Overview
The University of Wyoming Geriatric Fellowship Program provides training in the subspecialty of Geriatrics particularly formulated for the development of leaders in rural geriatrics. Geriatric medicine is a subspecialty component in training in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine. This program is a 12-month, ACGME-certified clinical fellowship that fulfills the training requirement for Board Certification in Geriatrics by the American Boards of Family Medicine and Internal Medicine.
The Geriatric Fellowship is fully accredited and accepts one fellow for ABIM/ABFM-Certification mandated training. The program consists of a variety of educational activities including in and outpatient geriatric experiences, skilled nursing facility experiences, and clinical rotations including neurology, hospice, palliative care, urology, and geriatric psychiatry. Teaching strategies include direct mentoring, readings, journal clubs, ECHO lecture, Grand rounds and self-directed learning. The goals of training are to acquire the necessary knowledge, interpersonal, problem-solving, health policy and humanistic skills needed for a career in clinical geriatric.
Geriatric fellows will have weekends and holidays off, along with no call.
Our Team
Fellowship Program Director
Tabitha Thrasher, DO
After graduating from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012, she completed residency in Family Medicine at the University of Wyoming, Casper. After a few years in the workforce on the west coast, she returned to education, finishing her Geriatric Fellowship in 2020 through the University of Wyoming, Casper. She has been a clinical assistant faculty at the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Program – Casper since 2018, and the Program Director of the Geriatric Fellowship since 2021.
DIO/Faculty
Beth Robitaille, MD
Dr. Robitaille, a Casper native, has extensive experience working with the geriatric population. She helps with the nursing facilities and was instrumental in the development of the Geriatric Fellowship. Although she wears many hats, she is dedicated to her patients.
Faculty
Cindy Works, MD
Working with the elderly and underserved is a passion of Dr. Works. With extensive time in post-acute and long-term care, she is a Certified Medical Director, and is board certified in Palliative Care and Hospice.
Faculty
Sharon Karnes, MD
Dr. Sharon Karnes is a geriatric fellowship faculty member that has been practicing in Casper for nearly 20 years. For the last 10 years a major focus has been geriatrics. She regularly manages a panel of patients at the nursing facility. She enjoys home visits and supervises them for the geriatric fellowship as well as family medicine residents and her own continuity patients. I embrace the statement that we are advisors on a life journey with our patients and they are steering the ship.
Program Coordinator
Lisa Gable