Dr. Lisa Walke awarded federal grant to improve care for older adults

Dr. Lisa Walke, associate professor of medicine, has been awarded a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as part of its Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program.

The grant of $833,308 will help fund the Connecticut Older Adult Collaboration for Health (COACH), a partnership between Yale School of Medicine, Yale School of Nursing, Yale New Haven Health System, Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, Fair Haven Community Health Center, Gateway Community College, and VA Connecticut. The objective of COACH is to improve the health of older adults in Connecticut by increasing the number of primary care practitioners and health professional trainees who are proficient in delivering care aligned with geriatric principles; by retaining the current geriatrics workforce by supporting junior faculty members; and by empowering patients, their families, and lay care workers to take an active role in partnering with healthcare professionals.

Walke is associate chief for clinical affairs for the Section of Geriatrics at the School of Medicine. She oversees all of the clinical programs for the section across both campuses and throughout the community. She developed the Geriatric Consultation Service for Yale-New Haven Hospital (York Street Campus), has been instrumental in the relocation and remodeling of the inpatient geriatric unit, and is developing a senior-friendly Emergency Department on the St. Raphael’s campus.

The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program supports the development of a health care workforce that improves health outcomes for older adults by integrating geriatrics with primary care, maximizing patient and family engagement, and transforming the healthcare system. HRSA is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the primary federal agency responsible for improving access to healthcare services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable.