Denise Mohess, MBBS
she/her/hers
Co-Chief, Section of Geriatrics Director of Age Friendly Care Director of Geriatrics, Milford Campus Center for Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Internal Medicine
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Biography
Biography - Denise Mohess, MBBS, FAAHPM
Denise Mohess, MBBS, is a Board-Certified Geriatric Medicine Physician dedicated to emphasizing a healthy aging mindset and bringing a holistic approach to patient care by addressing the unique healthcare needs of older adults.
As a Board-Certified physician in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, she aims to develop care plans which align with the patients’ priorities and improve the quality of life for those she serves. She has provided clinical care for vulnerable populations and those with serious illness of all ages across the care continuum.
Dr. Mohess received her medical degree from The University of the West Indies in Trinidad and completed her Internal Medicine residency at the Jefferson Abington Hospital in Pennsylvania. She received her fellowship trainings in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Her expertise as a certified diversity professional, fosters a commitment to incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging principles into every aspect of her work.
Her research has been focused on communication in healthcare.
Education & Training
- FellowMt Sinai, Icahn School of Medicine (2009)
- FellowUniversity of Pennsylvania (2008)
- ResidentAbington Memorial Hospital (2007)
- ResidentSUNY Downstate Medical Center (2006)
- MBBSUniversity of The West Indies, Bachelor of Medicine/ Surgery (2001)
Certifications
- Board CertificationABIM, Hospice & Palliative Medicine (2009)
- Board CertificationABIM, Geriatric Medicine (2008)
Activities
- Pain ManagementVirtual with attendees from across the US and Caribbean 2023Caribbean Palliative Care Workshop
- Leading with Relationship Centered CommunicationOnline workshop 2023Faculty Development Workshop
- Radical Belonging – Addressing the Hidden Curriculum of BelongingRichmond, VA, United States 2023ACH Winter Course
- Radical BelongingRichmond, VA, United States 2023Winter Course- Faculty Development workshop
- Islamic and Medical perspective on End of Life CareSpringfield, VA, United States 2023Imam Al-Asar Masjid Educational Series
- When the Challenges to Health Are So Loud, it is DeafeningOrlando, FL, United States 2022American Geriatric Society Annual Meeting
- Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis is the Most Common Indication for Liver Transplantation among the Elderly.Orlando, FL, United States 2022AGS 2022
- Predictors and Mortality Among >65 years infected with Covid- 19Orlando, FL, United States 2022AGS ( American geriatric Society) 2022
- Integrating Geriatrics into Community Cancer Care: A Single Center Experience.Orlando, FL, United States 2022AGS 2022
- Acute surgery in the elderlyFairfax, VA, United States 2022Geriatric Grand Rounds
- A Case of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal in an Elderly Patient.Tampa, FL, United States 2022SGIM 2022
- Advance Care PlanningVirtual Conference 2021Grand Rounds
- Brain health and ResiliencyFairfax, VA, United States 20215th Annual Art and Science of Brain Health Conference
- Empowering High- Performance Teams WorkshopVirtual 3 day workshop 2021ENRICH-Enriching Relationships in Communication and Healthcare
- Dementia beyond the BrainReston, VA, United States 2021The Kensington Senior Living Community Educatiom
- The interplay of brain health and heart healthFairfax, VA, United States 2021Geriatrics Grand Rounds
- Redefining Rehabilitation in Dementia CareReston, VA, United States 2021Kensington Senior Living Cmmunity Education
- Board Review CourseVirtual Course 2021American Geriatric Society Annual Conference
- Substance Use in the elderly: A case report highlighting implicit bias amongst medical providersVirtual conference 2021AGS 2021
- Pain managementFalls Church, VA, United States 2021Transition Conference
- Advance Care Planning and Transitions of care- Educating multidisciplinary teams across Skilled Nursing FacilitiesMulti site online workshop 2021Project ECHO
- Best Case/ Worse case- Shared decision making Communication toolFalls Church, VA, United States 2021Educational Grand Rounds
- The Role of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in the Care of Older Cancer PatientsVirtual Conference 20202020 Hematology and Oncology Update
- The Impact of Dementia.Fairfax, VA, United States 2020Brain Health Conference
- Healthy AgingFairfax, VA, United States 2020Grand Rounds
- Hospice Utilization and Hepatocellular CarcinomaVirtual conference 2020AGS 2020
- Leading Inter professional High-Performance Healthcare TeamsPittsburgh, PA, United States 2019Academy of Communication in Healthcare ( ACH) Enrich
- Surgeon communication and family understanding of patient prognosis in critically ill surgical patients: A qualitative investigation informs a provider training programWashington, DC, United States 2019ACS Quality and Safety Conference
- Communication Skills for Effective Conflict EngagementTampa, FL, United States 2018ACH ENRICH and International Communication Course
- Discussing Goals of CareBaltimore, MD, United States 2017International Conference on Communication in Healthcare & Health Literacy Annual Research Conference
- Being MortalFairfax, VA, United States 2017Educational Grand Rounds
- Coaching and Feedback through Relationship, Reflection and Intentional change- 3 day WorkshopLos Angeles, CA, United States 2017AACH ENRICH (Enriching Relationships in Communication and Healthcare)
- The Power of the White Coat: Impact of the physician care team on patient experience”Fairfax, VA, United States 2016Educational Grand Rounds
- Epstein Barr Virus positive Diffuse Large B cell lymphoma of the ElderlySarasota, FL, United States 2015American Geriatric Society Annual Meeting
- Myeloma, Depression and Decision-MakingPhiladelphia, PA, United States 2015American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care Annual Meeting
- Physicians’ perception of Advance Care PlanningOrlando, FL, United States 2014American College of Physicians Meeting
- Patient with Acute Stroke and Myocardial Infarction Diagnosed with Metastatic CancerOrlando, FL, United States 2014American Geriatric Society Annual Meeting
- Splenic infarction in an elderly female: An atypical presentationOrlando, FL, United States 2010American Geriatric Society Annual Meeting
- AIDS presenting as Failure to thrive and dementia in an elderly male.Washington, DC, United States 2008American Geriatric Society Annual Meeting
Honors & Recognition
| Award | Awarding Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Subspecialist of the Quarter | Inova Health system | 2019 |
| Tomorrow’s Leader Award | Catholic Health Association | 2013 |
| Eugene Kane Scholar | Order of Malta | 2011 |
Professional Service
| Organization | Role | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Yale New Haven Health System | Member, Lecanemab Clinical Advisory Group- This group will determine the implementation of utilization of Lecanemab- (new medication approved by the FDA for mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's dementia). This advisory group is an interdisciplinary group, with members from the Health system, including the University, faculty from the medical school, to make recommendations for assessment, prescribing, administration and monitoring of this new medication. | 2023 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | Quality Improvement Steering Committee Expert- as Geriatrician, focused on Falls for this year | 2023 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | ED Hospice Processes- To strategically partner with Hospice agencies and the Hospitals in the Health system to improve quality and efficiency of end of life care for patients and their families . | 2023 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | BH Discharge Planning- Interdisciplinary team/ committee to optimize discharge planning procedures at BH and Milford campuses. | 2023 - Present |
| Yale New haven | Mortality Surprise Question- Interdisciplinary committee across the Health system to facilitate improved prognostication, mortality, disposition of patients presenting to the EDs across the health system. | 2023 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | Learning network - Home Based primary care programs across the country, specially selected after an application process, focused on quality improvement for the care of older adults - monthly meetings. | 2023 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System | Facilitator for ERCC ( Enhanced Relationship Centered Communication) | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System | YNHHS Geriatric ED Strategic Planning committee- Inter disciplinary team to develop and expand Geriatric Emergency Medicine services across the health system | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | Age Friendly Health System initiative to improve care for older adults at Bridgeport and Milford hospitals. Collaboration with Inter disciplinary team. | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | GEMS Leadership- Strategic planning for the Geriatric ED initiatives at Bridgeport and Milford campuses | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | Fall Committee- Quality Improvement to prevent falls across the institution | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System | System Delirium Optimization- interdisciplinary team with members across the health system with goal to improve detection and prevention, as well as management of delirium. Care pathways development and review. | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | Schwartz Center Rounds Planning Committe | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System | Clinical Consensus Group: Geriatric Surgery Verification Clinical Pathway Aim to achieve Geriatric Certification for Surgery across the system Develop policies, procedures, protocols, pathways to provide safer surgeries to older adults. | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New haven | Geriatric Nursing Education for nursing across the health system | 2022 - Present |
| Palliative Care Association of Trinidad and Tobago | Committee's main focus is to establish Palliative Care services in Trinidad and Tobago, including education, community outreach, development of policies, protocols, standards of care. | 2022 - Present |
| Yale New Haven Health System - - Bridgeport, CT | Geriatric Care Coordinator- monthly meetings for our Home Visit program | 2022 - Present |
| American Association for Physician Leadership | Member | 2021 - 2023 |
| Physician Women in Leadership | Member | 2021 - 2023 |
| Carpenter Shelter | Volunteer | 2020 - Present |
| Fairfax Public Television | Healthcare Series. Geriatrics: The Super Specialists. Interview with Inova Geriatrics. Integrative Services to discuss new community-based initiatives for geriatric care: The Advanced Illness Clinic, Geriatric Home Visits and Comprehensive Geriatrics Clinic. Recorded and aired on Public television March 27, 2017 | 2017 - Present |
| Fairfax Public Television | Overview of Geriatrics programs & the Advanced Illness Clinic at Inova. Interview with Denise Mohess, MD. The Inside Scoop: Healthcare Series. Retrieved from April 2017 | 2017 - Present |
| Inova Health System | https://www.inovanewsroom.org/expert-commentary/2017/04/peace-of-mind-why-you-need-an-advance-healthcare-directive/ Recorded Public Service Announcement 2017 | 2017 - Present |
| Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH) | ACH Faculty in Training committee is an International interprofessional committee with role of establishing curriculum, mentorship and training for health care providers in the fields of Communication and Leadership . | 2015 - Present |
| American Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine | Member | 2008 - Present |
| American Medical Directors’ Association | Member | 2007 - 2010 |
| American Geriatric Society | Member | 2007 - Present |