Geriatric Certification Course: Dementia, Medication, Wound, Fall & Nutrition Updates

Kiplee Bell, MD, PA, earned board certification as a physician assistant, an additional master's degree in Gerontology, and finally her doctorate in medicine. Over the course of her career, Kiplee has worked in acute care, urgent care, ambulatory care, and long-term care settings. Currently, she treats geriatric patients for a wide variety of medical and behavioral symptoms. Kiplee also shares her expertise through her consultation and educational company: www.impactfulcaregiving.com. You can be sure that Kiplee will deliver a comprehensive and up-to-date geriatric pharmacology presentation, walking through the body systems: neuro, endocrine, cardiac, pulmonary, GI, infectious disease, and musculoskeletal.

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Debra Stern, PT, DPT, DBA, CLT, CEEAA, CFPS, has clinical experience, focusing on geriatric rehab with an emphasis on balance integrity and fall prevention. Dr. Stern provides education on balance and fall risk screening to medical residents, fellows and attending physicians as well as other health professionals. She is actively involved in ongoing research related to fall prevention.

Liz Friedrich, MPH, RDN, CSG, LDN, FAND, NWCC, has more than 25 years of experience as a hands-on clinician in long-term care facilities and as president of Friedrich Nutrition Consulting, where she provides nutrition consulting services with a focus on gerontological nutrition.

Eric Christianson, PharmD, BCGP, BCPS, is a PharmD, board-certified in geriatrics and pharmacotherapy, an Amazon best-selling author, podcaster, and national speaker. Author of Meded101 Guide to Nursing Pharmacology, Perils of Polypharmacy, and Meded101 Guide to Drug Food Interactions, he is well known for his expertise in passion. Eric found his calling in geriatrics and medication management, and for years has worked as a consultant pharmacist for long-term care and assisted living facilities as well as working with patients and families doing medication therapy management. Eric has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, American Journal of Nursing, National Association Directors of Nursing, Pharmacy Times, and Pharmacy Today. Eric’s goal is to teach as many individuals as possible about the safe, economical, and appropriate use of medications!

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Jill Bolte Taylor, PhD, is a Harvard-trained and published neuroscientist. In 1996, she experienced a severe hemorrhage (AVM) in the left hemisphere of her brain causing her to lose the ability to walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. Her memoir, My Stroke of Insight, documenting her experience with stroke and eight-year recovery, spent 63 weeks on The New York Times nonfiction bestseller list and is still routinely the #1 book in the category Stroke in the Amazon marketplace. Dr. Jill’s more recent book, Whole Brain Living, explores our ability to tap into both sides of our brain. Dr. Jill is a dynamic teacher and public speaker who loves educating all age groups, academic levels, as well as corporations and not-for-profit organizations about the beauty of our human brain. She focuses on how we can activate the power of our neuroplasticity to not only recover from neurological trauma, but how we can purposely choose to live a more flexible, resilient, and satisfying life. In 2008, Dr. Jill gave the first TED talk that ever went viral on the internet, which now has well over 28 million views. Also in 2008, Dr. Jill was chosen as one of Time magazine’s "100 Most Influential People in the World" and was the premiere guest on Oprah Winfrey’s "Soul Series" webcast. Her new book Whole Brain Living – the Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life is a #1 release on Amazon in categories ranging from Neuroscience to Nervous System Diseases and Stroke.

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Michael Chua, PT, DPT, CDP, CADDCT, CCI, SFS, clinical interest involves geriatric and dementia management. Dr. Chua enjoys treating older adult patients and achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. He is also the Chief Inspirational Officer for TN Therapy Outsource, LLC and GeriHab Physical Therapy and Wellness, and the author of MisUnderstanding Dementia, 365 Daily Tips for Dementia Caregivers, and more.

Paul Langlois, APN, PhD, CCRN, CCNS, is a critical care clinical specialist in the surgical, medical, neurologic, burn, CCU, and trauma ICUs of Cook County Hospital, Chicago. Drawing on over 40 years of experience assessing and managing patients with life-threatening diseases, Dr. Langlois provides advanced-level training to nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, and physicians. Dr. Langlois is committed to providing the highest quality of care to patients through advanced education. His presentations are evidence-based, timely, and provide participants with numerous case studies to facilitate critical thinking. As a bedside clinical nurse specialist, he has developed several institution-wide protocols for the multidisciplinary assessment and management of infectious disease and multi-system organ failure patients. His presentations are enthusiastically delivered and offer highly practical tips that help make the most challenging concepts easy to understand. Linking knowledge to clinical practice is the goal of every educational program.

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Lores Vlaminck, MA, BSN, RN, CHPN, LALD, has been a leading provider of consulting, training, and mentoring for hospice, assisted living, home care, and related health care providers for the past 17 years. She will cover issues related to both palliative care and hospice, including referrals, financial aspects, and barriers and benefits.

Rachel Henderson, PhD, MS, LHRM, CCRN-K, has nearly three decades of clinical, management and consulting experience. Rachel is a legal nurse consultant certified (LNCC), a licensed healthcare risk manager (LHRM) and she holds a forensic nurse certificate (FNC). As a legal nurse consultant, Rachel works with attorneys, law firms and healthcare organizations to review and evaluate medical records for compliance with standards of care and regulations posed by accreditation agencies, including The Joint Commission. In addition to her legal insights, Rachel draws from vast clinical experiences, including work in: critical care, renal transplant, dialysis and surgical settings.

Steven Atkinson, PA-C, MS, is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in Geriatric Internal Medicine. He practices medicine in the greater Minneapolis area. In addition to his private practice, he has been on the faculty at the University of Utah since 1994 and has been involved in medicine for over 30 years. Steven is the co-founder of Twin Cities Physicians, which serves older adults at nearly all levels of their care. He has presented nationally for over 15 years, primarily speaking about geriatric-related syndromes.

Tracey Long has been a practicing RN and Nurse Educator for 28 years, teaching courses in Medical Spanish, Diabetes Education, Cultural Competence, Critical Care and Simulation, and is full time Nursing faculty. She has lived in Spain and served as a health welfare missionary in Colombia, South America, for 18 months. She serves as faculty for International Service Learning with nursing students in Belize and Peru providing medical clinics, and organized diabetes education programs for Hispanic/Latinos in Southern Nevada. With a passion for active learning, and as an international speaker and award-winning educator, Tracey helps students not just memorize, but truly learn the content material needed to successfully master skills and learning.

Eric Wombwell, PharmD is a Clinical Professor for the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Pharmacy. Wombwell is responsible for developing clinical and educational initiatives designed to optimize student learning. He is active in lecturing, research and hospital pharmacy practice. Dr. Wombwell completed his PharmD degree at the University of Missouri Kansas City, followed by an ASHP accredited pharmacy practice residency at the Kansas City VA Medical Center. Upon residency completion, Wombwell accepted a full-time non-tenured clinical faculty position at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, School of Pharmacy. His responsibilities include teaching Doctor of Pharmacy students in a variety of courses predominately in the area of infectious diseases. As part of this position, Wombwell serves as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, working as part of the multidisciplinary team, providing care to acutely ill patients at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Missouri. In addition, Wombwell functions in an adjunct faculty capacity with the University of Missouri – Kansas City, School of Dentistry where he is responsible for teaching infectious diseases curricular content to dental students in the Pharmacology and Therapeutics course series. Dr. Wombwell has more than 30 peer-reviewed publications on pharmacy and medication-related topics, and has delivered more than 100 invited presentations locally and nationally for continuing education to various health-professional audiences. He has been named Teacher-of-the-year in various capacities 15-times, “Missouri Pharmacist Association - UMKC Faculty Member of the Year” in 2016, and received the “UMKC Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching” in 2014.

Jamie Miner, PT, DPT, GCS, provides specialized services to many skilled nursing facilities and earned geriatric clinical specialist designation through the American Physical Therapy Association. Dr. Miner has experience in home health, acute care, outpatient vestibular rehab and fall prevention, acute rehab, sub-acute rehab, and long-term care.

With over 25 years in the medical field, Dr. JeanAnne Johnson Talbert is a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner that specializes in pharmacological treatment of mental illnesses. JeanAnne graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, with a master’s degree in nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She later received her doctorate in healthcare administration and a post-doctorate in psychiatric mental health from Rush University in Chicago, IL. She is board certified as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, a Family Nurse Practitioner, and an Addictions Nurse Practitioner. She holds a master psychopharmacology certificate and is currently in training for precision psychiatry and functional medicine certification. JeanAnne is known for her many jobs – currently providing psychiatric services to over 14 clinics and facilities that treat mental illnesses across the lifespan, substance use disorders, and criminogenic programs. She has been a national speaker for PESI, Inc, educating healthcare providers on psychopharmacology and substance use. In 2019, she published her first book entitled I Can Do Hard Things: Tools to Manage Anxiety When Medication Isn’t Enough. In her spare time, JeanAnne spends time with her two fantastic children, and enjoys the outdoors: hiking, camping, running, biking, skiing, swimming, and beaching. She is a cancer survivor and an animal lover.

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Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, is one of the world's leading advocates and educators for anyone living with dementia or other forms of brain change. Teepa is an Occupational Therapist with over forty years of rich and varied clinical and academic experience.

Peter Buch, MD, AGAF, FACP, is a double board-certified clinical gastroenterologist, currently leading a team that treats all GI conditions. Dr. Buch sits on editorial boards for numerous professional journals and is a highly sought-after international presenter. Dr. Buch has a passion for teaching. His style is case-based, practical, very interactive and evidence supported. Dr. Buch’s expertise has been shared with experienced clinicians and advanced-level students. He teaches at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Frank H Netter School of Medicine/Quinnipiac University and the University of Connecticut APRN School.

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Sherrie All, PhD, is a licensed clinical neuropsychologist who has specialized in treating people with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, TBI, MS, and other neurological disorders for over a decade. Dr. All is the founder and director of the Chicago Center for Cognitive Wellness, a private neuropsychology practice specializing in cognitive rehabilitation and brain health. The evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation interventions she uses have helped hundreds of adults experiencing cognitive declines improve their thinking skills, expand their functional independence, and enhance their brain health. Dr. All has worked as a consultant to the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, helping to develop and evaluate a holistic brain fitness program, and her work with individuals on ways to lower their personal risk for dementia has earned the attention of media outlets including The New Yorker and Crain’s Chicago Business. Dr. All earned her PhD in clinical psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, is a member of the American Psychological Association and author of The Neuroscience of Memory: Seven Skills to Optimize Your Brain Power, Improve Memory and Stay Sharp at Any Age.

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Mr. Quellier is a retired clinical specialist in traumatic brain injury and communication disorders from a 450+ bed level 1 trauma hospital in Saint Paul, MN with over 28 years of acute, residential, and outpatient rehabilitation experience. Throughout his career, he focused on neuro-based diagnostics and intervention for dysphagia, cognitive-linguistic deficits, head and neck cancer management, patient advocacy, and curriculum development. Mr. Quellier completed advanced training in brain dissection at Marquette University, actively engaged in curriculum creation and staff development training, and collaborated with a neurosurgery team in preserving language function during tumor resections. Mr. Quellier is excited to bring this topic to the forefront after working with the interdisciplinary team’s challenges in understanding the “what and why” of aberrant cognitive control that places patients at heighten dysphagia risk.

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Vanessa Ruiz, ND, RN-BSN is a dedicated Naturopathic Physician and Registered Nurse, renowned for her holistic approach to mental health and chronic diseases. With a doctorate from Sonoran University in Tempe, AZ, and honors in nursing from Stony Brook University in NY, Dr. Ruiz blends evidence-based practices with natural treatments to provide comprehensive care for her patients. Her multifaceted background includes clinical research and extensive training in therapeutic modalities such as Homeopathy, Neurofeedback, and Mayan Medicine.

Edward G. Shaw, MD, MA, is dually trained as a physician and mental health counselor. He was the primary care partner for his late wife, Rebecca, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 2008 at age 53 and died in 2016 after a 9-year journey.

Susann Varano, MD, is a Geriatric Nursing Practice Specialist at Kootenai Health, is a Yale University-trained physician certified in internal and geriatric medicine. Her expertise is sought currently as a geriatric consultant for medically complex residents/patients and as an adjunct professor teaching geriatric coursework to physician assistant students.

Tamatha Arms, PhD, DNP, PMHNP-BC, NP-C, is an adult/geriatric and psych mental health nurse practitioner. She has 25 years of clinical experience and 9 years in academia where she teaches psychopharmacology. Her clinical expertise and research area of focus is on geropsychiatry. Tamatha has presented and published nationally and internationally to various interdisciplinary audiences on geropsychiatry. She is the author of more than 20 articles, 5 book chapters, of which 3 were invited, and she has co-authored a book. She is active in international nursing organizations (Sigma) as the North America Region 13 coordinator, and at the national level (the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association [GAPNA]), chair of the Geropsych SIG.

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Ebonye Green, MNSc, ACNPC-AG, CNRN, SCRN, APRN, FNCS, has been an inpatient advanced practice registered nurse for the College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences since 2013. She previously worked as a staff nurse and as a travel nurse, working in some of the country’s top neurosurgical intensive units and Gamma Knife, including Washington Hospital Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Ebonye is passionate about contributing to her specialty and professional associations and organizations. She is a member of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses and serves as a Director at Large on their Board of Directors, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Director at Large for Arkansas Nurse Practitioner Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, American Association of Neurosurgical Surgeons, Neurocritical Care Society, is Co-Chair of the Women in Neurocritical Care Advanced Practice Leadership Committee, and is also a Fellow of the Neurocritical Care Society. Ebonye is passionate about educating staff to grow their knowledge to better care for our patients and families.

Debra Dermady-Ray, RN-BC, MS, ANP-BC, is a nurse practitioner who has worked in pain management for the last 15 years. She has been an interventional pain specialist treating many different chronic pain conditions and opioid management. Debra has been involved in pain management research, has taught NP students on various pain-related topics, and teaches a review course for the ANCC pain management nursing certification exam. Her specialty expertise has been recognized, as she holds certifications in pain management nursing by the ANCC and in opioid management by The American Association of Allied Interventional Pain Management Professionals.

Dr. Rogers extends her knowledge to doctoral, graduate and undergraduate nursing students as an Assistant Professor and current coordinator for the Doctor of Nursing program at Purdue University Northwest in the College of Nursing. She is certified through the ANCC as a family nurse practitioner and is currently working in Pulmonary and Critical Care. Dr. Rogers is a fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Mu Omega chapter, and a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She represents the American Nurses Association as a CPT advisory committee member to the American Medical Association’s CPT editorial panel. Her research interests include pathophysiology, 3D visualization for nursing education, and new faculty orientation. She is an accomplished presenter at the national, state, and local level, where she has presented on an array of topics for both nurse educators and nurse practitioners. Dr. Rogers has been the editor and author of three pathophysiology textbooks and serves as the billing and coding column coordinator for The Nurse Practitioner Journal.

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Esther Ellis, MS, RDN, LDN, is a registered dietician, nutritionist, and writer. In her virtual private practice, Esther specializes in palliative nutrition, helping people living with serious illness, including neurodegenerative disorders, plus families and caregivers. She helps her clients improve their quality of life and manage their symptoms through nutrition and lifestyle choices.

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Jeanine Maguire, MPT, CWS®, is a physical therapist, certified wound specialist, consultant and scholar. Jeanine is currently a candidate for PhD in Health Education and Promotion with a focus on interprofessional wound management. She serves Genesis healthcare as the VP for Skin Health and Wound Management Integrations, and over the last few years has created a new position at Genesis, the Skin Health Team Lead, to guide centers to achieve patient centered care in the area of wound management. Jeanine is president of Post-Acute Wound and Skin Integrity Council (PAWSIC), serves on the ACHA education committee as the wound expert, and is a SAWC facility member and speaker.

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