The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Hartford Center of Excellence (CoE) in Geriatric Psychiatry Research was established in 2005. This CoE was created to further the development of academic leadership in the field of geriatric psychiatry by offering research training to physicians in geriatric psychiatry so that they gain the knowledge and skills necessary for such leadership. This goal is being accomplished by providing funding support for research fellows and junior faculty in geriatric psychiatry.

Some support is also offered to qualified senior (PGY-3 or 4) residents in psychiatry, and to faculty at different levels (including mid-career faculty) with a developing interest in aging research. The Center is built on the existing strengths of the UCSD, including but not restricted to the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging (SIRA), the Academic Geriatric Resource Center, the Center for Teaching Development, and the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The Division of Geriatric Psychiatry is home to several highly successful local and national research training programs in geriatric psychiatry that have received widespread recognition.

Dilip V. Jeste, MD, Ester and Edgar Levi Chair in Aging, Director of the SIRA, Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, and Chief of the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry serves as director of the CoE. He is supported by three Assistant Directors and a program manager. A Steering Committee comprised of several UCSD faculty members makes decisions about selection of Hartford Scholars, determination of the academic work to be performed by them, allocation of Hartford funds, and evaluation of the progress of the CoE. A national-level External Advisory Committee oversees and offers advice on the overall operation of the CoE.

The Hartford Foundation website