Alice Pomidor returns to FSU Department of Geriatrics
SUMMER 2026 / FSUMED 31
By Patience Moseley FSU College of Medicine
Amid a nationwide shortage of geriatricians, the Florida State University College of Medicine is doubling down by bringing back one of its most seasoned“ architects” to the Department of Geriatrics.
Alice Pomidor, M. D., MPH, arrived at FSU in 2003 when the M. D. program was in its infancy. Alongside Lisa Granville, M. D., Pomidor wove her expertise into the program curriculum, developing training architecture that few universities have yet to implement. Their influence ensured that geriatric competencies were embedded in the four-year training program— a dual-purpose strategy that provides future physicians with foundational training in geriatric care and aims to improve the future care of older patients through exposure and experience.
“ Your attitude about older adults doesn’ t matter as much as whether or not you take care of them properly, and therefore whether or not you’ ve been trained how to take care of them properly,” Pomidor said.“ We want to give everybody a floor of competence in geriatrics.”
After a successful career training the future wave of physicians, Pomidor retired from FSU, primarily to make time for a needed knee replacement. Following a right knee replacement, she decided to explore full-time clinical practice— a professional chapter she had yet to fully experience after years in the classroom. While Pomidor enjoyed this experience, a left knee replacement demanded retirement from full-time practice. Throughout her retirement adventures, Pomidor remained in contact with her colleagues at FSU College of Medicine, in case the team could benefit from a seasoned educator and geriatrician. Returning half-time as“ the bionic geriatrician,” Pomidor is excited to be back in the classroom and continuing the legacy that she has played an integral part in building over the years.
Focusing on the 4M’ s( mentation, medications, mobility and what matters most), the college remains one of few to implement mandatory longitudinal training in these minimum geriatrics competencies. Granville, who is now the department chair, said the goal is“ empowering patients so that they can be a strong member of the team, not( having) things done to them, but things done with them.”
The curriculum instills both a strong medical foundation and compassion in caring for older adults, thanks to the strides made by what Granville affectionately calls the“ small, but mighty” Department of Geriatrics. Pomidor is proud to be reunited with the team to continue building the legacy she once broke ground on. She and Granville emphasized the importance of operating as a team, and their team-oriented strategy carries over to patient care.
“ Geriatrics is a very team-based specialty because we’ re very strong believers in interprofessional roles and support,” said Pomidor. That is one of the reasons she chose to return from retirement, to continue supporting the college’ s unique mission. Pomidor’ s
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