Josette Rivera, MD
Professor
Medicine
School of Medicine

Josette Rivera is a Professor of Medicine and a clinician educator in the UCSF Division of Geriatrics. She received her medical degree from the University of Rochester and completed residency training in Primary Care Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview, followed by a clinical and research fellowship in the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at Johns Hopkins.

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At the conclusion of fellowship, Dr. Rivera became a staff physician at On Lok Lifeways, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, which serves nursing home eligible seniors in the San Francisco area. Dr. Rivera joined the UCSF Division of Geriatrics in 2008, where she serves as an educator, program leader, and clinician.

Clinical Activities Dr. Rivera is board certified in geriatric medicine and hospice and palliative medicine. She provides primary and palliative care to homebound older adults through the UCSF Care at Home Program. This program serves patients throughout San Francisco, many of whom have not previously received primary medical care for years. Dr. Rivera teaches medical students, residents, and fellows how to do a home visit and related elements of geriatric care within this context, including assessment of functional status, care coordination, and establishing a patient's goals of care. Her goal is to ensure that trainees understand the unique needs of and resources for homebound older adults.

Academic Focus Dr. Rivera’s educational and research endeavors focus on interprofessional education and practice, particularly in the context of caring for older adults. She co-leads the School of Medicine’s collaborations with the campus-wide UCSF Program in Interprofessional Practice & Education, and is developing interprofessional curricula, assessment tools, and faculty development opportunities. As a past recipient of a Geriatric Academic Career Award, co-PI of the Reynolds Foundation Next Steps Grant, Deputy Director of the Northern California Geriatric Education Center, and currently PI of the UCSF Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) Dr. Rivera has developed programs and curricula to train health professions faculty, students, and community practitioners to provide optimal interprofessional health care for older adults. She is also the founding chair of the American Geriatrics Society Interprofessional Education and Practice Special Interest Group.

Awards

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  • Outstanding Service Award, UCSF Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators, 2016
  • Induction, UCSF Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators, 2015
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, UCSF Academy of Medical Educators, 2012
  • Hartford Foundation Center of Excellence Faculty Scholar, 2012

Education & Training

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  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training University of California 2017
  • Geriatrics Fellowship School of Medicine Johns Hopkins 2007
  • Residency, Internal Medicine School of Medicine Johns Hopkins Bayview 2004
  • M.D. School of Medicine University of Rochester 2001

Interests

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  • medical education
  • geriatrics education
  • interprofessional education
  • faculty development

Websites

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Publications (10)

Top publication keywords:
Patient SimulationEvaluation Studies as TopicRenal Insufficiency, ChronicDelivery of Health Care, IntegratedStudents, MedicalMobility LimitationProblem-Based LearningInternal MedicineHealth OccupationsCooperative BehaviorWorkplaceHealth PersonnelFrail ElderlyWorkflowInterprofessional Relations

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