Mission

The Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care serves older adults and patients with advanced or life-threatening illness by providing leadership and core faculty for innovative models of clinical care; teaching and instructing students, fellows, and trainees; and conducting research that generates new knowledge contributing to the advancement of science and the quality of life. We carry out these activities in an interdisciplinary and caring manner that always respects the dignity of those we serve.

Vision

The Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care will continually strive to be one of the bestcombined geriatric/gerontology and palliative care research, education, and clinical programs in the United States.

The Division will provide leadership and core faculty for innovative, integrated, interdisciplinary, cost-effective primary care, and specialty clinical services that meet the needs of older adults and patients with advanced or life-threatening illness in all current and emerging health care settings; outpatient clinics; the home; assisted living facilities; the acute care hospital; day care or partial hospital; rehabilitation units; hospice; and the nursing home.

The Division will provide high quality educational experiences for medical students, residents, fellows, practicing physicians and other health care professionals and students that will enable them to practice state-ofthe-art, compassionate, and cost-effective care for older adults and patients with advanced or life-threatening illness in all health care settings. The Division will train physicians and other health care professionals to conduct research that will answer important questions related to aging, age-related disorders, the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the problems of older adults and patients with advanced or life-threatening illness. The Division will promote and conduct research that generates unique and fundamental knowledge that improves the health and quality of life for our patients in Alabama and throughout the nation.

Values

The Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care is dedicated to helping aging individuals and patients with advanced or life-threatening illness attain their greatest productivity and the highest possible quality of life.

• We are committed to excellence in the accomplishment of all activities relevant to our mission.
• We recognize that excellence can be obtained only through teamwork and the acceptance of responsibilities by all Division members.
• We are committed to educating others in the care of the elderly and patients with advanced or lifethreatening illness as well as developing knowledge in areas relevant to the problems and challenges of these populations. We are committed to providing a supportive work environment that recognizes and encourages innovation and initiative.