Archive of news articles about Center for Aging and Health/Division of Geriatric Medicine faculty and staff
Quarter 3 of 2007

David Halpern, MD, Fellow - Matriculated 2007

Dr. David Halpern is a new arrival at UNC, but he is not new to top-tier universities: his BA in English is from Yale University (1999) and his MD is from Cornell (2004). He recently completed (2007) his residency in the Primary Care track of the Internal Medicine program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (2007).

His interest in geriatric medicine began during his first year of medical school, when he was awarded an American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) summer medical student fellowship. (For information about the AFAR program, go to http://www.afar.org/ .) As president of his school's geriatric interest group, he became aware of the myriad medical and social needs of elders. While a resident in  West Philadelphia, he became determined to pursue a career in geriatrics, realizing how important it is for older patients to have caring and knowledgeable physicians who can provide quality health care and advocate for an often-isolated population.

Michael LaMantia, MD, Fellow - Matriculated 2007

Dr. LaMantia received his BS degree from Duke University and his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

Before entering medical school, he was a high school teacher and coach. There are those who might say that his experience teaching teenagers enhances his ability to diagnose, interact positively with, and clinically treat older adults; people over 55 are much like people 14 to 18 years of age – sensitive to the fact that their present way of life is soon to change.

In 2005 he came to UNC to start his residency in internal medicine.  The productive relationships that he formed with geriatrician faculty members on the wards and his increasing interest in issues affecting the elderly and their care were reasons he became interested in doing a fellowship with the division. He applied and was accepted into the program on the research track.

LaMantia says that over his career, he has come to see that the “…complex and interwoven set of medical, social, and environmental issues that affect care provided to older adults is very different from providing health care to a younger patient. Devoting a period of time during a physician’s training to the issues that affect our more senior patients is wise given the projected increase in this population.”

Tiffany Shubert, PhD, MPT, interviewed on the "In Praise of Age" Show on the People's Channel 8

Dr. Tiffany Shubert, PhD, MPT, was interviewed about the role of physical therapy and healthy aging on the independent television station in Chapel Hill, NC. The interview was shown on Monday, September 3, 2007 at 7:30 AM and 1:30 PM.

Dr. Shubert stressed that EVERYONE is at risk for a fall, not just people with neurologic disease, and there are very simple things we can do to help prevent falls in older adults. The top two risk factors are leg weakness and difficulty walking. These are things that can be improved with strength training and physical therapy. She also talked about some of the innovative health promotion programs being offered throughout North Carolina to help promote healthy aging.

To make an appointment for physical therapy at the Chapel Hill Seymour Senior Center with Dr. Shubert, (referred by doctor or self-referral) call the UNC-CH Physical Therapy office at 919-732-6600.

There are also drop in "Ask the PT sessions" available on the second and fourth Friday of the month from 1-3 pm. Call the Seymour Center to sign up for a time to see a physical therapist.

Dr. Shubert is a member of the Center for Aging and Health interdisciplinary team and directs the falls risk clinic at the Chapel Hill Seymour Senior Center.

The North Carolina Medical Society Foundation has announced that Anthony Caprio, MD, has been selected as a scholar for the Leadership College Class of 2008. Nineteen scholars were chosen this year. The NCMS Leadership College gives leadership skills to select physician/scholars to prepare them for future work in administering medical programs at the county, state, and national levels. For more information on the program, go to the NCMS's website.

Dr. Caprio is a faculty member in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at UNC-CH School of Medicine.

Last updated 5/15/2008.