Kahli E Zietlow

Kahli E. Zietlow
Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine
Program Associate
Program Director of Geriatric Medicine Fellowship
Medical School
Internal Medicine - GPM
300 North Ingalls Bldg., Rm 907
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Kahli E Zietlow
Kahli E. Zietlow
Clinical Associate Professor
  • About
  • Qualifications
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • Manage Your Profile

  • About

    I earned my undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Michigan and attended medical school, internal medicine residency, and geriatrics fellowship at Duke University in North Carolina. I also completed a Duke-affiliated, extended geriatrics research fellowship through the Durham VAMC. After matriculation from Duke, I joined the UMMS faculty in 2020. I am currently the program director of the geriatrics fellowship and director of interprofessional education within the medical school. I participate in clinical research on the topics of guardianship and surrogacy decision-making in patients with dementia. In 2023, I received a Geriatrics Academic Career Award (GACA) through HRSA that will support participation in interdisciplinary medical education and research on characterizing the population of older adults under guardianship and understanding how guardianship may impact patients’ care. I have a number of teaching engagements across the medical school, internal and family medicine residency programs, the PA program, and the gerontology NP program.

    Qualifications

    • Medical Education Scholars Program
      University of MIchigan Medical School, Department of Learning Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, United States
      2021 - 2022
      Other
    • Special Geriatrics Fellow
      Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Durham, United States
      2018 - 2019
      Other
    • Clinical Research Training Program
      Duke University Health Systems, Department of Biostastics and Bioinformatics, Durham, United States
      2018 - 2019
      Other
    • Fellow
      Duke University Health System, Internal Medicine, Durham, United States
      2017 - 2018
      Other
    • Resident
      Duke University Health Systems, Internal Medicine, Durham, United States
      2014 - 2017
      Residency
    • Resident as Teacher Concentration
      Duke University Health Systems, Durham, United States
      2015 - 2016
      Other
    • MD
      Duke School of Medicine, DUMC 3710, Durham, NC, 27710, United States
      2010 - 2014
    • BS, Biology
      University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, United States
      2005 - 2009

    Research Overview

    Dementia, Cognitive Impairment, Capacity Assessments, Medical Decision-Making, Surrogate Decision-Making, Guardianship, Ethics, Medical Education

    Recent Publications

    See All Publications
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      23. HIPE: Hands-On Interprofessional Education. American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Virtual, May 2026 [Accepted].
      Basala T, Braun C, Ayotte B, Kalia N, Dowker S, Zietlow K. 2026 May 12;
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      23. HIPE: Hands-On Interprofessional Education. American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Virtual, May 2026 [Accepted].
      Basala T, Braun C, Ayotte B, Kalia N, Dowker S, Zietlow K. 2026 May 12;
    • Journal Article
      Addressing the Aging Workforce Crisis Through Intergenerational Programming: A Retrospective Analysis of Perfect Pair.
      Manocha S, Lerner ET, Rueppel E, Casey K, Karmarkar S, Lerner EJ, Zietlow K. J Am Geriatr Soc, 2026 Jan 22; DOI:10.1111/jgs.70302
      PMID: 41569147
    • Presentation
      Assessing Capacity: A Physician Perspective
      Zietlow K, Vitale C. 2026 Feb 12;
    • Presentation
      Assessing Capacity: A Physician Perspective
      Zietlow K, Vitale C. 2026 Feb 12;
    • Presentation
      Falls Screening in Older Adults
      Zietlow K. 2026 Feb 12;
    • Additional Scholarship
      Interviewed as Expert for, "A Growing Movement Aims to Prepare All Physicians to Care for Older Adults."
      Harris E. 2026 Feb 12;
    • Journal Article
      Americans are unprepared for the expensive and complex process of aging – a geriatrician explains how they can start planning
      Zietlow K. The Conversation, 2026 Feb 12;

    Featured News & Stories

    younger adult with older adult sitting heads touching compassionately
    Health Lab

    Americans are unprepared for the expensive and complex process of aging

    A Michigan Medicine geriatrician explains how Americans can prepare to age well.
    Older adult woman drinking coffee
    Department News

    CME Event - Planning for Aging in Place: Practical and Ethical Considerations for Health Providers

    Join us for the Planning for Aging in Place: Practical and Ethical Considerations for Health Providers CME course taking place on Friday, April 25 at Weber's Boutique Hotel in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
    Shannon Clare stands next to a research poster
    Dose of Reality

    Adult Guardianship and the Clinician: My Journey in Curriculum Development and Conference Presentation

    University of Michigan medical student Shannon Clare explores how her interest in the ethics surrounding adult guardianship led to the development of new curriculum and the opportunity to present as medical conferences.
    A photo of Kahli Zietlow
    Points of Blue

    Kahli Zietlow, MD: Building interprofessional teams

    Kahli Zietlow, MD, is a clinical assistant professor of internal medicine who specializes in geriatric medicine. Originally from Michigan, she earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan before attending Duke University, where she earned her medical degree and completed her residency and fellowship. Dr. Zietlow returned to U-M in 2020 and is currently the interim director of Interprofessional Education (IPE) at UMMS and the associate program director of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship. She is passionate about IPE, geriatric medicine and medical education. Read on to learn more about Dr. Zietlow, including her talent as a wildlife photographer!