Reflection II from a 2025 AAGP Honors Scholar

As part of PRMS’ ongoing commitment to behavioral health, we are pleased to feature Dr. Karolina Sadowska, first-year psychiatry resident in the Duke University School of Medicine Resident Training Program and an Honors Scholar with the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP), as a featured guest blogger this month. Dr. Sadowska shares why she chose to enter the field of geriatric psychiatry and reflects on her experience attending the 2025 AAGP Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

I’ve always been drawn to people’s stories. Long before medical school, I spent time volunteering in nursing homes in both Poland and the U.S., where I saw how complex and deeply personal mental health struggles can be later in life. I was struck by how aging brings not only new challenges—like cognitive decline and medical illness—but also a depth of life experience that shapes how patients understand themselves and their relationships with their families and medical providers.

Mentorship and Professional Growth Within the AAGP Community

That perspective has continued to guide me throughout my training, but it was at the AAGP Scholars Program where I saw those values reflected so clearly in a broader professional community. Humanism in medicine was not just an abstract ideal—it was palpable in every interaction.  Whether in formal sessions or informal conversations, there was a shared commitment to truly seeing patients as people: listening to their personal narratives, honoring their values, and recognizing the social contexts that shape their care.

As it turns out, the AAGP members are thoughtful not only in patient care they provide, but also in ways in which they teach and mentor. They took the time to understand my interests, encouraged me to reflect on the kind of physician I hope to become, and offered guidance that extended beyond the next step ahead. Attending the conference was such a meaningful experience, both professionally and personally, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been selected as an AAGP Scholar and to have attended the 2025 AAGP Annual Meeting with the generous support from PRMS.

Looking Ahead: Pursuing a Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship and Future AAGP Involvement

This year I returned to the AAGP 2026 Annual Meeting again to present my qualitative research work, as I plan to pursue geriatric psychiatry fellowship after residency, I hope to stay connected to the organization long-term—not just as a learner, but eventually as a mentor too.

Again, I’m so thankful to AAGP and PRMS for making this experience possible. The Scholars Program is such a special opportunity, and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.

(L-R) Tonya Davies, RPLU, PRMS Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Karolina Sadowska, and Kathleen Miller, PRMS Director of Underwriting, at the 2025 AAGP Annual Meeting

If you have any questions or are interested in receiving a quote, contact PRMS at (800) 245-3333 or TheProgram@prms.com.