Josette Rivera, MD

Professor of Clinical Medicine

Division of Geriatrics

Josette Rivera is a Professor of Medicine and a clinician educator in the UCSF 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 geriatric medicine and hospice and palliative medicine. She provides primary and palliative care to homebound older adults through the UCSF Care at Home 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 UCSF Program in Interprofessional Practice & Education, and is developing interprofessional curricula, assessment tools, and faculty development opportunities. As a past recipient of a Geriatric Academic Career Award, co-PI of the Reynolds Foundation Next Steps Grant, Deputy Director of the Northern California Geriatric Education Center, and currently PI of the UCSF Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) Dr. Rivera has developed programs and curricula to train health professions faculty, students, and community practitioners to provide optimal interprofessional health care for older adults. She is also the founding chair of the American Geriatrics Society Interprofessional Education and Practice Special Interest Group.