Biography

Dr. Valencia is an Endocrinologist and Geriatrician working at the Miami VA Medical Center (VAMC), and Voluntary Faculty at the Department of Public Health Sciences at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Valencia is the Associate Director for the Geriatrics Fellowship Program since June 2013, and he supervises geriatric fellows, medical residents and medical students in the fields of Geriatrics and Endocrinology. Dr. Valencia works with Geriatric Fellows in the implementation of Quality Improvement Projects for the Geriatrics Service and Education. Dr. Valencia works with UM medical students enrolled in the Capstone Field Experience and Project, studying the attitudes and behavioral response to hypothetical genetic risk versus known clinical risk factors in Veterans at risk for diabetes. Dr. Valencia is also working with the University of Miami Program for Internal Research and Education (UMPIRE) program, in a project that will assess the impact of diabetes and other variables in the length of stay, duration and total costs of hospitalizations in older adults. Dr. Valencia currently serves as the Physician Champion for the Miami VA MOVE! weight management program, Specialty Representative for the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Committee, and Director of the Metabolic Clinic at Miami VAMC. Dr. Valencia’s ongoing research includes the implementation of exercise for older adults and its impact in functional and psychosocial outcomes, and the understanding of the best pharmacologic intervention after metformin for the management of diabetes. Dr. Valencia is also developing the foundation to work on the understanding of cost and benefits from exercise interventions at Miami VA, based on the past five years of exercise research. The current project, a translation from research to clinical service, is entitled “Expanding Access to Exercise as Medicine for Veterans at Miami VAHS”, and will address the implementation of an exercise program that will train Veterans to do exercise, and incorporate exercise in their daily living. Dr. Valencia’s research interests also include the understanding of body composition, changes in older adults, and implications for metabolic and functional outcomes.

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