About
Dr. Rebecca Starr trained at the State University of New York - Downstate for medical school, then completed her internal medicine residency and geriatrics fellowship through Brown University at Rhode Island Hospital. She holds board certification in three disciplines: internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and palliative care medicine. That triple-boarded background gives her a rare breadth of clinical expertise for older adult care.
Dr. Starr has held leadership roles across clinical, academic, and administrative settings. She served five years as Medical Director of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Geriatrics Department and two years as Medical Director of Medicare Advantage at Health New England in Springfield. She also served as Medical Director of the ACE protocol pilot at Baystate Medical Center and as Medical Director of PACE for Elder Service Plan in Cambridge, MA. She pioneered the Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative to support older adults with memory loss and their caregivers. She helped lead the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, the first within the MGB system. Her work on fall prevention for low-income, at-risk elders at Baystate Hospital earned recognition alongside grants and fellowships from institutions including Harvard Medical School, Tufts University Medical School, and the American Geriatrics Society. She also published "Perioperative Assessment of and Care for the Elderly and Frail" in Hospital Medicine Clinics. She lives in the Pioneer Valley with her husband, two teenage children, and a full house of pets. A former chef, she still loves cooking and exploring farm-to-table dining across the Valley. She tends an avid garden with a particular fondness for dahlias and enjoys long walks with family and friends.
Education & Training
Medical School
State University of New York - Downstate
Residency
Internal Medicine, Brown University / Rhode Island Hospital
Fellowship
Geriatric Medicine, Brown University / Rhode Island Hospital
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Starr right for?
Dr. Starr is a strong fit for older adults seeking a physician who treats the whole person, not just individual conditions. Patients managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, or frailty benefit from her comprehensive, coordinated approach. She is especially well-suited for adults living with memory loss, cognitive impairment, or dementia, along with their family caregivers. Her palliative care certification makes her a skilled partner for patients navigating serious illness or complex end-of-life planning. Those who value a physician embedded in the local community and committed to meaningful, purposeful aging will find a natural fit at Starr Geriatrics.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Starr treats a wide range of conditions common in older adults. Her clinical focus includes chronic disease management, memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, hypertension, frailty, and cognitive and functional impairment. She also brings expertise in palliative care for patients facing serious illness.
Yes. Dr. Starr holds board certification in three specialties: internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and palliative care medicine. This triple-boarded credential reflects her deep and broad training in the full spectrum of older adult care.
Dr. Starr attended medical school at the State University of New York - Downstate. She then completed her internal medicine residency and geriatrics fellowship through Brown University at Rhode Island Hospital.
Dr. Starr has held several medical director positions throughout her career. These include five years leading the Geriatrics Department at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, two years directing Medicare Advantage at Health New England, and medical director roles for the ACE protocol at Baystate Medical Center and PACE for Elder Service Plan in Cambridge, MA.
Dr. Starr pioneered the Pioneer Valley Memory Care Initiative, a community program supporting older adults with memory loss and their caregivers. She also helped lead the Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation of Cooley Dickinson Hospital, the first in the Mass General Brigham system, and contributed to fall prevention efforts for at-risk elders at Baystate Hospital.
Yes. Dr. Starr approaches every patient through the lens of body, mind, and spirit. She incorporates lifestyle medicine principles including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and social connection alongside traditional medical treatment. Her goal is to help each patient live the most fulfilling life possible.
Yes. Dr. Starr has deep expertise in memory care and cognitive impairment. She works directly with patients living with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and she designed the Family Care Partner Support program to give caregivers the resources and coordination they need alongside their loved ones' medical care.
Yes. Dr. Starr authored "Perioperative Assessment of and Care for the Elderly and Frail" in Hospital Medicine Clinics. She has also received grants and fellowships from institutions including Harvard Medical School, Tufts University Medical School, the Samuels Foundation/American Federation for Aging Research, and the American Geriatrics Society.
Doctor profile last updated June 11, 2026