James S. Powers, MD

Director, Middle Tennessee Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program
Assoc. Director, VA Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center (GRECC)
Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Adjunct Professor of Nursing
Vanderbilt Primary Care Village at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Center for Quality Aging
Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program Faculty

Education:

M.D., University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
B.A., Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut

Relevant Links:

VUSM Faculty Profile
Division of Geriatric Medicine
Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program
Department of Medicine

Postgraduate Training:

Residency: Case Western Reserve University Hospitals, 1980 / Cleveland Clinic, 1979

Professional Highlights:

James S. Powers, M.D. received a B.A .cum laude from Wesleyan University (CT.) in 1973 and M.D. with Distinction in Research from the University of Rochester (N.Y.) in 1977 followed by residency in Internal Medicine at Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University Hospitals 1977-80. He served in the USPHS National Health Service Corps 1980-83 following which he was recruited to Vanderbilt to develop a Geriatric Medicine Program within the Division of General Internal Medicine.

Dr. Powers is author of over 75 papers, books, and book chapters he has devoted his academic career to Geriatric Nutrition, Education, and Healthcare Quality and Safety. He has mentored over 1200 trainees while at Vanderbilt and holds Fellowship in the American College of Physicians, American College of Nutrition, American Geriatrics Society, Gerontologic Society of America, and the Royal Society of Medicine. He serves as the Associate Clinical Director for the V.A. Tennessee Valley Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center.

Dr. Powers’ research interests include educational outcome evaluation, aging body composition, and models of geriatric care. He is P.I. of the Vanderbilt-Reynolds Geriatric Education Program, Co.-P.I. of the Meharry Geriatric Education Center, and leads numerous clinical demonstration projects for the T.V.H.S. G.R.E.C.C. concerned with falls prevention, caregiver support, and treatment of agitated dementia, and health systems improvement.