Why Geriatrics?
I have been interested in geriatrics and palliative care since I worked as a resident in Japan which is famous for having the world's longest life expectancy. I always think about what I can do for older adults. This includes preventive medicine to maintain their quality of life, using my personal skills and knowledge in comprehensive assessment and care for their age, research of polypharmacy/prescribing cascade/multimorbidity, and advanced care planning to explore the patient’s values in advance. I am eager to study geriatrics more and more.
Why Rochester?
I chose this program because it has the longest history of specializing in geriatrics in the US. Furthermore, I know one Japanese graduate from this program, who is now a leader of both family medicine and geriatrics.
Also, while I lived in Syracuse for family medicine residency, I found that Upstate New York is a wonderful place to live. I am keen on exploring great places in Upstate New York with hiking, picking various fruits, visiting waterfalls and lakes, the Strong Museum… and so on!
Professional Interests?
Primary care, home based primary care, preventive medicine, end-of-life care, palliative care, diagnostic medicine.
Where do you see yourself practicing?
I see myself practicing in Japan where the percentage of the elderly population aged greater than 65 is 28% which is much higher than that of the United States. My goal is to bring what I learn in URMC back to Japan. I would like to become a bridge between Japan and the United States to exchange strengths and challenges in geriatrics, and to collaborate on research and education between our two countries.
What do you hope to learn or accomplish during fellowship?
To learn how to help older adults live well and die well by enhancing patients’ value and quality of life, to work on more research regarding geriatric care, and to connect with more of the mentors in this historical academic program.
Kaitlin Kyi, M.D.
Why Geriatrics?
I love taking care of patients, and I love how patient- and person-centered this specialty is; for all our assessments, we take into account not only their chronic conditions but their social supports and home environment. We have this special opportunity to really get to know our patients—what hobbies they have, the name of their pets, and their struggles they have experienced and learned from.
Why Rochester?
I've been here since intern year of residency, and I've loved it ever since! When interviewing, I drawn to Rochester for its focus on medical education and strong sense of collegiality. Over the course of residency and then fellowship, I even more in love with this city and its many running trails and restaurants.
Professional Interests?
I am deeply passionate about medical education, narrative medicine, and improving awareness of stigmatizing language.
Where do you see yourself practicing?
As I have previously completed training for oncology, my goal is to practice as an academic geriatric oncologist with a disease focus in thoracic and head and neck cancers.
What do you hope to learn or accomplish during fellowship?
I am excited to foster a better understanding of how we can best communicate and care for older patients. This is a unique population in that we often have the opportunity to additional educate and communicate with caregivers and family. My hope is that I can learn more about how to cultivate trust between patients and providers as they navigate the course of aging and illness.
Alissa Nizinski, M.D.
Why Geriatrics?
The University of Rochester is where I did my residency, during which I had the pleasure of working alongside some of the Geriatric Medicine faculty and seeing firsthand the benefit specialized training in the care of older adults had in being able to provide a truly individualized approach to patient care. I decided to pursue fellowship to strengthen my knowledge of this medically complex and often psychosocially vulnerable patient population such that I can guide my patients towards better health outcomes and improved quality of life, with their goals and preferences at the forefront.
Why Rochester?
Dubbed “a Buffalonian” having been born and raised in Buffalo, New York, I have now put down roots in Rochester thanks to my three years in residency here and can’t imagine continuing my training anywhere else. I value being able to maintain and grow both the professional and personal relationships I formed through the URMC, while still being just a quick drive away from my family living in Buffalo.
Professional Interests?
Following fellowship, I intend to work as a hospitalist, caring for individuals with acute medical issues that can’t safely be managed in an outpatient setting. I enjoy the variability in cases seen, with no two patients, their health histories, or their life stories ever the same, and the high level of critical thinking and decision making that is used on a daily basis.
Where do you see yourself practicing?
Ultimately, I would like to remain in Rochester following completion of fellowship, continuing to serve the community I now call home.
What do you hope to learn or accomplish during fellowship?
With older adults and the elderly comprising a large majority of hospitalized patients, I hope this fellowship will arm me with the skill set needed to better care for this unique patient population, with an emphasis on providing high-quality, guideline-directed medicine. I am also eager to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the greater healthcare system in Rochester that extends outside hospital walls, by rotating through assisted living, rehabilitation, and long-term care facilities, such that I will be able to better guide my patients through their hospitalizations and establish safe disposition plans.