A couple of months ago I stopped in at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction to tour the wards and visit with patients and staff.

At one of the nurses’ stations I met 4 young resident physicians and 4 medical interns from Dartmouth Medical School.

I asked them what fields of medicine they planned to specialize in.

And I had a reason for asking. As chair of the Governor’s Commission on Healthy Aging, I am keenly aware that by the year 2030, fully 25% of Vermont’s population will be age 65 and older. Increasingly, Vermonters will need the capabilities of gerontology and geriatric specialists across all health care and related professions.

So the first young woman answered, “I’m going into pediatrics. I love working with children.” A second young woman chose general practice.

“It’s pretty simple for me,” one of the young men declared. “By the time I’m through with my education and set up in practice, I will owe enough money to buy not one house but two houses. I’m going into internal medicine because that’s where I can earn enough to pay my loans back.”

It struck me as I listened to them that there is no clear link between the medical needs of an aging society and the legitimate needs of the young doctors who’ll fill those needs.

In Vermont, we’re doing something to establish that link, with the proposal of a new Center for Aging at UVM.

The Commission on Healthy Aging, in collaboration with the University of Vermont and Fletcher Allen Health Care, is proposing the new Center on Aging. Our goal is to make Vermont a model state that leads the way in making healthy aging and independent living a reality.

Our primary objectives will be:

· To address our need for geriatric health care professionals by helping develop clinical fellowships in primary care, psychiatry, neurology, and psychology, as well as gerontology programs in nursing.

· To improve the skills of other caregivers through diverse postgraduate educational programs.

· To improve the skills and knowledge of students in medical, nursing and other health related fields by increasing geriatric content in undergraduate curricula.

· To provide training programs for case managers and other professionals working in organizations that provide services to older Vermonters.

· To promote aging-related research at UVM by helping investigators to obtain external grants, by forging collaborations, attracting new scientists, and enhancing recruitment.

· To advise policy makers in areas of primary concern to aging Vermonters, such as access to affordable health care, slowing degenerative diseases and maintaining independent lifestyles.

· To assist in developing new models of integrated care for severely frail and disabled older adults.

Today, there are proven strategies to promote independence for older Vermonters – strategies to prevent chronic diseases, disabilities, and injuries among our seniors – strategies to ensure that seniors remain active and involved in their communities, and continue to enjoy a good quality of life.

Vermont has upwards of 77,500 citizens age 65 or older today, and we are widely acknowledged to be among the fastest-aging states.

Healthy aging should also yield huge savings in health care costs.

Under Governor Douglas’ leadership, we’re stepping up our efforts to make Vermont an outstanding place to get an education, to earn a good living and to raise a family. At the same time, we must also make Vermont a good place to enjoy the rewards of our older years.