Day in the Life Series: Geriatrician

What’s it like to be a Geriatrician? Geriatric medicine specializes in the health and well-being of the older population. Over half of the adults aged 65 years and older in the U.S. have multiple medical conditions that require consistent attention and care. Some of these illnesses include: Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, pneumonia, depression, cancer and heart disease. One area of concern for these doctors is polypharmarcy, or, the issuing of multiple medicines in response to the range of disorders and illnesses from which an older patient may be suffering. Drug interactions and/or adverse drug reactions could occur as a result, requiring extra careful attention from geriatric doctors in charting out a medication plan. Those who wish to pursue the path of becoming a board certified geriatrician must become licensed in family or internal medicine and be prepared emotionally to handle the mental and physical struggles with which older patients struggle. Geriatricians also work closely with their patients' family members to ensure that there is adequate support in the home and social environments for recovery. This installment in the day in the life series features Dr. Barbara Paris, director of the division of geriatrics at Maimonides Medical Center, who details what it takes to succeed as a geriatrician.