Integrated Geriatrics and Palliative Care Fellowship

Adi Shafir, MD, Class of 2021

“I can't imagine a better program to get excellent clinical training, exposure to all aspects of both geriatrics and palliative care, and have significant time to pursue professional development and research. I feel so supported in my personal and career development, and have met so many wonderful mentors. Training in geripal at UCSF is a dream come true.” 

Evie Kalmar, MD, Class of 2020

Current Position: Clinician-Educator and Medical Consultant, Home-Based Primary Care, San Francisco VA and Division of Geriatrics, UCSF

“Here are some things I love about the fellowship:

• The people. The staff and faculty in the division of geriatrics and palliative medicine are incredible. There are so many opportunities to work with wonderful colleagues, and develop supportive mentorship relationships. The co-fellows are also amazing!
• The flexibility. Having eight months of professional development time allowed me time to explore my interests while also having the option to dedicate more time to training that I wanted. There are so many possibilities available by virtue of being at an institution like UCSF and seated within two strong and robust divisions.
• The location. The Bay Area is a beautiful place to live. In addition to being a bustling and alive city, SF is surrounded by abundant nature and places for day or weekend trips.”

Ashwin Kotwal, MD, Class of 2019 

Current position: Clinician Investigator and Lead Physician, Video Palliative Care Clinic, San Francisco VA and Division of Geriatrics, UCSF

“One of my favorite parts of fellowship was learning alongside my co-fellows and forming really close friendships each year. I appreciated how balanced the fellowship was between providing solid clinical training and flexible time to pursue my research interests and reflect on my career path. And, it was amazing living in the Bay area because of the time you can spend outdoors all year (both in the city and up and down the coast)!”

Lingsheng, MD, MHS, Class of 2022

Current position: Assistant Professor of Medicine at UCSF

“Soon after starting fellowship, I knew I had found my people and community. It was a joy to learn from the best in the field of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, and in beautiful San Francisco! I was surrounded by co-fellows, faculty, and staff members who were deeply knowledgeable and modeled thoughtful and compassionate care on a daily basis. There was a collective commitment to serving older adults and supporting their caregivers with empathy and respect. Now, as a faculty member in the Division, I feel so fortunate that I get to continue working with and learning from beloved colleagues and mentors.”

Ryan McMahan, Class of 2025

Current position: T32 Aging Research Fellow

“I chose UCSF’s Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine fellowship because I’m drawn to the complexity of serious illness decision-making and the privilege of caring for older adults. I’ve loved learning to care for some of San Francisco’s most medically and socially complex patients across every possible setting. From seeing what happens to older adults during a hospitalization, to finally seeing inside the black box of a SNF, to visiting patients on home hospice in every corner of the city, this training has been incredibly impactful. I’ve been continually inspired by the variability of aging, the humility it demands, and the compassionate leaders at UCSF who model this work so well. In a society that often fears aging, this fellowship offers a chance to push back against that ageist paradigm and advocate for dignity and meaning at every stage of health.”

Lynn Flint, MD
Program Director
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Evie Kalmar, MD
Associate Program Director
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Carly Zapata, MD
Associate Program Director
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Elaine Chow
Education Programs Specialist
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