Geriatric Medicine in the Medical Curriculum: A MUST in the Globally Aging World

Geriatrics is a branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases in older people and problems specific to aging. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the number of people aged 65 or older is projected to grow from an estimated 524 million in 2010 to nearly 1.5 billion in 2050. The burden of diseases in the aging population will dramatically impact healthcare expenses in low- and middle-income countries and even developed ones. A preventive approach is essential. The role of medical institutions and inclusion of geriatrics in the medical curriculum have become important. However, incorporating geriatrics into the medical curriculum is associated with various issues and challenges: compact pre-existing curriculum, attitudes of teachers and students, and shortage of teaching geriatricians. An individualized institutional approach to curricular integration guided by the American Geriatrics Society’s minimum required competencies for the undergraduate will circumvent these challenges.