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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2007

Department of Aging Presents 2007 Geriatric Medicine Awards
Students Aim to Fill Growing Need for Geriatricians

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Department of Aging presented the 2007 Geriatric Medicine Award to seven recent graduates from Ohio medical colleges and universities. The department honored these outstanding graduates for their dedication and continued interest in geriatric medicine and research.

2007 Geriatric Medicine Award Honorees:

• Brittany Bohinc, of Chesterland, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
• Allison Cihla, of Elyria, University of Toledo
• Matthew Garrett, of Dayton, Case Western Reserve University
• Matthew Gugliotti, of Poland, Wright State University
• Amy Johnston, of Dublin, The Ohio State University
• Rachel Liptak, of Yukon, PA, Ohio University
• Charles E. Pool, Jr., of Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati

"Each year, fewer than 300 physicians enter geriatric training programs nationally - a number that continues to decrease. What isn't decreasing is the number of older Americans who could use their services," said Barbara E. Riley, director of the Ohio Department of Aging. "Currently, we only have about one geriatrician for every 5,000 older Americans and the gap could rise to just one doctor for every 36,000 seniors by 2030. We need many more geriatricians and doctors in other fields who have a solid background in geriatrics."

The need for geriatricians is vital to the well being of seniors. One study showed patients who saw a geriatrics team were a third less likely to become disabled and half as likely to develop depression. They were 40 percent less likely to require home health services.

Applications to training programs in adult primary-care medicine are plummeting, while fields like plastic surgery and radiology receive applications in record numbers. Partly, this has to do with money-incomes in geriatrics and adult primary care are among the lowest in medicine. However, geriatricians reportedly have one of the highest job satisfaction ratings.

Each month, 12,000 Ohioans turn 60. Nationally, 78 million Baby Boomers have begun turning 60. The number of Americans age 65 and older will double in the next two decades. The number of certified geriatricians fell by a third between 1998 and 2004.

The Ohio Department of Aging is committed to all efforts that help seniors maintain healthy and active lives. "Talented geriatricians will play a key role in improving the care we provide the growing number of older Americans. We hope we can encourage other students to pursue geriatric medicine as a satisfying and gratifying career," said Riley.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.goldenbuckeye.com.