As individuals age, they often face a combination of chronic conditions, changes in mobility and cognition, and evolving social and emotional needs. To help people address these challenges through a holistic and coordinated approach, Richmond University Medical Center has appointed Dr. Aaron Gottesman as Medical Director of Geriatric Primary Care. Dr. Gottesman will head up RUMC’s multidisciplinary Gerontology Institute, based out of the New Springville Center for Family Health and Specialty Services, located at the Staten Island Mall, in the New Springville section of Staten Island.
Dr. Gottesman will head the new service line designed to meet the unique and evolving needs of older adults, typically aged 65 and older, through a whole-person approach to care. It combines advanced medical expertise with a strong commitment to emotional well-being, independence, and overall quality of life. Among the services and specialties Dr. Gottesman provides are comprehensive physical exams, chronic disease management, cognitive and memory care, medication management, behavioral health assessments, functional and mobility support, preventive care, and psychosocial evaluations.
“We are proud to launch our new geriatric care services which are designed to provide compassionate, personalized care that helps older adults maintain their health, dignity, and quality of life,” said Dr. Gottesman. “This service reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of our community with both expertise and empathy.”
Dr. Gottesman is a board-certified physician and a respected leader in hospital medicine and geriatrics. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx and completed his residency and chief residency in internal medicine on Staten Island. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Senior Fellow of the Society of Hospital Medicine, and an active member of the American Geriatrics Society.
This past February, RUMC announced it had been awarded $250,000 from The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to expand geriatric services and form its Gerontology Institute. The Institute strengthens and expands care for older adults across Staten Island by creating a fully coordinated network that connects hospital services, physician practices, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, community organizations, and home‑based supports.
Geriatric medicine is the latest healthcare service available through RUMC’s Richmond Health Network. Formed in 2020, the Network is comprised of outpatient offices and specialty locations and features over 200 healthcare providers in a wide range of fields including primary care, family medicine, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, pediatrics, and now geriatrics.
“Our Gerontologic Institute was created in direct response to the rapidly growing senior population in Staten Island—which has increased by 50% over the past ten years,” said Jeffrey Lieto, Executive Vice President of the Richmond Health Network and Chief Strategy Officer at RUMC. “Our goal is to make aging a more humanistic and intentional process, supported by systems that span the full continuum of care.”
