update from section chief
geriatrics
Terri Fried, MD
richard marottoli, md, mph
T
he Section of Geriatrics cares for the most vulnerable patients—older adults who
have multiple chronic medical conditions or are living with such problems as cognitive impairment or physical disability. For these patients, the use of standard therapies may cause as much harm as good. Geriatricians have the complicated job of weighing different approaches to care, and considering not just whether a treatment is likely to be life-prolonging but also its effects on other outcomes, like physical and cognitive function. All this must be done in the context of patients’ individual risk factors, social circumstances, and care goals. Named section chief in June 2021, Terri Fried, MD, will continue the clinical, educational, and research work of the section, organized around the “4Ms” of geriatrics: Mentation, Mobility,
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annual report 2021
Medications, and what Matters most. These “Ms” are key aspects of care that cut across all diseases and specialties. The following highlights show how the section brings the 4Ms to patient care;
educates the next generation of clinicians about, and provides new knowledge to continue to improve our understanding of the 4Ms and their role in the care of older persons.
