Section Highlights
- The section has expanded clinical reach with new geriatric faculty at Vallbona Health Center and palliative care specialists now embedded at Ben Taub, BSLMC, and MEDVAMC, enhancing care access for seriously ill and aging patients across multiple systems.
- Dr. Leanne Jackson launched the “Last Writers” program, pairing medical students with palliative care patients to co-author personal memoirs—deepening student empathy and creating meaningful legacies for patients and families.
- Two of the section’s clinics—Vallbona Geriatrics and BSLMC Senior Care—earned national Age-Friendly Health System recognition under the leadership of Drs. Julia Reyser and Susan Williams, while Drs. Anita Major and Cristina Murdock led clinical innovation efforts in ICU delirium screening and outpatient optimization.
- Faculty received national recognition for research and leadership: Dr. Eberechi Onyemkpa was named a Cambia Foundation Sojourns Scholar, and Dr. Astrid Grouls secured ALS Foundation funding to study fatigue in neurodegenerative illness.
- Research efforts include the PAUSE trial led by Dr. Mary Garcia at MEDVAMC to enhance veteran surgical outcomes, and international work on cancer survivorship presented by Dr. Elizabeth Kvale.
- The geriatrics fellowship remains one of the nation’s largest, strengthened by palliative training partnerships with MD Anderson and Texas Children’s. Dr. Katie Hicks created a communication skills workshop for Ben Taub ICU interns, while Dr. Robert Roush marked the 35th year of his signature “Art of Presentation” course.
- Key contributor to the National Nursing Home COVID-19 Project ECHO Action Network.
- One of the largest ACGME-accredited geriatrics fellowship programs in the country, committed to training outstanding geriatricians through diverse clinical experiences and academic evidence. Program graduates have assumed positions in top clinical care programs and are leaders in top U.S. academic health centers.
- SETx-GWEP, funded by the Health Resources & Services Administration is a five-year, $3.75 million U01 grant as part of HRSA’s national Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program. We are one of two awarded grants in Texas and the lead institutions, and includes partnerships with the University of Texas Houston, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, BakerRipley Senior Services, the Montrose Center, MEDVAMC, and several other area healthcare systems.
- Our MEDVAMC clinic received national recognition for its designation as an Age-Friendly Health System. This is the first site in the national VA system to achieve both the level 1 and level 2 designations from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s international initiative to develop Age-Friendly Health Systems.
- Harris Health House Service was designated as a Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The team was also recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
“I have had wonderful opportunities to focus on the care of hospitalized older adults and how we can improve systems of care to improve outcomes for older adults. I love the Geriatrics Section because of the friendly, caring faculty and the opportunity to work with amazing fellows. We all relish the opportunities to share our love for geriatrics with all learners.”
Meet our Section Chief
Dr. Elizabeth Kvale joins the Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine as the new chief.
Education
We offer a one-year program for physicians designed to develop leadership skills for successful academic careers as clinicians, investigators, educators and administrators in geriatrics.
Research
Our section is addressing the needs of the aging population through the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine, recognized as one of the most advanced centers on aging research in the nation.
Healthcare
The Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine manages the care of the aging patient through its Senior Care Clinic.
