Claudene George, MD, MS, RPh, is a professor of medicine and associate chief of research in the division of geriatrics and has been a member of our faculty for 17 years, joining immediately after her fellowship training at Mount Sinai. Before becoming a doctor, she trained as a pharmacist, and her background made her unusually well suited for a prestigious invitation. She is part of a select group from across the country that evaluated thousands of studies to compile the most recent edition of the Beers Criteria, which were released most recently in 2023 by the American Geriatrics Society. The Criteria are considered the gold standard for physicians and others to consult in order to avoid prescribing a medication that might cause inadvertent harm in an older patient.
![Claudene J. George, M.D., M.S.]()
Claudene J. George, M.D., M.S.
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Here, she talks about her work with the panel and her unique path to becoming a leader in geriatrics.
“The Beers Criteria is used internationally by researchers and providers, as well as by entities like insurance companies. Healthcare systems also use the Criteria to determine which medications should be flagged as high-risk in their electronic medical record systems.
I had always valued the Beers Criteria, but after participating in the process and experiencing the scientific rigor and meticulous approach, I now appreciate this resource even more.
I was surprised when I was asked to join the Beers panel, in 2020. There are 12 interprofessional panel members, all with different areas of expertise. Collectively, we reviewed over 7,000 abstracts, and over 1,500 were selected for full text review. We are split into four working groups with different areas of focus. Ultimately, 451 manuscripts formed the basis of the evidence tables in the Criteria and an additional 148 were included as background. It’s an interesting project that increased my knowledge and allowed me to work directly with individuals whom I admired as a junior faculty member. I hope to continue working with the panel in the future.”
An indirect path leads to the right destination
“My career began as a pharmacist. After my family moved to the U.S. from Grenada when I was seven, I grew up in East New York, Brooklyn, before my family moved to Bedford-Stuyvesant. I attended Brooklyn Technical High School, which was geared towards the sciences and technology. I was interested in creative pursuits, including singing, dancing, and writing, but my family encouraged me to consider a profession that would provide stability and more certainty after graduation. I did not disagree. I looked up pharmacy in a book and decided to apply to a few programs. I was accepted to the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy directly from high school. I needed to maintain a 3.0 GPA during my first year of college, which I did, and then I began pharmacy school in my second year.
Towards the end of my training, I volunteered and then ultimately worked at a VA hospital in Pittsburgh. It was working with the veterans in the anticoagulation clinic that sparked my interest in medicine. They had many stories to tell. While they appreciated the details I provided about their medications, they had additional questions about their medical conditions. For example, why do I have congestive heart failure? What could I have done to prevent it? Why isn’t this med working? I certainly didn’t have the answers at that time. I was eager to learn more.
I need to keep seeing patients because this definitely grounds me. What is going to motivate me in the way that our patients do?
Dr. Claudene George, professor of medicine and associate chief of research in the division of geriatrics
I made a decision to apply to medical school ‘on the side’ while working as a pharmacist. I quickly learned that medical school was not a ‘side job.’ I worked nights as a pharmacist and took my remaining prerequisites during the day. I applied to medical school and got in.
My transition from general medicine to geriatrics fell into place with ease. I recall being a quiet and observant intern. I noticed that the older adults were not being treated in the same way as younger patients. There appeared to be a perception of their viability that was based on age alone or perhaps their code status. I was eager to improve my knowledge and abilities in the care of older patients and transitioned to a two-year geriatrics fellowship at Mount Sinai after residency.
As I look back at my career path, I followed my interests, and that led me to where I am now. I have benefited from the advice and mentorship of many others and I look forward to continuing to offer my services to patients, and to anyone who wants to learn more about providing superior care to members of our society who are often marginalized and overlooked.
I have a small outpatient practice on Tuesday mornings, and I still also cover inpatients and do weekend call. At first I was very focused on medical education but as my research grew, I had to scale back. The reality is that you can’t do everything. I need to keep seeing patients because this definitely grounds me. What is going to motivate me in the way that our patients do?
Patients keep me going. They are a vulnerable population and I’m grateful to have gained some unique expertise that can really benefit them. Being involved with the Beers Criteria is an opportunity to improve treatment for my own patients, and hopefully for all older people.”
Posted on: Friday, July 12, 2024
