For decades she has played an integral role in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics as the Geriatrics Program Administrator.
Having first joined the division in 2000, she has served in her position for 25 of the program’s 27 years. Her passion for patient care, teaching and mentoring have helped form the team and set the tone for the teamwork that drives it.
Frank will retire in June after more than 50 years with IU School of Medicine and IU Health.
She started working at IU in 1973 as a student nurse and started working full-time upon her graduation in May 1975. She officially joined IU Geriatrics in January 2000.
Her friends and colleagues say she is always striving for excellence and never shies away from a task or problem.
Professor of Medicine Steven Counsell, MD, hired Frank to be the IU Geriatrics Program Administrator, and said it was Frank’s clinical and administrative background that made her a crucial aspect of the program. Frank worked in clinical services and education and collaborations with partners in health services research at the IU Center for Aging Research, which was also founded in 1997 by Dr. Chris Callahan, Counsell said.
“Over the years, IU Geriatrics became known as one of the leading academic geriatrics programs in the country, and in particular for developing grant supported innovative models of geriatrics interdisciplinary team-based care,” Counsell said.
Frank played a key role in developing and implementing with Dr. Counsell the Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders, or GRACE model; with Dr. Malaz Boustani, Aging Brain Care (ABC) Medical Home; and with Dr. Kathleen Unroe, Optimizing Patient Transfers, Impacting Medical Quality, and Improving Symptoms, or OPTIMISTIC.
She helped to implement ABC Community modeled after ABC Medical Home and partnering with Indiana’s Area Agencies on Aging whose staff serve as ABC Care Coaches supporting caregivers of people living with dementia.
Colleagues say Frank has been instrumental in geriatrics education initiatives, as well.
She has aided in various ways with the Geriatrics Education Network of Indiana, or GENI; the John A. Hartford Foundation Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine; and the IU Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, or IU GWEP.
Glenda Westmoreland, MD, said she and Frank worked together in the geriatric education space for more than 25 years.
“One of the phenomenal attributes Kathy has is she does not shy away from any task or problem,” Westmoreland said. “Even if the assignment is one where she has little or no experience, she will take it on and not only get it done, she will complete the assignment with excellence.”
Westmoreland fondly recalls that, about 24 years ago, she was starting maternity leave with her first child, and Frank was assigned to take care of the Geriatric Medicine Fellows during her absence.
“I’ll never forget Kathy visiting me in the hospital asking the question, ‘What’s a fellow?’” Westmoreland said.
Despite never working within the fellowship, Frank brought her can-do attitude, Westmoreland said. From there, Frank not only took care of the fellows as Fellowship Coordinator, but she has also gone on to train her own successors.
A Q&A with Kathy Frank, Geriatrics Program Administrator
How long have you been in your current role? How long have you been at IU?
I moved to this role in Geriatrics in January 2000. I started working at IU in 1973 as a student nurse at IU Hospital, and when I graduated in May 1975 I started working full-time at IU Hospital.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
There isn't just one, but many "enjoy most" for me. All the wonderful people I get to work with, all the trainees I get to help learn about the care of older adults, the many different grant projects, getting to meet and work with new people, asking lots of questions, always learning and trying to find new ways to achieve our goals.
Please share a bit about the people at work who inspire, challenge and motivate you.
I have worked with many amazing people during my years here, too many to name. There is no way to thank them enough for all their encouragement and caring. My work "family" will always have a very special place in my heart!
How do you like to spend your time when you're not at work?
Some of my "not at work" is as a volunteer, which impacts those who care about older adults and encourages others to learn and get involved in geriatrics.
For example, I led the way to create the state chapter of AGS, Indiana Geriatrics Society in 2006 and I continue to help keep it strong. I am also a volunteer for our local Area on Aging, and I am now the current Board Chair and will continue this work.
I spend a good amount of time with my grandson, who has been with me since he was a baby and now has just graduated from high school and will be starting college. His friends spend a lot of time at my house, and I provide lots of good food and listening.
I love to sing and participate on the worship team and choir at church. A fun fact is I sang with a gospel group for ten years and we recorded two vinyl records that are in my closet.
I also find time to be outside and work in my yard and garden.
After retirement at the end of June, I plan to continue to work part-time on two grants: Aging Brain Care with the AAA's and SPIRE-GRACE.
