Dr. Scott Gibson is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Geriatrics and serves as the Program Director for the Geriatrics Fellowship. Here, Dr. Gibson shares his love for primary care, our aging population, and UMMC.

What is your professional background? 

I completed medical school, internal medicine residency and geriatrics fellowship all at UMMC.

Tell us about what you do at UMMC.  

I am a primary care physician for older adults and a consultant with the MIND center.  I am also the Geriatrics Fellowship Program Director.

What advice would you give to someone pursuing medicine today?

I would encourage anyone to consider primary care as a career option.  While subspecialties are attractive, we need good primary care physicians to take care of our aging population.  It can be challenging but it is also fulfilling.  Job satisfaction can be quite high – for Geriatrics in particular.  Spend some time shadowing a primary care physician while in college.  Take advantage of electives during medical school and residency training to work with a primary care physician.  This can be eye-opening for those who may not have seen themselves in primary care.

How has life changed due to COVID-19?

For past seven months, we have been doing mostly telehealth appointments given the high-risk nature of our age group.  It has been interesting to get a glimpse of their homes which is something I would not have been able to do before the pandemic.  It is hard not to see my patients in person but they have been so appreciative of being able to remain safe at home.  Social distancing has its downsides, however.  I have been hearing a lot of complaints about boredom, loneliness, and depression.  If you have an older family member who is isolating to avoid getting COVID-19, give them a call or do an outdoors, socially distanced visit with them.  You can help boost their spirits!

What do you like most about UMMC? 

I work with some of the most altruistic and capable people!  I never stop learning from my colleagues, fellows, residents and students at UMMC.  I love teaching and being able to impart a bit of geriatrics care to my trainees no matter what specialty they eventually choose.

Tell us something about yourself that people may not know.

My wife and I just had our first baby in March.