Geriatric Medicine Fellowship

About The Program

Program Story

The University of Toledo Geriatric Medicine Fellowship was built through vision, persistence and deep institutional support. The program began with the unconditional and relentless advocacy of Linda Speer, M.D., past Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, whose support was foundational to bringing the fellowship to life. The fellowship received ACGME approval in 2009, and the program began accepting Geriatric Medicine fellows in 2009. Since then, the program has maintained continued ACGME accreditation, and graduates one to two fellows annually.

Mission Statement

Consistent with The University of Toledo’s mission to improve the human condition, the mission of geriatric medicine is to improve and maintain the health of the geriatric population through education, clinical practice and the advancement of knowledge of our discipline.

Program Director Message

The University of Toledo Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program provides comprehensive training that strengthens fellows’ clinical expertise, research skills, and leadership development in a collaborative and supportive learning environment. Fellows gain hands-on experience across the full continuum of geriatric care, including outpatient clinics, inpatient consult services, nursing homes, and hospice and palliative care. This diverse clinical exposure equips fellows with the skills to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care tailored to the complex needs of older adults.

Recent fellowship curriculum enhancements, including expanded involvement in Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE), Trauma-Oriented Geriatric Assessment (TOGA) and Cancer Orientated Geriatrics (COGA) service lines, are strategically aligned not only with broadening educational exposure across diverse clinical settings, but also with strengthening the hospital’s institutional capacity to deliver high-quality, age-friendly care.  A dedicated focus on medical directorship provides exposure to policy development, operations, and practice management, helping fellows build strong leadership and administrative skills. 

Our Geriatric Medicine Fellowship accepts one fellow each year, fostering a close mentorship environment.  In addition to fellows, the program accepts internal and family medicine residents, medical students, and visiting residents for geriatric rotations, creating a dynamic academic setting where fellows actively participate in teaching and mentorship.  By the second half of the fellowship, trainees function with greater independence, similar to junior faculty. 

Graduates of our fellowship program are making a meaningful impact in geriatric medicine across the country. Our alumni hold leadership and clinical roles in academic institutions, serve as medical directors for nursing homes and post-acute care facilities, and lead innovative outpatient and community-based geriatric programs—advancing high-quality care for older adults in diverse healthcare settings.