Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a dynamic city brimming with culture, history, and world-class attractions. Whether you’re unwinding after a full day of #AGS25 activities or extending your trip to explore with friends and family, there’s something for everyone within a short distance of the meeting venue and hotel!
Chicago in May typically features temperatures that average from 50°F to 65°F so pack layers and waterproof gear to be prepared for the weather and windier than normal conditions – it’s not called the Windy City for nothing! Despite its variable weather, May can be a great time to explore the city without the crowds. Start your outdoor adventure at Millennium Park, where you can marvel at "The Bean" and take a peaceful stroll through the serene Lurie Garden. Or see if you can spot the iconic Chicago Water Tower on a stroll along the Magnificent Mile where you can find shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations. Nearby, Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain provide iconic photo opportunities and scenic spaces to relax.
For those who love the water, the Chicago Riverwalk offers breathtaking views of the city’s world-famous architecture, riverside cafes, and public art installations. If you’re up for more activity, rent a kayak to experience the Chicago River from a unique vantage point.
Chicago is renowned for its stunning architecture and vibrant art and museum scene. Dive into history and innovation on a Chicago River Architecture Tour, which highlights the city’s legendary skyline and the stories behind its most prominent buildings.
Voted by Tripadvisor as one of the “Best of the Best” US attractions of 2024, the Art Institute of Chicago is home to masterpieces like American Gothic and A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. The is an excellent option for artloving #AGS25 attendees to check out.
Located in the heart of Chicago’s Museum Campus is the Field Museum, one of the largest natural history museums in the world where you can meet SUE, the world’s largest and most complete T. rex specimen. Or visit the John G. Shedd Aquarium to get close up and personal with the wonders of the aquatic world like penguins and beluga whales.
Chicago is a culinary paradise, offering everything from deep-dish pizza to Michelin-star dining. Start your foodie journey with a slice of deep-dish Chicago-style pizza at Lou Malnati’s or Giordano’s. For something more casual, try a classic Chicago hot dog from Portillo’s (don’t ask for ketchup!).
There are plenty of options downtown – from The Berghoff Restaurant which serves German inspired fare to eclectic gastropub The Gage. If you are feeling adventurous in your quest for fine dining, explore the West Loop, known as "Restaurant Row." Spots like Girl & the Goat or Au Cheval are sure to impress.
Chicago’s connection to Lake Michigan offers plenty of ways to enjoy the water. Head to Navy Pier for family-friendly attractions like the Centennial Wheel, the Chicago Children’s Museum, shops, and waterfront dining. Or visit one of the city’s beaches, such as Oak Street Beach where you can soak in the views of the city skyline.
No matter how you choose to spend your downtime, Chicago is ready to welcome all #AGS25 attendees with open arms and endless opportunities for exploration!
The AGS Has Your Hotel Deals Covered—But Act Fast!
The official #AGS25 program will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The AGS negotiated special rates for AGS meeting attendees. Reservations will be accepted through April 15, 2025 or until the room blocks sell out. Book early as the room block will sell out quickly and space is limited! Please review the hotel's cancellation and refund policy when making your reservation. Visit meeting.americangeriatrics.org to reserve your spot today!
On January 1, the Calendar Year 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule went into effect, which includes a number of coding and payment changes of interest to geriatrics health professionals. The AGS recently hosted a webinar on coding changes for 2025 which covers the telemedicine updates and the newly adopted advanced primary care management (APCM) services codes, among other topics of interest for geriatrics clinicians. This webinar was recorded and is available for viewing on GeriatricsCareOnline.org here.
Starting January 1, adult primary care specialties (e.g., general internal medicine, family medicine, geriatric medicine, advanced practice nursing) can bill for a new payment bundle, APCM services, which reflects the essential elements of advanced primary care, including principal care management, transitional care management, and chronic care management. These services are intended to simplify billing and documentation requirements while ensuring that your patients have access to high-quality primary care services.
CMS created a webpage outlining the services in further detail, including who and how often you can bill, a description of each of the three new HCPCS codes, billing requirements, and how auxiliary personnel can provide APCM services.
At the end of 2024, Congress extended several pandemic-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 2025, at which time it will again be up to Congress to act. Telehealth visits, including audio-visual and audio-only, provide fundamental patient services when in-person access is a challenge and dramatically expand access to care, improving care for Medicare beneficiaries. Absent swift action from Congress to extend the flexibilities before the end of March, patient access to needed medical services is at risk.
As the new Congress gets to work, AGS continues to advocate for making audio-only services as well as other telehealth flexibilities permanent and ensuring continued access for beneficiaries.
We are hopeful that you will support our efforts and contact your legislators to ask them to make these telehealth flexibilities permanent. You can do so by visiting the AGS Health in Aging Advocacy Center. It’s easy, take action today at https://bit.ly/AGS-Advocacy-Center.
For the past couple of weeks, I have been deeply immersed in trying to understand the implications for AGS and its members of a series of Executive Orders (EOs) issued by the 47th President of the United States, directives from various members of the new administration, the court challenges that are starting to emerge, and how all of this is being covered in the news. My initial focus was on understanding the implications for AGS of EOs and directives focused on (1) diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and (2) immigration. I’ve also been paying close attention to directives that impact our federal workforce and working with the AGS Policy team on Last Week in Washington: News of Interest to AGS members.
I am not going to lie, the language the EOs is intentionally cruel. The pace is intentionally fast. There is an intentional effort to divide us into “them” and “us.” And, underlying every EO, directive, or action is an intention to provoke fear and to convey that “resistance is futile.” If you are a student of Star Trek, you’ll know the origin of that last quote. If not, a quick lesson about the Borg can be had by watching “The Best of Both Worlds”, a two-episode arc in season 3 (episode 26) and Season 4 (episode 1) of Star Trek the Next Generation. But I digress.
To be honest, my reading initially provoked something of a flight or fight stress response. And, as I read the immigration orders (in particular), I was reminded of my own internal dialogue around whether I am as brave as I like to think I am (if you are interested in peeking inside my head, see this post on Scribbles and Photos, my very neglected personal blog). I was also reminded that I have a responsibility to the AGS and our members to mitigate the risks to the Society and to try to ensure that we are well-positioned so that, as an organization, what we have to say is heard.
First, let’s talk about mitigating risks to the Society. At this juncture, our biggest risk as a federal contractor/grantee is in Section 3 of the Ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity EO (which can be read here) that requires federal contractors and grantees to attest that we are not doing anything related to DEI across the entirety of the organization and not just those activities that are funded by the federal government. Section 4 goes on to state that organizations that sign the attestation and then continue their DEI work could be subject to litigation under the False Claims Act.
Flight? Walk away from federal awards based on the administration’s interpretation of existing laws. Fight? Look at statutes and assess whether our vision for the future (which can be read here and the work that we do to advance that vision is consistent with our collective rights to equal protection under the law (a right that is enshrined in the 14th amendment of the U.S. constitution). There are a lot of considerations that come into play with those two options. Flight would mean stopping important work that has been making a difference in the care of older adults; work that we are only able to do because we have federal funding. Ultimately, not going after federal funding could mean eliminating positions. Fight, regardless of whether we are aligned with federal law, does not mean that we wouldn’t need to defend against a lawsuit. Further, it will entail ongoing vigilance across all of our work with regards to remaining in compliance. There is no easy answer here and I anticipate that our decisions will be made on a rolling basis as more guidance becomes available from the administration.
Now, let’s talk about being well positioned as an organization to be heard. This one is tricky – it’s not quite fight or flight for me when it comes to AGS and more of a question of how AGS might need to change how we talk with others about our mission and vision and the policies that are important to advancing those. First, a bit of personal history. My first public policy lesson in how coalitions and advocacy work came in 2008 as the Eldercare Workforce Alliance (EWA) was forming. As the AGS representative and eventually co-convener of EWA, I have learned that coalitions are about finding common ground. In our EWA and AGS work to educate Congress and the administration, I have learned that the most important piece of articulating public policy is being able to articulate its impact on Americans in a way that others can hear you. The secret in the sauce is that the language we use, the data we draw on, and the framing we offer for a policy proposal is mutable because the goal is to find our common ground. In a nutshell, language matters and it behooves us as individuals and organizations to pay attention to the language that surrounds policies and actions and figure out where that language might mirror the language we already use.
In this issue of the AGS Newsletter, we have included our January 24th statement about our commitment to continuing our work focused on advancing our vision for a future where we are all supported by and able to contribute to communities. One where ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other forms of bias and discrimination no longer impact healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for older adults and their caregivers. To learn more about our work in service of this vision, please go to the Committed to Advancing Healthcare that is Free of Discrimination story below. I am #AGSproud of all that we do, and will continue to do, in service of creating a world that is free of discrimination.
A reminder for all of us that finding joy in our lives is one of the most important ways we can counteract the impact that the news can have on our well-being. For me, that might be going birding and for someone else it might mean a morning run and for others it could mean a weekly dinner with extended family. Staying hydrated is also important as is trying to find humor amidst the chaos.
We want to thank all of our AGS/ADGAP members who participated in the 2024 AGS/ADGAP Benchmarking Survey, which collected data from 2023 (see the Geriatrics Benchmarking Snapshot story for a snapshot of the data collected). While the 2024 survey is now closed, the AGS is gearing up to launch the next survey to continue to build our rich dataset. The AGS is again partnering with Phairify to launch this year’s survey, available in February, to collect data from 2024. We hope even more geriatrician members participate in this year’s effort to build this valuable dataset that we can all use to better understand the value of geriatricians with real-world data.
Remember that the more AGS/ADGAP members that participate in the survey, the more meaningful the data will be. We urge you to support geriatrics and your peers by taking the time to complete the survey. Once completed, you will have instant real-time access to the rich databank of information that you can use to discretely:
AGS geriatrician members will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the new 2025 AGS/ADGAP Benchmarking Survey to collect data from 2024. The survey is quick and easy to complete, taking only about 10-15 minutes, and the data always remain anonymous. The dataset provides aggregate data on compensation, productivity, and practice characteristics. If you have completed the survey in the past, your survey is even easier and quicker to complete – upon login, you will be invited to review your previous survey responses and select those you wish to update where data has changed from the previous year. The AGS/ADGAP hosted a webinar in early February to provide a brief tutorial on accessing the survey, and for a deeper dive into the 2023 data. The recording of that webinar, Unlocking the Value of Geriatricians: Data Snapshot from AGS/ADGAP Benchmarking Survey, is available on GeriatricsCareOnline.org.
If you have any questions about your Phairify account or the survey, please reach out to Anna Kim at akim@americangeriatrics.org.
As you may have read on MyAGSOnline, several members have shared their views on this new dataset:
“ For program directors and division directors, this is very useful in educating prospective fellows and lobbying for appropriate salaries for new faculty hires.” - Paul Eleazer
“ As a junior faculty member and someone who advises fellows who are considering new job opportunities, the more information I have at my fingertips, the better.” - Serena Wong
“ This valuable information can help us negotiate compensation packages/benefits, and better advocate for ourselves as geriatricians.” - Rebecca Masutani
“ It is very helpful for proposals to our health systems for building clinical programs in different settings.” - Louise Walter
Below is a preview of the Geriatrics Benchmarking Survey with 2023 data in hand. AGS/ADGAP members who participate in the AGS/ADGAP Benchmarking Survey have real-time access to all data collected through Phairify’s practice information and career management platform, as well as a tool that you can use to compare and understand that data better for your purposes.
198 Geriatricians participated in the CY23 AGS/ADGAP Benchmarking
General Survey.
Time spent on professional functions.
As I conclude my term as President of the American Geriatrics Society and prepare to transition into the role of Board Chair at #AGS25, I am filled with deep gratitude and appreciation to be part of such an amazing team – comprised of AGS members, volunteers, leaders, and staff who work together to implement programs, advocate on behalf of geriatrics, and train the next generation. I am proud of the strides we've made during my tenure in advancing geriatrics care, education, research, policy, and so much more. As we continue navigating the waters of public policy under the leadership of a new president, we will continue to advocate for a future where all older adults are prioritized in health policies and practices.
I’ve been proud to lead AGS/ADGAP efforts highlighting the importance of good data for the field of geriatrics. Reliable data is essential to understanding our worth, measuring inconsistencies, and shaping the future of geriatrics as a field. One of my key focuses has been supporting the AGS/ADGAP Benchmarking surveys which collect and anonymously aggregate geriatrician data on compensation, productivity, and practice characteristics across the numerous settings where geriatricians provide care. Make sure to check out our Benchmarking Data Snapshot to see a preview of some of the data collected through the 2024 surveys.
I look forward to the opportunities #AGS25 presents for continued growth and collaboration. Scheduled for May 8-10, 2025, in Chicago, IL, with a pre conference day on May 7, this year’s meeting promises to be both informative and inspiring. The comprehensive program will feature a diverse array of educational sessions, including invited symposia, workshops, and discussions led by prominent and respected experts on a variety of topics. Events such as the Presidential Poster Reception, Special Interest Group (SIG) Meetings, and Section Meetings, are designed to foster collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
If you are in need of any further convincing to join us in Chicago, I am pleased to share my top reasons for attending #AGS25 as well as some of the sessions I am most excited to attend below.
Serving as your President has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. I am continually inspired by the dedication, compassion, and expertise of our members. Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated successes, and, most importantly, made a meaningful impact on the lives of older adults. As I pass the baton to our incoming President, Paul Mulhausen, MD, MHS, FACP, AGSF, I am confident that the AGS will continue to thrive and lead in the field of geriatrics.
Paul is the Chief Medical Director at Iowa Total Care, a health plan serving Medicaid beneficiaries. With over 30 years of experience in healthcare, he is board certified in both internal medicine and geriatric medicine, and is an accomplished clinician, medical educator, and advocate for safe, high-quality care. A widely-recognized expert in the care of older adults and other vulnerable populations, he provides leadership to numerous stakeholders in the healthcare community.
I look forward to working with Paul in my new capacity as Board Chair, to remaining an active member of this vibrant community, and to supporting our ongoing mission. Thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your unwavering commitment to excellence in geriatrics care.
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Orders that roll back protections for transgender people and terminate all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. AGS values our diverse membership and the culture of inclusivity that we are building. We remain committed to this work. Together, we are all making significant contributions to advancing our collective health and well-being as we age.
At AGS, we remain committed to advancing healthcare policies that require equal treatment for LGBTQ+ individuals, regardless of age, and for recognition of the preferred name and gender identity of transgender individuals, regardless of legal or biological status. As articulated in our statements on discrimination (which can be found here) and LGBTQ+ individuals (which can be found here), we remain opposed to legislation, orders, or policies that single out or target groups or individuals—implicitly or explicitly—impeding the progress we have made, and must continue to make, as we improve health for us all as we age.
We believe that discriminatory practices can have a negative impact on public health, especially the health of older Americans and vulnerable older people. We will continue our work that is focused on incorporating attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion across our AGS programs and products (learn more here).
The 12th edition of the Geriatrics Review Syllabus (GRS12), released in January 2025, marks a significant milestone in geriatric medicine. As a comprehensive and up-to-date resource, it equips healthcare professionals with the latest developments and research in geriatrics, ensuring they remain at the forefront of care for older adults. Available in an all-digital format, this edition provides a streamlined, accessible platform for GRS12 subscribers. This premium product includes not only the syllabus’ full educational content but also a robust suite of online learning features, which enhance the overall user experience. Healthcare professionals can now conveniently access cutting-edge knowledge and essential tools for improving patient care, all in one comprehensive package.
“We are excited to announce the release of GRS12, a cornerstone resource for health care professionals committed to improving care for older adults,” said Jessica Colburn, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “This latest edition is a product of collaboration with over 230 expert contributors, and it continues to be an essential tool for staying ahead in geriatrics care. With the most current information and a variety of learning options, GRS12 supports healthcare professionals in providing high-quality, patient-centered care.” Dr. Colburn, alongside Amy Westcott, MD, AGSF, Professor of Geriatric Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, serves as one of the Editors in Chief for this edition. Dr. Jane Potter, MD, AGSF, also returns as Editor in Chief for the self-assessment portion of the GRS12.
One of the key features of the GRS12 is its strong emphasis on addressing inequities in health care. AGS is committed to eliminating ageism and other forms of discrimination that impact our health and wellbeing as we age. This edition of the GRS includes a new chapter on Health Equity in Aging that explores the intersectionality of ageism with race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The chapter highlights the critical importance of considering societal structures and conditions in shaping health outcomes.
This edition also intentionally incorporates the Geriatrics "5Ms”—what Matters most, Mind, Mobility, Medications, and Multicomplexity. First conceptualized by Tinetti et al in 2017, the 5Ms describe the care that geriatrics health professionals provide (what Matters most, Mind, Mobility, Medications) and the characteristics of the patient population (Multicomplexity) that defines the majority of people who are being cared for by geriatrics health professionals. In designing the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement, the Institute for Health Care Improvement (IHI), with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, based the 4Ms of age-friendly care on this initial work by Tinetti and colleagues. The goal of the movement is to ensure that all older adults are touched by 4Ms-informed care. The GRS12 provides guidance for clinicians in providing care that addresses not just the medical needs of older adults, but also their functional, cognitive, and social well-being. This nuanced approach to managing the complexities of aging further solidifies the GRS12 as an indispensable resource in geriatrics care.
GRS12 is an all-digital subscription-based product. A three-year subscription includes:
GRS12 features include
Subscribe to the GRS12 today at GeriatricsCareOnline.org: https://bit.ly/orderGRS12.
Still prefer to have a print copy of the syllabus? You can get a physical copy of the syllabus only (does not include self-assessment questions) by upgrading to the GRS12 Digital Complete+Print.
How did you become interested in geriatrics?
My journey into geriatrics began with my family. I grew up in a multigenerational household, deeply connected to my grandmother, who lived in Colombia. In our culture, care for older adults is very home-centric. When she began dealing with chronic illnesses and experienced her first stroke, my family had to navigate her care from a distance. We traveled to Colombia each summer to coordinate how she could stay at home, supported by people she cherished, while respecting what was most important to her. Those experiences—watching my family work through these challenges and being involved in her care—were my first lessons in the importance of holistic, person-centered care.
Later, during my internal medicine and pediatrics residency, geriatrics found me. On my first day, I worked with Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, who saw in me the makings of a geriatrician. At the time, I planned to pursue pediatrics, but my experience in the ACE unit changed everything. The way we listened deeply to patients and crafted care plans around their values reminded me of the care my family provided my grandmother. Those moments, combined with additional geriatrics electives and a research project, cemented my decision to pursue this field during my third year of residency.
My father also had a profound impact on my career choice. As a cardiologist who practiced primary care well into his 80s, he approached medicine with compassion and gratitude. We lived above his practice, and our living room often served as the waiting room. I accompanied him on house calls, carried his bag, and saw how he cared for patients as whole people. While he hoped I would follow in his footsteps as a cardiologist, his dedication to meeting patients where they were inspired me to pursue geriatrics, where I could focus on comprehensive care.
What is your favorite part of working with older adults?
The diversity in how older adults age and approach life is my favorite thing about this work. Their life stories and wisdom are endlessly inspiring. In my practice, where the average patient is 86, I’ve built long-term relationships, often spanning decades. One patient, who ran his last marathon at 96 and is now 103, exemplifies the resilience I see daily. These relationships remind me that my work isn’t just about addressing medical needs—it's about honoring who my patients are and advocating for what matters to them.
It’s fulfilling to guide my patients through their health journeys and bring medical students along for this ride, allowing them to develop as compassionate caregivers. These relationships evolve as students grow in their professional identities, with students becoming strong advocates for their patients. For example, during the pandemic, one of my students helped a patient who was uncomfortable with learning new technology navigate telehealth step-by-step, ensuring they could access care during a challenging time when access was notoriously difficult.
What are you most proud of in your career?
I’m most proud of my work developing innovative training programs that prepare geriatricians to be leaders in the field. During my time as a Program Director and now as Vice Chair of Education, I’ve focused on creating pathways that integrate leadership, collaboration, and advanced skills into geriatrics education.
A key accomplishment was launching an integrated geriatrics and palliative medicine fellowship program at Mount Sinai in 2010. This program addressed the overlap in competencies between the two specialties and provided a unified pathway for fellows to train in both fields simultaneously. Over the past 15 years, the program has grown to 12 institutions nationwide, graduating more than 80 fellows who are now leaders in geriatrics and palliative medicine. This program is now a standard pathway through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), and American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM).
I’m also proud of the Med-Geri pathway, which integrates geriatrics training into the residency experience. Internal medicine and family medicine residents begin their geriatrics fellowship within their intern year and complete the program over four years. This structure provides mentorship, training, mentorship, and six months of protected time for scholarship giving trainees a more comprehensive education. Since its inception, the Med-Geri pathway has expanded to 14 programs, fostering early interest in geriatrics and preparing residents for leadership roles.
What are you working on right now?
Currently, my work focuses on leadership development for fellows and early-career professionals. In 2019, I helped to launch a national leadership curriculum. Two years later, with AGS as a partner, we were able to tailor that curriculum to AGS members and provide fellows and early career professionals with tools to strengthen their communication, emotional intelligence, and resilience. The curriculum expanded to a self-paced course with video companions, webinars, and community-building opportunities. To date, we’ve trained over 200 participants, and the program continues to grow. This has since evolved into a series of leadership sessions held at the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting to make these resources available to a wider audience.
This work is about preparing future geriatricians to meet the challenges of an aging population. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how these programs inspire fellows to take on leadership roles and improve care at all levels.
What piece of advice would you share with someone considering a career in geriatrics or just starting out?
Geriatrics offers incredible opportunities and a bright future. There are diverse career paths, from ambulatory and inpatient care to hospital-at-home programs and research. Geriatrics is increasingly collaborating with fields like oncology, cardiology, and more, expanding the potential for cross-disciplinary work. The research arena is also ripe with unanswered questions on topics surrounding care models and the needs of the "older old”. Age-friendly health systems are on the rise and geriatricians are leading the way in shaping these systems.
The strength of geriatrics lies in its sense of community. It’s a field full of mentors and role models who genuinely want to see you succeed. AGS has played a vital role in supporting my career, offering platforms for innovation, collaboration, acknowledgement and professional growth.
If you’re considering geriatrics, know that you’re entering a field with abundant opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and make a real difference in the lives of older adults. There’s never been a better time to start.
What is your favorite thing about the AGS or your favorite memory involving the AGS?
The AGS has been like family to me. It has provided me a network of friendships and professional connections that have supported me throughout the years. One of my favorite things about AGS is the sense of community and belonging it provides. The annual meetings in particular are a highlight. They give us the opportunity to share ideas, check in as people, and build lasting collaborations.
AGS has provided me with invaluable platforms for collaboration and connection through committee work. Whether it was serving on the Ethnogeriatrics, Education, Fellowship, or Nominating committees, these experiences gave me a voice, helped me listen and learn from others, and opened doors to new projects and opportunities.
One memory that stands out is how AGS came together during the pandemic. Members and staff came together to provide my faculty and fellows with resources like masks and iPads for isolated patients when resources were low. When I got sick, they offered me their support – sending their well wishes, organizing calls, and even raising awareness to help me when I needed it most. That level of care, compassion, and camaraderie is truly unmatched.
The recognition and support I have received from AGS means a great deal. Being the first clinician educator mid-career awardee and receiving other accolades has helped not only with my personal growth but also in highlighting the importance of representation. I’ve been fortunate to represent the value and success that someone from a diverse background can bring to and achieve in this field.
What makes AGS so special is its openness and willingness to support members at every stage. It’s a place where even those just starting out can find mentorship, join committees, and contribute to important initiatives. AGS values the voices of everyone, no matter how early in their career, and this inclusivity allows ideas to flourish.
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