2. Joan and Stanford Alexander Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
  3. Research
  4. Training & Mentorship

Training & Mentorship

Our Educational Mission

To foster excellence in geriatric and palliative medicine education for health care professionals and the community, with a focus on the principles of Age-Friendly Health Systems.

We offer a comprehensive, innovative curriculum in geriatric and palliative medicine for McGovern Medical School students, Internal Medicine residents, Geriatric Medicine fellows, Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellows, and learners from multiple disciplines rotating through the Division.

Medical Student Education

We aim to equip all graduating McGovern Medical School students with fundamental skills in Age-Friendly health care, interprofessional collaborative practice, geriatric medicine, and palliative medicine.

Core Rotations:

  • Required one-week Geriatric and Palliative Medicine rotation during MS3 year.
  • MS4 options: Advanced Patient Care Selective (APC; sub-internship), Geriatrics/Palliative electives, clinical site variety.

Additional Opportunities:

  • Blue Book electives in geriatrics, palliative medicine, social connections.
  • Geriatric and Palliative Medicine scholarly concentration.
  • Research via MSTAR Summer Program, longitudinal continuum.

Resident Education

We prepare all Internal Medicine residents at McGovern Medical School to deliver competent, compassionate, and Age-Friendly care in diverse clinical settings.

Clinical Rotations:

  • Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Unit at Memorial Hermann Hospital–TMC: 2 weeks for interns; upper-level leadership.
  • Palliative Care Consult Service at MHH–TMC: PGY-1 to PGY-3 rotations on symptom management, communication; open to Neurology, PM&R, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, EM, Radiation Oncology.

Didactics:
Ambulatory rotations, inpatient noon conferences, Serious Illness Communication Workshop for family meetings/goals-of-care.

Fellow Education:

  • Geriatric Medicine Fellowship (Details): One-year clinical program since 2008 for IM/Family Medicine physicians; board-eligible; research/QI/education focus.
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship (Details): One-year clinical program since 2012 for multiple specialties; board-eligible; research/QI/education.

MSTAR Research Program

8-week summer program for 1st-year medical students in aging research; stipend $4,704; sites: UTHealth Houston, others; deadline Feb 9, 2026 (Apply). Includes mentor-guided projects, didactics, clinical exposure; PI: Jessica Lee, MD, MS.

Institute on Aging Partnership

We collaborate with UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging (IOA) for shared offerings, conferences and many Division faculty serve as IOA Faculty.

Get Involved: Contact program directors or Apply Here for MSTAR.