Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program Graduates First Fellow

The Geriatric Fellowship Program began in 2022 under the leadership of R. Osvaldo Navia, MD. Dr. Stephanie Pockl is the first internal medicine geriatric specialist graduated from the program.

Dr. Pockl commented "I am grateful for the opportunity to complete my geriatrics training in my home state of West Virginia.  I will be joining WVU as faculty next month, and I look forward to continuing to provide care for the geriatric population of West Virginia."  

Unique things to know about the geriatric population:

-Dr. R. Osvaldo Navia, Division Chief of Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine and Hospice organized the first internal medicine geriatric fellowship in West Virginia.

-West Virginia ranks as the third state with the oldest population in the United States and has a critical need to train more geriatric physicians

-According to the 2020 publication from The Administration for Community Living, the population age 65 and older increased from 39.6 million in 2009 to 54.1 million in 2019 (a 36% increase) and is projected to reach 94.7 million in 2060. By 2040, there will be about 80.8 million older persons, more than twice as many as in 2000.

-Federal models estimate one geriatrician can care for 700 patients with complicated medical needs, then the nation will need 33,200 such doctors in 2025. We have currently around 7,000, only half of them practicing full time.

-Navia is board certified in geriatrics and palliative medicine with special interest in dementia. He organized multiple geriatric and palliative medicine divisions in different states. He also organized the first palliative medicine fellowship program in West Virginia.

Learn more about the Geriatric Fellowship here: https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/medicine/divisions-of-medicine/geriatrics-palliative-medicine-hospice/geriatric-medicine-fellowship/