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Return to Volume 3, Issue 4 Table of Contents
In an effort to improve subspecialty care provided to elderly Americans, the Association of Subspecialty Professors (ASP) created the T. Franklin Williams Scholars Program to identify and train leaders at the interface of geriatrics
and subspecialty medicine. Entering its fifth year, the program is already well-respected within the internal
medicine subspecialty community as a distinguished career development program for junior faculty. The
Williams Scholars Program has funded a talented group of 30 subspecialists at 20 institutions committed to conducting aging-related research, ranging from chronic kidney disease to rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to funding research, the program facilitates their development into superb clinicians, educators, and leaders in geriatric subspecialty medicine.
The Williams Scholars Program has become increasingly selective and popular since the program’s initial pilot in
2002. The overall success of the program, however, is chiefly marked by the accomplishments of the scholars.
Among the 14 scholars who have completed the program, 11 have published peer-reviewed articles on their research under the award and six have received National Institutes of Health K-23 grant funding. Throughout the duration of the award, all scholars were active in educating peers, fellows, and residents in geriatric subspecialty topics through involvement in
curriculum development, speaking at training sessions, or mentoring peers. All scholars remain involved in geriatric subspecialty medicine, and one former scholar is an active member of ASP’s Geriatrics Committee. I ASP recently submitted a proposal to extend the T. Franklin Williams Scholars Program to award 45 grants over four more award cycles. By continuing to
support junior faculty conducting top-notch geriatric subspecialty research, ASP anticipates reaching its goal of creating a cadre of leaders in geriatric subspecialty medicine.
For more information about the T. Franklin Williams Scholars Program, please visit the program website at or contact AAIM Grants Assistant Irene Sonu at (202) 861-9351 or isonu@im.org.
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