After 12 years as chief of the Division of Geriatrics, Kenneth Schmader, MD, has elected to step down from this leadership role on June 30, 2018, Interim Chair Joseph Rogers, MD, announced this week.
Here is the full announcement:
"Given the strength of the Division, this is a good time for Geriatrics to transition to new leadership," Dr. Rogers said. "As chief, Dr. Schmader has been an outstanding mentor who nurtured the career development of his faculty. Over the years, he brought on several new faculty members, increasing the depth of the Division."
Together, the Geriatrics faculty expanded the Division’s clinical programs and instituted innovative models of care for vulnerable elders. They also established advanced inter-professional education programs in Geriatrics while maintaining an outstanding fellowship training program. They grew the divisional research portfolio, including high-profile Center grants, the integration of geriatrics and aging research into many medical and surgical specialties, and the creation of an exciting new theme of understanding and optimizing physical resilience in older adults.
As a result, the Division is highly ranked academically, and Geriatrics faculty are leaders in the Department and the School of Medicine, and nationally in several organizations.
Thankfully, Ken is not leaving Duke. He will continue on as an enthusiastic faculty member in Geriatrics, including his other leadership roles as PI of the NIA Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center; Co-PI of the NIAID Duke Vaccine and Therapeutic Evaluation Unit; Director of the VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center; and Associate Chief of Staff for Geriatrics at the Durham VA Medical Center.
We will share details of a transition plan to find the next chief of the Division of Geriatrics at a later date.