Geriatrics Training Program

WONCA Ageing & Health SIG

The need for improved training and skills development in care of our older patients has been identified as one of the goals of the WONCA Ageing & Health SIG. Globally, within medical schools, training at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in geriatrics is significantly lacking due to competing needs with other disciplines. We are happy to inform you that we are now able to offer an internationally accredited and certified e-learning program in geriatrics.

WONCA has entered into an agreement with the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) & Federation of Geriatric Education (FGE), who have for a number of years been offering the e-TRIGGER program. The online “E-TRaining In Gerontology & GERiatrics” (https://iagg-fge.org/) is conducted over 12 months. The course is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for CME for 60 CEUs. The Health Professionals Council of South Africa, via the South African Academy of Family Physicians (the South African WONCA member organisation), has awarded the course 60 hours of CME credits. It is hoped that in other regions of the world, where accredited training is needed to maintain registration, the credits will be recognised.

Fees for the course, as a member of the WONCA Ageing and Health SIG, have been substantially discounted with costs ranging from CHF 30 for doctors practicing in low-income countries, CHF 60 for those practicing in middle-income countries, and CHF 120 for those from high-income countries. Residents, registrars, and trainees will be entitled to a further 50% discount on these fees, and a certain number of scholarships are available. These fees are available to the first 10 applicants from the Ageing & Health SIG. To join the Ageing & Health SIG, please click here.

The courses will be developed for three main regions of the world; however, anyone from anywhere can participate in any course as the content is available for offline learning. WONCA’s association with the IAGG FGE will allow us to provide substantial input into the topics to be presented, and for those of us who are experts in a particular field to be presenters, as well as opportunities for trainees or early-career doctors to present cases.

The first course, which is in the Africa, Middle East & Europe Region, will commence on 26 September from 2PM – 5PM Paris time. Below is an outline of the topics to be presented:

• New generation of adults: September 26, 2024
• Cardiovascular diseases: October 24, 2024
• Neurology: November 21, 2024
• Nutrition and metabolic disorders: December 19, 2024
• Dementia: January 23, 2025
• Mobility disorders: February 20, 2025
• Long term care: March 20, 2025
• Mental Health: April 20, 2025
• Pulmonary diseases: May 22, 2025
• Teamwork in geriatric medicine: June 20, 2025
• End-of-life issues: July 24, 2025
• Aging in a changing world: August 21, 2025

To register for the course, please click here.

If you would like to apply for a scholarship or make further enquiries, please send an email to contact_iagg@hset.org, informing them that you are a member of WONCA.