RACISM AND AGEISM: ADDRESSING PATIENT AND PHYSICIAN BARRIERS TO IMPROVE OLDER ADULT CARE

AAGP Annual Meeting 2019 RACISM AND AGEISM: ADDRESSING PATIENT AND PHYSICIAN BARRIERS TO IMPROVE OLDER ADULT CARE Session 316 1 2 3 4 Ali Abbas Asghar-Ali ; Iqbal Ahmed ; Melanie Tara Gentry ; Tatyana P. Shteinlukht 1

Baylor College of Medicine Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Honolulu, HI 3 Mayo Clinic 4 McLean Hospital, Worcester, MA 2

Abstract: Robert Butler, the founding director of the National Institute on Aging first coined the term ageism. He included three domains in the definition, i.e., prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory practices, and institutional practices that negatively impact older adults. By some estimates, ageism is thought to be the most common “-ism” in the world. It has shown to affect the well-being of older adults in terms of their access to healthcare, employment, and psychological well-being. However, there is little done to address ageism in medical student education, for example, only 10% of medical schools require a geriatric medicine clinical experience and few include geriatric medicine in their didactic curricula. To address this gap, the session will aim to define ageism, contributors to ageist beliefs and practices, and then propose specific ways in which to overcome ageism including educational curricula, cultural approaches, and advocacy. On the other hand, healthcare providers can be recipients of prejudicial beliefs and behaviors by patients. In a recent survey, 70% of African American and 69% of Asian physicians reported having heard biased comments from patients. Nonetheless, educational curricula and training provide little guidance on how a physician could respond to racial intolerance. Not addressing these situations can cause significant barriers to providing care to patients and can contribute to burnout. During the session we will review the existing evidence about racism towards physicians and propose means by which this could be addressed by clinicians. Participants will have an opportunity to role play and discuss concrete steps to address racism. As with ageism, it will include consideration of educational curricula, cultural approaches, and advocacy. Faculty Disclosures Ali Asghar-Ali Nothing to disclose Iqbal Ahmed Nothing to disclose Melanie Gentry Nothing to disclose Tatyana Shteinlukht Nothing to disclose

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATES AND A CAREER AS A GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRIST Session 317 1 2 3 4 Amita Patel ; Fnu Syeda Arshiya Farheen ; Iqbal Ahmed ; Rajesh R. Tampi 1

Dayton Psychiatric Associates, Dayton, OH Metrohealth Medical center - Case Western Reserve University 3 Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Honolulu, HI 4 Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Strongsville, Ohio 2

Abstract: The population of the United States is aging. Currently people over the age of 65 years constitute 13% of the general population. By 2050 this number will rise to about 25% of the population. As the population ages, the number of older adults with mental illness will also rise. Available data indicates that there are inadequate numbers of trained geriatric psychiatrists in United States to care for older adults with mental illness. The additional burden for services in the future on an already strained healthcare system can lead to catastrophic failure of the system. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) constitute almost half of the work force of geriatric psychiatrists. The IMGs have had successful career as clinicians, educators, academics and

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 27:3S, March 2019

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