Message from the Chief

Aging... If it's not your issue, it will be!

Our division marries the study and practice of medicine across a broad spectrum of care: General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. Really, though, it’s simply about care for adults. We promote healthy and functional lives for all adults—whatever their stage in life—through comprehensive programs in research, education and training, and clinical care.

The division began as the Section for Geriatrics, Hospice and Palliative Medicine within the UA Department of Medicine. General Internal Medicine was added to our division in 2011. We are now focused on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all adult diseases.

Our Geriatrics program, which is closely affiliated with the University of Arizona Center on Aging, as is our Palliative Medicine program, has been consistently rated in the past among the top 50 programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report in its annual “Best Hospitals” rankings.

Our division has been at the forefront of changes in how care is provided to older adults via collaborative studies and research into hearing loss, obesity and diabetes, arthritis, heart conditions, frailty and dementia. With a multidisciplinary team approach, we’ve also pioneered efforts to train all physicians in the care of older adults through our Reynolds Scholar program and in the development of concepts for “senior ERs” to improve outcomes for those advanced in age who may seek emergency care at our state’s, the nation’s and the world’s hospitals.

Mindy J. Fain, MD, in white physician's coatMindy J. Fain, MD
Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine
Co-Director, University of Arizona Center on Aging
The Anne and Alden Hart Endowed Chair in Medicine
Professor of Medicine