Kellie Flood, M.D.Kellie Flood, M.D., a geriatrician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been named Clinician of the Year by the American Geriatrics Society. Flood is a board-certified physician in internal medicine, geriatrics and palliative care.
According to the American Geriatrics Society, Flood was selected because of her work providing care for older adults at UAB, as well as her efforts to expand the impact of geriatrics expertise and leadership for thousands of older adults in Alabama and around the nation.
Flood also launched the UAB Geriatric Scholar Program, which has trained more than 300 nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers and other health professionals in core geriatrics principles. Projects orchestrated by these scholars helped UAB standardize assessments of cognition and function for older patients throughout the hospital.
“This recognition is humbling and overwhelming to me because I know the truth — that the amazing geriatric work happening at UAB is the result of teamwork from literally hundreds of people over the last decade,” Flood said. “The award recognizes the support from UAB hospital and health system leadership that has been there from day one. It also recognizes the outstanding mentorship from Cynthia Brown and hospital senior leaders, the amazing work of Katrina Booth as ACE Unit medical director, our fantastic geriatric program nurse coordinators Emily Simmons, Shari Biswal and David James, and most of all, the transformational change made possible by UAB’s over 300 geriatric scholars.”
“Dr. Kellie Flood electrifies people and brings them together; she galvanizes a group to become a team and to charge forward with a project,” said Cynthia Brown, M.D., MSPH, director of the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care at UAB. “Dr. Flood took the concept of an ACE Unit from dream to reality in two years. This is a remarkable achievement that speaks to her drive and inspiration of others to make the ACE Unit a reality.”
Flood will receive the award during the American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting in May.