Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Stanford University
From 2003 to the present, J. Wesson Ashford, M.D., Ph.D., has been a Senior Research Scientist at the Stanford / VA Aging Clinical Research Center and is now the Director of the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University (affiliated). He is Chair of the Memory Screening Advisory Board of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and Clinical Editor of the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease. He is currently developing early detection and measurement methods for Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr. Ashford’s dissertation was a finalist for the Lindsley Prize, for the best in Behavioral Neuroscience, in 1984. He also made the first proposal and physiologic demonstration of massive parallel information processing in the cerebral cortex (Ashford et al., 1985); which has critical implications for understanding memory, particularly that aspect of memory affected by Alzheimer’s disease (Ashford, Coburn, and Fuster, 1998). His work in Alzheimer’s disease and neurophysiology led to the water-shed observation that neuro-plastic memory mechanisms of the brain are specifically affected by Alzheimer pathology (Ashford & Jarvik, 1985, Teter & Ashford, 2002).
Dr. Ashford graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1970. At UCLA (1970 – 1985) he attained an M.D. (1974) and Ph.D. (1984). He trained in psychiatry (1975 - 1979) and was a founding member of the Neurobehavior Clinic and the first Chief Resident and Associate Director (1979 - 1980) on the Geriatric Psychiatry In-Patient Unit. He conducted the first double-blind study of an anti-cholinesterase drug (physostigmine) to treat Alzheimer patients (Ashford et al., 1981), a therapy which is now standard treatment for Alzheimer patients.
Mr. Dworkin began his career as a clarinetist, serving as Principal Clarinetist of the American Symphony Orchestra under its legendary founding Music Director, Leopold Stokowski. He later performed for many years with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, working with Herbert Von Karajan, Karl Boehm, Zubin Mehta, James Levine, Sir Colin Davis, Erich Leinsdorf, and many other illustrious conductors. An avid chamber musician, he has performed throughout the world, including four Carnegie Recital Hall recitals, and was a member of Musicisti Americani, based at the Sulmona, Italy summer festival. He served for fifteen years on the faculty of the University of Vermont Summer Music Session, conducting its orchestra and coaching hundreds of gifted instrumental students. His tenure as Music Director of the Vermont Youth Orchestra was highlighted by a much-acclaimed tour of Russia. For over ten years he was conductor of the Pre-College Division Orchestra of the Manhattan School of Music, where he also taught chamber music and clarinet. Mr. Dworkin conducted the Philharmonic on the Hudson for fifteen years, overseeing its transition from a college orchestra to professional status, and leading the orchestra in its enthusiastically-received Carnegie Hall debut. He has also conducted the New Jersey, Vermont, and Manhattan Symphony Orchestras in subscription, family, and young people's concerts, and led Kurt Weill's Three Penny Opera on CBS Television.
Upon his “retirement,” the energetic and inspiring Dworkin launched his exhilarating new “fitness fusion,” CONDUCTORCISE®, a sound workout for mind, body and soul, as a natural outgrowth of his lifelong passion for conducting, performing, educating, and physical fitness. An avid runner, hiker and tennis player for much of his life, his award winning program has earned a stellar reputation with participants, and the medical profession, and proven effective with Alzheimer and Parkinson patients.
Maestro David Dworkin is a graduate of The Juilliard School and Columbia University Teachers
College. He is a member American Senior Fitness Association, American Society of Aging, holds a Certificate of Professional Recognition from IDEA Fitness, and is an advocate on the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge. He is a Master Champion selected by the International Council on Active Aging to put fourth its initiative on "Changing the Way We Age."
Amber Evans is the Resident Engagement Director at The Arbors of Bedford- New Hampshire’s premier residence for people at every stage of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments. Amber’s experience working with seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other memory issues exists both on the front lines and also alongside their families, helping to cope with and manage their loved ones’ care.
Amber’s clinical background includes working one-on-one with children, adults and families, to which she has provided a wide array of expressive arts and traditional therapies. Additionally, she facilitates and instructs Dance/Movement Therapy groups for adults and children with disabilities at local organizations.
Ms. Evans is a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist and received her dual master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University New England. Amber holds a certificate as a Certified Dementia Practitioner, and is currently working toward her Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling credential for the state of New Hampshire.
Amber provides and leads memory care trainings for front line associates as a part of The Arbors of Bedford’s memory care program, 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.
As a native to the state of New York, Amber completed her bachelor’s degree in Clinical Sociology at Ithaca College, as well as minoring in dance. Her relationship with The Arbors began as a contracted Dance/Movement Therapist, and has grown into Resident Engagement Director. She is currently working to implement new programming for The Arbors of Bedford, which aim to support the residents’ on a social, emotional, physical and cognitive level.
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.
She's the founder and director of The Alliance Training Center, an educational foundation focused geriatric care issues in Alliance, Ohio and the author of numerous published articles in industry journals, periodicals, trade publications, books, video trainings, and lectures nationally on current industry topics. Leah is passionate about her work and her energy is contagious when helping clients and industry members manage:Care Delivery, Wellness & Restorative Care Giving, Regulatory Compliance, Leadership, Re-engineering & Facility Planning, Nursing Home Management, Payment & Reimbursement, Assessment, and Assessment Documentation
