

  • Mentored research training program that promotes the discovery and translation of new biomedical knowledge to improve the lives of older adults.
  • Two or more years in duration.
  • Completion of a one-year Clinical Geriatric Medicine track is required.

Learning designed around you: Customized learning and teaching 

After our fellows’ own well-being, education is our top priority. Some unique aspects of our program are highlighted below: 

July Bootcamp 
July is dedicated to establishing a foundation in geriatric fundamentals through intensive didactics, hands-on learning, simulation, deliberate practice, interdisciplinary teamwork training, career development, relationship building, and fun. July Bootcamp facilitates rapid growth in our fellows’ geriatric knowledge, skills, and competencies, providing a solid foundation for the rest of the program.

Teaching Opportunities 

  • Medical School
    • Clinical preceptor on the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit for second-year clerkship students
    • Small group teacher for senior medical students during Healthy Aging & Quality Dying Integrated Science Course
    • Clinical preceptor at various sites during Advanced Clinic Elective
    • Clinical preceptor on the ACE Unit for Acting Internship students
  • Graduate Medical Education 
    • Teacher for outpatient geriatrics didactics for Internal Medicine residents
    • Teacher for the ACE Unit FACETS curriculum
    • Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program  
    • Eleven sites with various educational ongoing projects 

Technology and Innovation 

Resources abound for educational innovation and the integration of innovative technology into learning at our fellowship program, including: 

  • Simulation: Our fellows give top-notch feedback on training received annually at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Center for Experiential Learning and Assessment (CELA). Through encounters with standardized patients, our fellows also serve as teachers for medical students at CELA.
  • Flipping the Acute Care for Elders Teaching Sessions (FACETS): FACETS is a flipped classroom curriculum that uses educational videos to engage learners on the Acute Care for Elderly (ACE) Unit in peer teaching. Fellows complete a course on how to facilitate the curriculum during July, then teach these sessions with students and residents during the ACE Unit rotation. See the FACETS curriculum and our JAGS publication for details.
  • GERI-A-FLOAT: Vanderbilt is a proud co-founder of GERI-A-FLOAT(Geriatric Fellows Learning Online and Together). Founded in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenges to fellows’ education and well-being, we partnered with programs across the country to develop a series of weekly online educational meetings that connect fellows nationally. GERI-A-FLOAT continues today. 
    The goals of GERI-A-FLOAT are twofold: to deepen knowledge of geriatric medicine through shared online learning between programs, and to combat social isolation through networking and peer support. Fellowship Program Director Dr. Mariu Carlo Duggan continues to co-direct GERI-A-FLOAT. 
    Visit our GERI-A-FLOAT website for current, past, and future sessions, and see our JAGS publication for more information.

A combination of longitudinal, block, and elective opportunities provides a broad educational perspective across more than 20 sites of care:

  • Vanderbilt University Hospital’s Acute Care for Elderly (ACE) Unit
  • Inpatient geriatrics consult service at Vanderbilt University Hospital
  • Vanderbilt-affiliated nursing homes
  • VA and Vanderbilt Health outpatient geriatric primary and consultative care
  • VA and Vanderbilt Health subspecialty experiences in Wound Care, Geriatric Psychiatry, Neurology, Rheumatology, Endocrinology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Perioperative Medicine, Urology, and other elective specialties
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine
  • Home care and community health

A typical week

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday

AM

Nursing home continuity

Block rotation

Block rotation

Block rotation

Block rotation

PM

Continuity clinic

Block rotation

Block rotation

Academic half-day

Block rotation

What block rotation includes

Two-week block rotations occur over 20+ sites of care over the year.

Geriatric

  • ACE unit
  • Inpatient consults
  • Ambulatory

Subspeciality Experiences

  • Hospice
  • Palliative medicine
  • Neurology
  • Geriatric psychology
  • Wound care

Care Settings

  • Home health
  • Home-based primary care
  • Inpatient rehabilitation
  • Community health

Your continuity clinic and nursing home panels are your own patients, followed across the year. Two-week block rotations move you through 20+ sites of care — Core Geriatrics (ACE Unit, inpatient consults, ambulatory), subspecialty experiences (hospice, palliative medicine, neurology, geriatric psychiatry, wound care), and varied care settings (home health, home-based primary care, inpatient rehabilitation, community health).

Fellows are mentored in a scholarly pursuit by faculty in the Center for Quality Aging, the VA Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), and other VUMC Vanderbilt Health faculty. 

Dr. Harvey Murff, director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine, runs the Scholarly Series, which provides a foundation in research. Each fellow has protected time throughout the year to work on a scholarly project, which is submitted to a national meeting and presented.

Geriatric Medicine Division Fellowship Didactic Series

Geriatric Medicine Division Fellowship Didactic Series. Starting in August, fellows participate in a weekly academic half- day using a variety of learning modalities — workshops, interactive lectures, flipped-classroom, peer teaching, games, and standardized patient encounters. We cover core geriatric principles and medical management, educator skills, leadership skills, and career development throughout the year. 

Other conferences:

  • Geriatric Medicine Division Grand Rounds & MMI, twice monthly*
  • VA’s Geriatrics and Extended Care regional conference, monthly*
  • Interdepartmental didactics with Geriatric Psychiatry and Cognitive Behavioral Neurology fellows, monthly
  • National meetings, including AGS and PA/LTC

*Each fellow has an opportunity to present a topic of their interest during these conferences.

Key dates:

  • ERAS application review: Mid-late July
  • Interview period: September to early November; virtual format
  • We participate in the NRMP Medical Specialties Match — rank order and Match Day per the NRMP calendar. 

E-visit and virtual interview day: 

Each applicant receives a comprehensive virtual itinerary containing virtual links to all interview-related activities and supplementary materials. 

Applicants have the opportunity to join current fellows virtually the night before their e-visit and virtual interview day. Attending the pre-interview social is highly recommended. While nominally optional, these gatherings offer a relaxed, candid glimpse into the program's culture. 

Interviews include a program overview with the Program Director, offering a great opportunity to learn about the state-of-the-art facilities on the Vanderbilt Health campus, local neighborhoods, and amenities in the greater Nashville area. 

Vanderbilt Health fellowship interviews are highly customizable. While you will typically have two traditional one-on-one virtual breakout room interviews with core faculty, the format is flexible. Applicants can easily schedule additional sessions with other stakeholders in the training program, such as with interdisciplinary faculty. 

Applicants will have the opportunity to attend an academic half-day. We want the day to provide genuine communication — so come ready with questions. 

Eligibility:

We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). There are four available positions annually for our ACGME continuously accredited training program. Our ACGME ID# is 1514721125. 

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are welcome.

  • Visa sponsorship: We sponsor J-1 visas. We do not sponsor H-1B visas at this time.
  • Accreditation pathways: We welcome applicants from ACGME-I accredited Internal Medicine or Family Medicine programs.
  • Exceptional Candidate Pathway: We accept ACGME-I applicants and candidates who have completed residency programs in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine that were not ACGME-accredited through the exceptional candidate pathway.
  • Proven success: Our graduates succeed. Multiple IMG alums now hold key faculty and clinical leadership positions across the United States.

Requirements to apply:

  • Anticipated completion of an Internal Medicine or Family Medicine residency program
  • MD or DO degree
  • For international students, a J-1 visa

Required application materials:

Additonal things to note:

  • We do accommodate couples' matching
  • We do permit moonlighting

To review specific selection criteria, review your eligibility on the Vanderbilt Health GME Applicants page. For questions or program-specific details, contact the GME administration office at gme.office@vumc.org or call (615) 322-4916.

  • Find comprehensive information at the GME website
  • Educational and conference funds: Covers conference expenses and travel to American Geriatrics Society’s (AGS) Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PA/LTC) meetings
  • Well-being resources:
    • Comprehensive information on wellness resources from the GME
    • Work/Life Connections-EAP provides comprehensive psychological support and outreach to individuals, workgroups, and leaders at Vanderbilt Health. Our team of clinical counselors and faculty physicians provides personalized care to address the emotional and mental health needs of the Vanderbilt Health workforce
    • Paid time off:
      • Fifteen (15) days vacation
      • Two personal days
      • Sick days accumulated one day per month
      • Time off for health appointments
      • Up to six weeks parental leave for birth/adoption (beginning day one of employment)
  • Additional Perks:
    • 403 (b) retirement plan
    • Sick leave donation program
    • iPhone for work purposes and paid plan
    • Tuition benefit
    • Safe ride home for house staff too fatigued to drive
    • Travel accident insurance
    • Supplemental short- and long-term disability
    • Will prep services, available if you elect supplemental life insurance
    • Personal no-interest loans through Fidelity, available if you contribute voluntary money to your 403(b)
    • Interim health insurance before start date 
    • License exemption while in training
    • White coat laundering
    • Back up childcare through Care.com
    • External supplemental individual disability insurance opportunity through Marsh McLennan Agency
    • Tennessee does not have an individual state income tax.

Mariu Carlo Duggan, MD, MPH
Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program
Email Dr. Duggan 

Anne Gifford, MD, MPH
Associate Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program
Email Dr. Gifford 

Terri L. Ray, BA
Program Administrator, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program
Email Terri Ray 

Have a question about the program or applying? Email us, we're happy to help!

Where our graduates go: Since 2000, our graduates have gone on to faculty positions and subspecialty fellowships nationwide — including Mayo Clinic, Northwestern, MD Anderson, Tulane, SUNY Upstate, the University of Colorado, Emory, and Morehouse — as well as community and health-system leadership roles. 

49 graduates · 53% in academic medicine · 9 who pursued further subspecialty fellowship with 100% match rate

Name Year Current Position
Mallory Bryant, MD 2026 Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt Health
Jenifer Gilmore, MD, MBA 2026 Geriatric Practice, South Florida
Kathleen Mathieu, MD 2026 Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt Health
Khin Thwe, MBBS 2026 Senior Primary Care, Ann Arbor, MI
Olubukola "Bukky" Shakirat Elegbede, MD, ChB 2025 Senior Primary Care, VA TVHS, Murfreesboro, TN
Agnes Diane León-Barriera, MD 2025 Senior Primary Care, Nashville, TN
Stacy D. Smith, MD 2025 Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt Health
Sengo Viswanathan, MBBS 2025 Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellow, Nebraska
Lauren Broussard, MD 2024 Assistant Professor, Tulane University and VA, New Orleans, LA
Ryan Ta, MD 2024 Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
Kimberli "Grace" Tipps, MD 2024 Instructor in Medicine, Vanderbilt Health (VA Quality Scholar)
Gabriel Areoye, MD, MSPH 2023 Fellow, Electrophysiology, University of Rochester
Nerissa L. Licup-Taylor, MD 2023 Private Practice, Johnson City, TN
Andrew Okpe, MBBS, MPH 2023 Assistant Professor, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO
Sam Sestito, MD 2023 Fellow, Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Ganiat Adeogun, MBBS 2022 Assistant Professor, Morehouse School of Medicine, GA
Rabah Alreshq, MB, BCh 2022 Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Boston Medical Center/Boston University
Michelle Barton, MD 2022 Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
Alexandra Petrakos, MD 2022 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University
Kristin Hines, MD 2021 Palliative Medicine and Home-Based Primary Care, VA TVHS
Willibroad Maimo, MD 2021 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Emory University, GA
Chelsea K. Rick, DO 2021 Instructor in Medicine, Vanderbilt Health (VA Quality Scholar)
Hannah Stewart, DO 2021 Private Practice, Boone, NC
Temitope "Temi" Akinjogbin, MBBS, MSc 2020 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt Health
Jacob M. Parnell, MD 2020 Primary Care Practice, Nashville
Mosunmola Ademosu, MD 2018 Primary Care Practice, Nashville
Peter Niemann, MD 2017 Mayo Clinic
Jorge Rivera, MD 2017 Pittsburgh VA Hospital
Erin Leahy, MD 2015 Bay State Medical Center, Springfield, MA
Katie Hausmann, MD 2014 Aurora Health System, Milwaukee, WI
Maureen Seitz, MD 2013 Research Assistant, VU Center on Aging
Lada W. Sloan, MD 2013 Ascension Medical Group, Nashville
Susan Bell, MD 2012 Cardiology/Geriatrics Practice, TN
Ryan A. Kalinski, MD 2012 Medical Oncology Specialist, Roper St. Francis
Kiffany Peggs, MD 2012 Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Vanderbilt Health
Chitra (Dissanayake) Fernando, MD 2008 Geriatrics Practice, Seattle
Robert Lemons, MD 2007 Family Medicine Practice, FL
Helene R. (Labonte-Carroll) Labonte, DO 2006 Director Geriatrics Training, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
Melinda Henderson, MD, FAAHPM 2005 Medical Director, Ameri-Choice, Nashville
Charles Bernstein, MD 2004 Hospice Director, Columbus, OH
Asma Khalid-Butler, MD 2004 Geriatrics Practice, Atlanta
Cesar Augusto Simbaqueba Clavijo, MD, MPH 2004 Geriatrics Practice, Cleveland
Shazia Fazili, MD 2003 Assistant Professor of Medicine, Meharry Medical College
Geetha Govindaswamy, MD 2003 Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine (VA), Vanderbilt Health
Jeannie Raines Lessly May, MD 2002 Medical Director, McKendree, Nashville
Tanyanika (Reine) Phillips, MD, MPH 2002 Assistant Professor of Medicine (Oncology), CWRU
Ishrat Ansari, MD 2001 Assistant Professor of Medicine (VA), Meharry Medical College
Ralf Habermann, MD 2000 Assistant Professor of Medicine (VA), Vanderbilt Health
Sumathi Misra, MD, MPH 2000 Assistant Professor of Medicine (VA), Vanderbilt Health

Program Leadership

Mariu Carlo Duggan, MD, MPH

Associate Professor of Medicine
Victor Legner, MD, Directorship in Medicine 
Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program

Anne Gifford, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program

Terri L. Ray, BA

Associate Program Manager, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Program Administrator, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program