Indian Health Geriatric Scholars Pilot Program
The 2023 grant program is now closed. Information on this page is available for information only.
Program Information
The Alzheimer’s Grant Program, a program of the IHS Office of Clinical and Preventive Services (OCPS), Division of Clinical and Community Services (DCCS), invites applications to the 2023 Indian Health Geriatric Scholars (GeriScholars) pilot.
The Indian Health GeriScholars pilot was developed with the support and collaboration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Rural Health and utilizes the highly successful VA Geriatric Scholars Program model that has built geriatric expertise into the primary care workforce over the past decade.
The Indian Health GeriScholars pilot provides participating IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health clinicians with an individual intensive learning track for professional continuing education, including:
- A week-long intensive training in geriatrics from an approved Geriatrics Board Review course
- A mentored geriatric improvement project at their local facility
- A clinical practicum or mentorship in geriatric practice
- Ongoing education, training, and peer support as an Indian Health Geriatric Scholar
In this pilot year, the Indian Health GeriScholars Program will accept at least 15 physicians, nurse practitioners, PAs, or pharmacists sponsored by their IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program. It will reimburse training at one of the following intensive training courses:
UCLA Intensive Course in Geriatric Medicine and Board Review
- September 20-23, 2023 (Virtual)
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Intensive Update with Board Review in Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine
- September 19-22, 2023 (Virtual)
Wisconsin Update in Geriatric Medicine 2023
- September 26-29, 2023 (In-person), and attendees may join the VA Geriatric Scholars in an optional additional QI workshop on September 25, 2023 (In-person at the Abbey Resort in Fontana, Wisconsin). Please note that travel is required for the in-person Wisconsin training session.
Accepted GeriScholars will follow their sponsoring facility process for enrollment in one of the above courses and for travel expenses if attending the Wisconsin Update in person. The sponsoring facility will be reimbursed for the cost of training and travel by the IHS Division of Clinical and Community Services (DCCS) after the training is completed. Please contact Valerie Jones for questions regarding enrollment and travel reimbursement to your facility.
Timeline and Commitment
In addition to the time allowed for attendance at the selected intensive training course and the time devoted to the local improvement efforts, accepted GeriScholars will be expected to attend the following virtual meetings during the first year:
- Orientation to the Indian Health GeriScholars Pilot (one-hour) in August 2023.
- Orientation to the Improvement Project (one-hour) in October 2023.
- Join at least two group coaching calls (one-hour) between October 2023 and May 2024.
- Final project presentation in May 2024.
- Application Period Opens: June 5, 2023
- Application Period Closes: July 5, 2023
- Notification of provisional acceptance as an Indian Health GeriScholar will occur on a rolling basis, with attention to distribution across the IHS Areas. All Indian Health GeriScholars will be notified by August 8, 2023.
- Commitment to the program, including enrollment documentation in the intensive training course, will be expected from the GeriScholars by August 15, 2023.
Application Requirements
Complete the 2023 GeriScholars Application [DOCx - 27 KB]
Submission of completed Application to Valerie Jones. The Application includes the following:
- Endorsement by the CEO of the IHS Service Unit, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program or their designee and the applicant's clinical supervisor.
- Selection of an approved intensive training course.
- Commitment to serve as a local champion for improved care of the elderly and persons living with dementia and their caregivers and to join in meetings identified above.
- Commitment to attend the virtual meetings.
After notification of provisional acceptance as a GeriScholar, the applicant will provide enrollment documentation in one of the intensive training courses.
Primary Care Physicians, NPs, PAs, and pharmacists from all IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health Programs are eligible and encouraged to apply.
In this pilot year, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, PAs, and pharmacists from IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health programs are eligible to apply. In the future, other disciplines may be eligible.
Individuals with interest in the program are invited to send their application to ValerieJones@ihs.gov. In the brief application form, applicants will note these requirements:
After you are notified that your application has been provisionally accepted, you will need to enroll directly in one of the three approved training courses, following the usual process for training requests at your IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program.
The training must be approved and initially paid for by your sponsoring IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program. The IHS Division of Clinical and Community Service (DCCS) will work with your IHS Area Office to reimburse your sponsoring program for the registration costs. Do not pay for the registration personally. The IHS DCCS is not able to reimburse you directly for registration costs and can only reimburse your IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program for these costs.
Final acceptance as an Indian Health Scholar is contingent on documentation of enrollment in one of the training courses.
1. Who is eligible?
In this pilot year, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, PAs, and pharmacists from IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian Health programs are eligible to apply. In the future, other disciplines may be eligible.
2. How do I apply?
Individuals with interest in the program are invited to send their application via email to ValerieJones@ihs.gov. In the brief application form, applicants will note these requirements:
- Endorsement of their participation by their clinical supervisor and the CEO or Health Administrator of their IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program and a commitment by those individuals to support a geriatric improvement project at their facility.
- Selection of one of the three approved intensive training courses and approval for the training.
- A commitment to participate in meetings that will focus on the development of their geriatric improvement project addressing care for older individuals.
3. How do I enroll in the required Intensive Training Course and Quality Improvement Course?
After you are notified that your application has been provisionally accepted, you must enroll directly in one of the three approved training courses, following the usual process for training requests at your IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program.
The training must be approved and paid for by your sponsoring IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program. The IHS Division of Clinical and Community Service (DCCS) will work with your IHS Area Office to reimburse your sponsoring program for the registration and travel costs for those attending the in-person training in Wisconsin. Do not pay for the registration personally. The IHS DCCS cannot reimburse you directly for registration and travel costs and can only refund your IHS, Tribal, or Urban Indian Health program for these costs.
Final acceptance as an Indian Health Scholar is contingent on documentation of enrollment in one of the training courses.
4. What is the time commitment?
Indian Health GeriScholars are expected to attend the following virtual meetings throughout the first year:
- Orientation to the Indian Health GeriScholars Pilot (one-hour) in August 2023.
- Orientation to the Improvement Project (one-hour) in October 2023.
- Join at least two group coaching calls (one-hour) between October 2023 and May 2024.
- Final project presentation in May 2024.
5. Who can I contact for questions?
Please email Valerie Jones, IHS Elder Care Data Coordinator, at Valerie.jones@ihs.gov.
