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Josette Rivera is an Associate Professor of Medicine and a clinician educator in the 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. 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 internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and hospice and palliative medicine. She provides primary and palliative care to homebound older adults through the UCSF Housecalls 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 Program in Interprofessional Education, and is developing interprofessional curricula, assessment tools, and faculty development opportunities. As a recipient of a Geriatric Academic Career Award, as co-PI of the Reynolds Foundation Next Steps Grant, and as Deputy Director of the Northern California Geriatric Education Center, Dr. Rivera has developed programs and curricula to train health professions faculty, students, and practitioners to provide optimal interprofessional health care for older adults. She is the course director and faculty mentor for the Interprofessional Aging and Palliative Care elective and student interest group, and is also the founding chair of the American Geriatrics Society Interprofessional Education and Practice Special Interest Group.