Tom Fitzgerald, PhD

Evaluating and teaching about new information and methods in the area of aging is an important part of the GRECC mission.  The Ann Arbor GRECC provides clinical training and education for physicians, nurses and other allied health care professionals in the care of older adults.  The Ann Arbor GRECC also provides local, regional, and national programs for continuing education for VA staff.

Current Activities
The Ann Arbor GRECC is partnering with the Michigan Geriatric Education Center in East Lansing to teach VISN 11 personnel (both medical and non-medical) about functional assessment of older adults. This cooperation started in 2003 and was recently funded for another 5 years.

For the past 20 years, the GRECC has sponsored an annual conference titled “Critical Care Issues in the Care of Older Adults.” Each year the conference addresses a timely topic about the care of our older veterans.

GRECC faculty members also routinely visit regional medical facilities providing education in palliative care, infection control in long-term care setting, and fall reduction.