MAXIMIZING RESOURCES IN GERIATRIC EDUCATION THROUGH COOPERATION - THEMETROPOLITAN-AREA GERIATRICS SOCIETY EXPERIENCE

The role of the New York Metropolitan Area Geriatrics Society (MAGS), an affiliate of the American Geriatrics Society, in supporting educati onal activities in the 11 academic geriatric medicine fellowship progr ams in the metropolitan area is described. A 1991 survey of each progr am's educational resources revealed a striking disparity in the self-p erceived quality of the various program components at each site and a unanimous interest in sharing and complementing existing activities. W hereas all programs were positive about the strength of their conferen ces and grand rounds and the interest of their teaching faculty, they were generally concerned about their home care component; clinical res earch; and, most of all, the time availability of their teaching facul ty. Through MAGS, a number of activities have been developed to help s upport the fellowship programs. Opportunity for intersite exchange of geriatric fellows is being actively pursued. This cooperative effort m ay be a model for similar activity in other metropolitan areas.