Lynn Biot-Gordon is currently the Chief Operations Officer with the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP), and is a longtime dementia care expert.  As a licensed clinical social worker with a Bachelors degree in psychology and a master of social work degree from Boston University, Lynn Biot-Gordon's social work experience spans 20 years and includes mental health, hospice, long term care, and school social work. 
 
Gordon has served in the areas of administration, direct practice, health education, and clinical supervision. She founded Gordon Social Work Consultants in 1997 to provide consultation services for long term care facilities which includes training and in-services on a variety of topics for residents, families, and health care staff.

 

Amy Carpenter, AIA, LEED ap, is a Senior Associate with SFCS, Inc, a full service A/E/ID firm that specializes in the design of senior living communities nationwide. She is based in the Conshohocken, PA, office and focuses mainly on the design of Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing Facilities.  In addition to her work with SFCS, she is also the current Board Chair at White Horse Village, A Life Plan Community located outside of Philadelphia. Amy was also named one of Long-Term Living Magazine’s “Leaders of Tomorrow” in 2014. 

 

Chris is the CQI Coordinator at Abe’s Garden.  He has experience working as a certified nursing assistant, conducting observations and data analysis at the Center for Quality Aging at Vanderbilt Medical Center, and is licensed as a nursing home administrator. He is published in the Gerontologist (2015) and in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society (2016). He is currently getting his master’s degree in management of health care at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

 

Melissa Easton Sandquist first joined the Michener Art Museum community as a docent, leading visitors of all ages through our galleries to explore the collection. She became Education Coordinator in September, 2008, and has since worked with educators, docents and the Curator of Education in designing and implementing curriculum related to museum exhibitions. Her experience as a preschool teacher, K-6 School Librarian, and Special Education teaching assistant provides Melissa with a unique approach to incorporating art with literature, and engaging learners while looking, discussing and creating with a variety of arts media. Melissa has lived in England and Denmark, travelling extensively in Europe and eagerly exploring art museums with her family. She currently coordinates adult and school tours at the Michener, and is instrumental in the Michener docent program.

 

Amber Evans is the Memory Care and Engagement Specialist for LCB Senior Living.  Amber is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a Board Certified Dementia Educator.  Amber received her dual master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University New England.  Amber provides support to Assisted Living communities within LCB Senior Living, to provide a higher standard of memory care and quality engagement for the residents living there.  She also works alongside families, helping to cope with and manage their loved ones’ care.   

 

Amber’s clinical background expands beyond that of dementia, and additionally includes working one-on-one with children, adults and families, to which she has provided a wide array of expressive arts and traditional therapies for many mental health diagnoses. Amber provides and leads memory care trainings for associates and professionals, and is a sought after presenter in the New Hampshire area to both implement and advocate for cutting edge and expressive approaches to a dementia diagnosis. Amber’s passion is to bring forth creative ways for families and caregivers to work with loved ones with dementia, instilling hope and fruitful engagement.

 

Molly Fogel, LCSW is the Director of Educational and Social Services at the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA).   In the field for ten years, Molly has spent her career working to educate and improve best practices within organizations, focusing on improving clinical skills in all staff, despite their background, and ensuring the community served is provided the opportunity to improve overall health and wellness, emotionally, mentally, & physically.   

 

In her current position, Molly is able to work with a dynamic interdisciplinary team providing education, resources, and support to individuals living with dementia, their families and care professionals.   Molly received her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from American University in Washington DC, and went on for her Master’s in Social Work from New York University.  Molly finds her most rewarding work has been teaching professionals and paraprofessional staff clinical techniques to improve the quality of services being provided within the populations they serve. 

 

 

Daniel Haimowitz, MD, FACP, CMD, is a board-certified internist and geriatrician. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Jefferson Medical College and completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Haimowitz has been in private practice in Levittown since 1986. An active staff physician at St. Mary Medical Center, Dr. Haimowitz is the medical director of St. Mary’s Geriatric Assessment Program and several area nursing homes and assisted-living communities. He served as the medical director of the Genesis PACE, LIFE at Home in Delaware County. He founded the Bucks County Long-Term Care Consortium and serves on the Bucks County Senior Task Force. He is also the medical adviser for the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging. A nationally recognized expert in long-term care, he participated in the latest White House Conference on Aging. Dr. Haimowitz received the American Geriatrics Society Physician of the Year Award in 2001 and the William Dodd Founder’s Award for Distinguished Service from the American Medical Directors Association in 2009.

 

 

Alan C. Horowitz is a partner in the Healthcare Practice. Apart from practicing law for the past 25 years, Alan has significant healthcare experience having held clinical, faculty and management positions at major medical centers where he utilized his management skills as well as his background as a registered respiratory therapist and registered nurse. In 1976, he formed the first neonatal respiratory care team while at Hahnemann University Medical Center in Philadelphia.  Mr. Horowitz focuses his practice largely on regulatory issues concerning Medicare providers such as skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, end-stage renal dialysis facilities, clinical laboratories, and hospital-based transplant centers as well as issues concerning quality of care. Before joining the firm, Mr. Horowitz served as Assistant Regional Counsel at the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the General Counsel (OGC). He worked closely with and litigated cases on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). He has litigated cases before the HHS Departmental Appeal Board and the federal courts involving enforcement actions taken by CMS as well as having worked with the U.S. Attorneys’ Office defending Medicare coverage determinations and Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) cases.   Mr. Horowitz served as the Acting Director of ECRI Institute’s National Center for Independent Medical Review. He also served as the Director of Clinical and Legal Affairs for the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). Additionally, as well as having maintained his own law practice, Mr. Horowitz served as in-house counsel and program director for the pilot SNF-based ventilator-dependent program in New Jersey. 

 

 

Melissa Pritchard, AIA, LEED ap BD+C, is a Senior Vice President at SFCS, Inc., based in the main office in Roanoke, VA. Beginning with her graduate thesis, Melissa began to focus on her specialized interests in the areas of design for seniors, with a focus on design for memory support.  Melissa is actively involved in researching design trends and innovations that can improve the residential environments that are emerging as the industry standard for skilled care communities. She has written numerous project articles and received many distinctive awards for her work. 

 

Dr. Mary L. Radnofsky, Ph.D. is a self-advocate, published author, educator, and motivational speaker on the human rights of persons with dementia to live well. She is determined to raise awareness about the enduring contributions of people with degenerative brain disease, and their legitimate role as full members of society.
 
Before being diagnosed with subcortical leukoencephalopathy, Dr. Radnofsky taught at Georgetown, Vanderbilt, University of Maryland, and through the Socrates Institute, a non-profit education organization she founded and led for twenty years. Her teaching and publishing are in the fields of Interdisciplinary Studies, Education, Human Rights, Astronomy, French Language and Literature, Sociolinguistics, Qualitative Research, and Oral History. She has also ghostwritten books in Psychology, Religion, Science, and the 9/11/2001 attacks.
 
With a broad background in liberal arts, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences, Dr. Radnofsky has been a lifelong learner, and built a strong cognitive reserve. She designed and coordinated interdisciplinary educational projects with sister cities, conducted qualitative research, wrote and evaluated curricula, and served as librarian at the French Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. She still attends and speaks at international conferences, as well as at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. She earned her Ph.D. in Education and Human Development in 1992 from Vanderbilt, and now volunteers as an “ambassador” at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC.
 
Mary is the daughter of the late Dr. Matthew I. Radnofsky, Ph.D., who was a B-17 navigator in the 8th Army Air Corps, shot down over Germany, and though seriously wounded, escaped from a POW camp. After the war, he became a scientist and engineer at NASA, leading the design of the first space suits in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, but had to retire after two open-heart surgeries; he later became a college professor in the material sciences, specializing in practical clothing design. Matt died at age 68.
 
Her late mother, Eunice Eisenberg Radnofsky, self-taught in art and music, played piano and organ, started a public library in her hometown, ran a stamp collecting business, and stood as a strong, loving, independent role model. She gave Mary a diary at age 4, but had to pen the first journal entries or type stories while Mary dictated her day’s events. Now seventy-five volumes and thousands of pages long, Mary’s journals are a valuable touchstone to her life. Eunice died at age 85, after living with dementia for over seven years.
 
Dr. Mary Radnofsky is currently writing a book (to be published later this year) with renowned gerontologist, Dr. Al Power, M.D., on practical ways to support the well-being of people with dementia, based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities.

 

Sara Rodriguez, RN,  is the Quality Nurse Manager at the Texas State Veterans Home Division of the Veterans Land Board where she oversees the quality nursing staff and provides clinical oversight of the two management companies of the eight Veteran nursing homes. She also provides training programs for the homes including the PTS and behavior training.

Ms. Rodriguez has worked in long term care for 25 years in Hospice care, skilled nursing, pharmacy, and assisted living. 

 

Molly Sahner is an Opening Minds Through Art Facilitator and a board member at ARTZ Philadelphia, a Philadelphia based non-profit dedicated to providing cultural and creative opportunities for people living with dementia and their caregivers.  Molly works as an Enhanced Living Program Coordinator at the Wesley Enhanced Living, Doylestown continuing care retirement community. Molly’s mission is to create a world where creative expression is understood as human instinct and opportunities to enjoy art as self-expression are available cradle to grave. An Emmy award-winning artist, she has worked with Elmo, Big Bird and the Philadelphia Eagles. Best of all, Molly has the time of her life making art with seniors.  She’s painted, glued and sculpted with folks up to 104 years of age and is looking to beat this record.

 

Andrew Sandler is Abe's Garden Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. Andrew brings demonstrated leadership to all levels of the organization and is a tremendous asset to the development and growth of Abe's Garden. From his experience as director of an Alzheimer's program, to his understanding of fiscal management and his practice as a therapist, Andrew embodies the skills needed to make Abe's Garden a national model of residential living and day care programs for those affected by Alzheimer's and dementia throughout the United States.  Dr. Sandler's recent experience includes:  Assisted living director for Weinberg Community for Senior Living, including its dementia unit and adult day program, in Deerfield, IL. Administrator of Maison Hospitaliere, a skilled nursing community in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA. After Hurricane Katrina, he stayed with 60 residents and 30 staff members for five days at Maison Hospitaliere until transportation became available for an evacuation to Houston, TX. Directed the Westonian, an assisted living community in Weston, MA and a skilled nursing 41-bed Alzheimer's unit at the Glen Ridge Nursing Care Center in Malden, MA.

 

Dr. Sandler holds three graduate degrees, including a Master of Health Administration from Tulane University, a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of New Orleans, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN.  Dr. Sandler taught at the University of New Orleans from 2002-2005 and was previously school psychologist for the St. John Parish School Board in Reserve, LA.  He has written numerous journal articles that appeared in publications that includeAdvances in Special Education, the Journal of Behavioral Education, The Urban Reviewand the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. His most recent work “American Tragedy: New Orleans Under Water” was published in Callaloo in 2007.  Dr. Sandler has served as a board member of the Gulf States Association of Homes and Services for the Aging and as the President of the Alzheimer's Association New Orleans Regional Advisory Committee.

 

Denise Scruggs, Director of the Beard Center on Aging at Lynchburg College, and serves as a columnist for the Senior News Magazine- Lifestyles of the Active 50 Plus.

Denise is a seasoned dementia care provider and educator with over 20 years of experience spanning adult day care, long term care, assisted living, community living, and memory care. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Certified Activity Director with a specialty in memory care. She is an approved trainer for the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners and approved trainer for the “Caring for You, Caring for Me” caregiver program offered through the Rosalyn Carter Institute for Caregiving.

Denise is an active member of many community boards and advisory groups   including the Lindsay Institute for Innovations in Caregiving, Centra PACE, Mental Health America of Central Virginia, and the Bedford Community Health Foundation. She also serves on the Graduate Medical Education Committee for Centra’s Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency.