Optional 1-2 Years of Fellowship

First year geriatrics fellows have the opportunity to apply for multiple unique advanced fellowships funded through the VA to enhance their expertise in research and education.

Advanced Fellowship in Geriatrics (AFIG)

This one or two-year fellowship allows for at least 75 percent of time in scholarly pursuit of geriatrics (coursework and research) under the direction of a research mentor and no more than 25 percent in clinical care at VA Boston Health System.  Fellows are required to make substantive, independent, and identifiable contributions to a research project.  More information about the AFIG nationally and at the New England GRECC is available here.

Health Professions Education Evaluation and Research (HPEER) Advanced Fellowship

This is a 2-year post-doctoral fellowship in curriculum design and implementation, evaluation and research. It contains components of a national curriculum as well as local site instruction, individual learning and mentorship. More information about the HPEER program nationally and at the Boston VA site is available here.

Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR) Post-doctoral Fellowship

This is a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in health services research for qualified candidates with either a PhD (or equivalent) or MD seeking to work with senior investigators on research projects in such areas as: patient-centered care, care coordination, organizational transformation and culture change, implementation science, patient safety, public health communication, telehealth, medication optimization and effectiveness, and mental health recovery. The program is designed to develop and enhance skills in conducting health services research to support candidates toward the goal of becoming an independently funded researcher. More information about the CHOIR research fellowship can be found here.

Although the majority of fellows’ efforts while participating in these advanced fellowships will be spent within the VA Health Systems, fellows are encouraged to maintain an affiliate faculty appointment at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. In such, they will have the opportunity receive ongoing mentorship and support in their scholarly project(s) from Boston University Geriatrics faculty, as well as be engaged in teaching opportunities for medical students, residents and fellows. Of note, given that all above advanced fellowships are supported by VA funding, applicants must currently be U.S. Citizens for consideration.