The Growth of Geriatric Medicine Advanced Training in Queensland
By Dr Shaun Pandy
The recent celebration of our 10th ANZSGM Queensland Branch Educational Weekend, attended by the ANZSGM President Professor Vasi Naganathan, was an opportunity to reflect on the growth of Geriatric Medicine Advanced Training in Queensland.
Queensland Geriatric Medicine Advanced Training (QGMAT), under the stewardship of myself, Dr Lucy Dakin and Margaret Morton (Medical Education Officer) has grown from just 8 Advanced Trainees at 2 training sites in 2010 to the projected 45 trainees at 14 sites across the length of the state for 2023. The flourishing of Advanced Training in Queensland is due to the great support of many associated organizations, colleagues and health professionals. Our focus has been on both the clinical, research and professional development of our trainees as well as their wellbeing and building upon the already established, very collaborative, Queensland Geriatric Medicine Community.
In 2010, our training program began with a weekly educational video conference between the trainees at The Prince Charles Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital. With the advocacy and ongoing guidance of the then Chair of the Queensland Older Person’s network, Associate Professor Paul Varghese, Dr Elizabeth Whiting and Dr Catherine Yelland, funding was granted by Queensland Health for the establishment of the program.
Dr Lucy Dakin and I became committee members of ANZSGM’s Geriatric Medicine Education and Training committee. Lucy went on to join the RACP’s Geriatric Medicine Advanced Training Committee, where she has just completed her term as chair. We had great mentoring from Victorian Geriatric Medicine Training Program’s founder Assistant Professor Benny Katz, which included a couple of trips to visit the program in Melbourne.
We have benefitted from the collegiality and collaboration from the Directors of Geriatric Medicine across the Queensland Hospital and Health Services. Our well established annual calendar includes recruitment and placement planning meetings, recruitment and information seminars and selection.
As the QGMAT representatives, Dr Dakin and I have seats on the Queensland branch ANZSGM committee. We, along with Margaret Morton, are the conveners of the annual education weekend, which is one of the highlights on the calendar.
Our weekly education sessions have featured presenters from Geriatric Medicine across Australia, as well as subspecialty and multidisciplinary colleagues generously giving of their time and expertise.
The Advanced trainees have both metropolitan and regional representatives, who share seats on the Queensland branch ANZSGM committee and education week organizing committee. Margaret Morton, fosters a professional relationship with each trainee to discuss their training, career plans and assists in building their portfolios.
We are continuing to develop our research network, with the development of an ‘Academic Track’, established by Professor Ruth Hubbard ( the Princess Alexandra Hospital) and includes the support of Professor Eddy Strivens (Cairns Base Hospital) and Dr Eamonn Eeles. This culminates in the Queensland Advanced Training Research presentation prize which occurs in the weeks leading up to the ANZSGM ASM.
We are grateful to all the support that we have received and aim to continue to improve our program.
Image courtesy Alison King: Attendees at the 10th ANZSGM Queensland Branch Educational Weekend
