James Lin, DO, AGS Clinician of the Year

2020 Clinician of the Year

James Lin, DO

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) takes great pride in announcing that the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) has named James Lin, DO, as 2020 Clinician of the Year. Dr. Lin serves as President of the LECOM Institute for Successful Aging in Erie, Pennsylvania. He will be honored at the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting to be held from May 13-15, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. The 2020 AGS Annual Meeting was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

As one explores the many accomplishments of Dr. Lin throughout his medical career, it is readily apparent that this doctor is a man committed to advancing whole body health as evidenced by his full spectrum approach to his geriatric practice. This national award further evinces that profound commitment.

Dr. Lin’s objective to empower the aging population to live vigorous, medication free lives through natural osteopathic care and healthful lifestyles has been a consistent mission throughout his life. Dr. Lin earned his medical degree from LECOM in 2002. He is board certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and in hospice and palliative medicine. After completing a geriatric fellowship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey, Dr. Lin joined LECOM as President of its Institute for Successful Aging.

The LECOM Institute for Successful Aging is the leading academic center of excellence in providing education, research, and clinical services throughout the region. Dr. Lin often notes that “the LECOM Institute for Successful Aging comprises one of the first health systems in the northwestern Pennsylvania region to provide the full spectrum of geriatric care.”

Dr. Lin has worked vigorously to advance that spectrum of care. In collaboration with LECOM, Millcreek Community Hospital, and the whole of the LECOM Health System, Dr. Lin not only developed a robust geriatric service at LECOM, but also championed transforming that standard of care into training for future health professionals. Instrumental in establishing the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship, a program designed to create an organizational structure of academic, clinical, and technical criteria to facilitate the education of geriatric medicine fellows, the group stresses cost-effective, quality health care for patients. Dr. Lin’s many standout undertakings include the success of a Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) affiliated with LECOM. Dr. Lin secured a $7 million federal grant that tasks local experts with developing grass-roots solutions to geriatric care within their communities. The LECOM-led Lake Erie Integrated Geriatric Health Team (LIGHT) Grant facilitated by Dr. Lin is preparing 7,000 health workers across the Lake Erie region to adequately care for the increasing older adult population.

The AGS Clinician of the Year Award recognizes exceptional health professionals who deliver outstanding care to older adults and who model the importance of geriatrics for the nation. Truly, Dr. Lin’s unyielding dedication to lifelong learning, to the osteopathic philosophy, and to the betterment of geriatric medicine have been his hallmark. This estimable award is bestowed upon a most deserving recipient and LECOM could not be more proud of Dr. James Lin.