Diploma of Geriatric Medicine: Be part of mastering care for older people

Dr Lisa Hill is a Consultant Community Geriatrician and has been working at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since 2014. She is an experienced Diploma of Geriatric Medicine and Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) examiner. She posts on X: @FoodieDoctor73. 

Applications for the next written exam for the Diploma of Geriatric Medicine open on Monday 6 January 2025 and close on Sunday 19 January 2025. 

My career journey started with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from Liverpool University. Determined to have a career in medicine, I trained as a doctor in South Wales before continuing my training in the Northwest of England in 2003. Early on in my career, I developed an interest in working with older adults and completed my specialist training in Geriatric and General Medicine in 2011.

My current role is working as a Community Geriatrician within a multidisciplinary team at the Countess of Chester Hospital supporting the older population of Chester and Cheshire West. Witnessing the challenges that older patients and their caregivers face, feeds into my continued enthusiasm to make a difference and drives my passion to continue treating the ‘whole person’. 

The need for change 

As the population grows, with an increasing number of older patients needing of care, we should consider the necessary workforce required to meet needs in the future. There is an increased demand for individuals across all professions to be trained adequately to understand the skills needed to manage the complexities related to multimorbidity and the nuances of presentations in older patients.  

The skills of a geriatrician are extensive. To be part of the education and learning experience that allows a transfer of essential skills to others is of paramount importance to me. Recognising this, I became an examiner and a Board member for the Diploma of Geriatric Medicine (DGM) examination two years ago.  

I enjoy these roles a great deal as they allow me to be part of supporting colleagues to achieve their goal of attaining the tools to shape the future of looking after our older population. During my time with the DGM, I have seen enthusiastic colleagues from a variety of backgrounds with a plethora of experience passing through the doors at the Spine, home of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in the Northwest.

I have worked alongside colleagues that have already achieved these competencies and seen how it has improved their clinical practice. For successful candidates, they feel a sense of achievement and relish in their enhanced knowledge and skills, allowing them to attain expertise and confidence in managing those presenting with advancing age and frailty. 

Why choose the DGM? 

I am extremely passionate about working collaboratively to improve what we offer and strive to support like-minded healthcare professionals. Together we can get this right and ensure individuals get what matters most to them. Working with older people can be both challenging and rewarding. There has never been a better time for you to consider applying for the DGM examination and integrating this knowledge into teams providing holistic care.  

The DGM is a perfect platform to improve your skills, benefit your career and play your part in improving the quality of care for older people in our healthcare community. The DGM is open to those with at least two years of postgraduate experience. It is a professionally regarded qualification, awarded by the RCP in collaboration with the British Geriatrics Society (BGS).

There are two parts to the exam, with an online written knowledge-based assessment and a clinical exam consisting of four assessment stations, including two integrated clinical stations, comprehensive geriatric assessment and a station to discuss ethical and legal principles in practice.  

Older people need advocates, and I would encourage anyone with the passion to make a meaningful difference and a lasting impact on the lives of older adults to consider this as an option.

Pursuing the DGM qualification opens opportunities for those working within a multidisciplinary team and those who wish to demonstrate competence and validation in becoming skilled professionals in this field.