Successful implementation of a faculty development program in geriatrics for non-primary care physician educators.

A four-year faculty development program to enhance geriatrics learning among house officers in seven surgical and related disciplines and five medical subspecialties at a large academic institution resulted in changes in attitudes and knowledge of faculty participants, expanded curricula and teaching activities in geriatrics, and enhanced and altered career trajectories of faculty participants. The program centered on problem-oriented longitudinal small group seminars with concurrent application of new skills. Key success factors included securing the active support of institutional leaders, focus on career development, examining presumptions regarding professional scope, protected time for faculty participants, and provision of teaching and evaluation resources for individualized application by faculty.