Welcome to an eclectic Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine. We are the only department nationally with such a name which accurately reflects our dual mission of achieving excellence in education, research and practice in family medicine and simultaneously achieving excellence in geriatric education, research and service. The two entities are synergistic with family medicine providing cradle to grave care and geriatrics responding to the particular needs of older adults. The department is divided into divisions again reflecting special interests including research, humanism and medical ethics, sports medicine, undergraduate education, graduate education.

Education

The department conducts educational activities in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education.

Undergraduate Activities

• Coordination of the Introduction to Clinical Medicine, ICM, a two year course spanning the freshman and sophomore year. Family Medicine Clerkship, a required six week experience in the third year, which has an urban and rural component.

Graduate Education

• Two residency programs, a 24 resident program housed in Louisville and a 12 resident rural program in Glasgow, Kentucky.
• The only RRC approved Geriatric Fellowship in the state of Kentucky accepting three fellows per year.
• Sports Medicine Fellowship which accommodates one resident per year.
• Fellowship in Humanism and Medical Ethics.

Continuing Medical Education

• Grand Rounds each Friday at 7:30 a.m. at Jewish Hospital.
• A Primary Care refresher course in the spring of each year.
• A one-day geriatrics conference annually.

Clinical

FAMILY MEDICINE

• Louisville: Family medicine services are offered at Central Station, Newburg, and the Ambulatory Care Building at University Hospital.
• Glasgow: Family medicine services are offered at T. J. Samson Community Hospital.
• Residency Sites: Family medicine services are offered in Louisville at Newburg and Central Station and in Glasgow Kentucky.

Hospital Service

• Faculty attend Jewish Hospital, University of Louisville Hospital, Norton and Kosair Childrens’ Hospital.

GERIATRICS

• Ambulatory services are offered at Central Station, including Primary Care and Geriatric Evaluation and Treatment.

Nursing Homes

• Treyton Oaks, Episcopal Church Home, Sacred Heart and Four Courts.

Hospital Service

• Faculty attend Jewish Hospital, University of Louisville, and Norton Hospital.

SPORTS MEDICINE

• Sports Medicine operates a referral clinic at Central Station and provides direct care for athletes at the University of Louisville.

URGENT CARE

• Extra Hour Care is provided at our Central Station location: Monday-Friday 6 pm-10 pm; Saturday & Sunday noon-6 pm; Holidays noon-5 pm.

Research

Initiatives include health disparities, pharmacogenetics, medical ethics, polypharmacy, elder abuse and neglect to name some.

Future

Despite decreasing interest in family medicine and other generalists’ specialties, I believe the future is bright. The U.S. health care system is in deep trouble and needs a resolution without adding additional costs. Currently we spend more than twice that of any other industrialized country yet do not rank in the top 10 in measures of quality. All of the countries who achieve a higher level of quality at lower cost have a well developed primary care base. The future of family medicine envisions a patient centered medical home where patients will receive the bulk of their care and coordination of all other services utilizing an interdisciplinary approach with an electronic medical record and other new technologies.

James G. O'Brien, MD
Chairman of the Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Louisville