2010 Alzheimer's Educational Conference
Meet This Year's Presenters

We are proud to announce our Keynote Speaker, Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House.
Friday, June 4th, Keynote Lunch.

Since retiring from Congress, Newt Gingrich has worked extensively on the issues of health and healthcare, devoting the majority of his time to advocating a transformation of the entire system. In 2003, he founded the Center for Health Transformation (CHT), a collaboration of public and private sector leaders dedicated to the creation of a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and saves money.

Newt Gingrich is widely recognized as a transformational leader, unparalleled in his ability to create and lead successful large-scale change. During his twenty years in Congress, Speaker Gingrich was committed to improving America’s healthcare system. Under his leadership as Speaker, Medicare was improved, investment in medical research was dramatically increased, and FDA reform was enacted to allow for quicker approval and access to new medicines for those with terminal and degenerative illnesses.

The Washington Times called him “The Indispensable Leader”and Time magazine, in naming him “Man of the Year” for 1995, said, “Leaders make things possible. Exceptional leaders make them inevitable. Newt Gingrich belongs in the category of the exceptional.” He is routinely in Modern Healthcare’s Top 10 of Healthcare’s Most Powerful People in Healthcare, was named “Indispensible Person of the Year Award” by Alliance on Aging in 2008 and regularly participates as a healthcare expert in the National Journal’s “Healthcare Expert Blog,” the Washington Post’s health reform blog, “Health Care Rx,” and as a commentator on
Fox News.

Plenary Speaker, Thursday, June 3rd:  Dr. Louis Benson,
Treasure Coast Hospice

Dr. Louis Benson is the President and CEO of Treasure Coast Hospice.  Prior to joining Treasure Coast Hospice he was recognized as one of America’s eminent speakers and consultants to the healthcare industry.  He has a reputation for offering practical insight into today’s critical issues of healthcare.

Dr. Benson consulted with hospitals and other healthcare organizations.  He has been a featured presenter at numerous healthcare conferences.  The Health & Sciences Satellite Television Network, The Long Term Care Satellite Television Network and The American Hospital Association featured his programs in telecasts nationwide. 

Dr. Benson mixes high content with an interactive and entertaining presence.  His talks are thoughtful, helpful and uplifting and humorous.  His message is “Attitude is Everything” and believes that a positive attitude helps deal with the challenges we face every day. Dr. Benson will provide practical tips to maintain your enthusiasm and suggestions to get you back up if you’re feeling down.  If your positive energy has begun to wane, get ready for a booster shot from the good doctor! 

Plenary Speaker, Thursday, June 3rd:  Dr. Thomas Kodadek, Scripps Research Institute

Thomas Kodadek was born in Chicago, IL, USA in 1959. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Miami, his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Stanford University in 1985 and conducted post-doctoral training in Biochemistry with Professor Bruce Alberts at UCSF from 1985-1987.

He has served on the faculties of the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center before assuming his present position in 2009 as Professor of Chemistry & Cancer Biology at the Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida. Professor Kodadek is a recipient of the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His research focuses on biotechnology, chemistry and molecular biology.

Plenary Speaker, Friday, June 4th:  Mark Shalloway, Esq., Shalloway and Shalloway

G. Mark Shalloway is among the first 135 certified Elder Law Attorneys in the nation certified by the National

Elder Law Foundation, and is a member of the charter class of attorneys Board Certified in Elder Law by the Florida Bar. In addition, he holds an AV rating with Martindale-Hubble.
 

Nationally, Mr. Shalloway has served as President and is a Fellow for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). He has testified before Congress on long-term care. At the state level, Mark is a past President of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys. Mr. Shalloway is a member of the Board of Directors of the Stetson College of Law Elder Law Advisory Board. In addition, the late Governor Lawton Chiles and Governor Jeb Bush have appointed Mr. Shalloway to serve as the Attorney on the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council, Palm Beach District. He is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of Alzheimer’s Community Care, Inc.

Conference Breakout Sessions

  • What's In There?  Health Reform Law and What It Means for Individuals with Dementia and Their Caregivers.  Presented by:  Susan Peschin, MHS, Vice President of Public Policy, Alzheimer's Foundation of America.
  • Honoring Life:  Serving Holocaust Survivors With Dementia and Their Families.  Presented by:  Jenni Frumer, MSEd, LCSW, NCG, Associate Executive Director of the Alpert Jewish Family and Children's Service in West Palm Beach, and by Eva Weiss, M.Ed., Ed.S., lead coordinator of the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program at the Alpert Jewish Family and Children's Service.
  • Care or Companion:  Evaluating the Core Elements in Becoming a Caregiver.  Presented by:  Matthew Green, M.S., ESQ, President of Life Care Therapy.
  • The ABC's of Long Term Care Insurance.  Presented by:  Beth Banes, President/Owner of The Long Term Care Connection, Inc.
  • The Rights and Responsibilities of a Health Care Decision Maker.  Presented by:  Howard S. Krooks, ESQ, CELA, CAP, partner of Elder Law Associaties, P.A.
  • Stress Relief Techniques for Caregivers and Healthcare Professionals.  Presented by:  Nancy Polites, LCSQ, EFT CERT 1, Geriatric Care Manager and Life Coach.
  • Supporting a Hidden Population:  Caregiving Youth.  Presented by:  Karen Harwood, MSW, Care Coordinator, Caregiving Youth Project, and by Cristy Kovach Hom, LCSW, Director of Continuing Care, Caregiving Youth Project, and by Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD, Founder and President, American Association of Caregiving Youth.
  • Root Cause of Alzheimer's Disease and Direction of Clinical Research,  Presented by:  Dr. Michael Tuchman, M.D., Palm Beach Neurological Center.
  • Bursting Your Stress Balloons.  Presented by:  Judie Rappaport, CSA, President of Preferred Lifestyle Services, Inc.
  • Department of Veterans Affairs:  Eligibility and Services.  Presented by:  Roberta Watson, Ambulatory Care for Medical Administration Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and by Thompsi Hoff, LCSW, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
  • Prevention of Alzheimer's.  Presented by:  Dr. Murray Todd, M.D., Medical Director of the Neurological Institute and Memory Disorder Center at North Broward Medical Center.
  • Home Safe Home:  Designing Home Environments for People with Alzheimer's and Their Caregivers.  Presented by:  Jill Poser, CAPS.
  • Understanding and Managing Behavioral Changes in Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.  Presented by:  Erin Dorval, Pharm.D. Palm Beach Atlantic, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice.
  • Living with Alzheimer's Means Living with Grief.  Presented by:  Chaplain Karen Modell, MSPC, Bereavement Services Manager, VITAS Innovatir Hospice Care of the Palm Beaches.
  • Quest for the Cure:  Current and Upcoming Clinical Research Trials.  Presented by:  Dr. David Watson, Psy. D. and Dr. Mark Brody, President of Brain Matters Research and Medical Director of the Memory Program at Bethesda Memorial Hospital.
  • St. Lucie County Locator ID Bracelet Program.  Presented by:  Sgt. Anthony Cavallaro.
  • Overview of the Dementias:  Focus on Non-Alzheimer's Subtypes.  Presented by:  Kenneth Gross, M.D., Diplomate American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, head of Fusion Clinical Multimedia, Inc.
  • Silver Alert Panel Discussion.  Presented by:  Lt. Col. Ernesto Duarte of FHP, and Mary M. Barnes, President and CEO of Alzheimer's Community Care.
  • Guardianship in the 21st Century.  Presented by:  Joseph Bensmihen, MSW, RG.
  • Alternative Choices for Failing Alzheimer's Patients.  Presented by:  Dr. Karen Severson, Marnie Poncy, RN.
  • Psychotherapy with Older Clients and Alzheimer's Disease.  Presented by:  Dr. Marc E. Agronin, Medical Director at the Memory Center at Douglas Gardens and Mental Health Services/Miami Jewish Home and Hospital.
  • Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorder Centers.  Presented by:  Dr. Walter Martinez, M.D., FAAN, Medical Director at Memory Disorder Center at St. Mary's Medical Center.
  • Care Coordination:  Bridge to a Safe Trip Home.  Presented by:  Susan Fleishcer, LCSW, DCSW, CSWM, CMC, C-ASWCM, ASW-G, CSW-G, Executive Director of Senior Bridge's National Care Management Network.
  • Overview of the Florida Brain Bank. Presented by:  Dr. Ranjan Duara, M.D.
  • Current Therapies and Future Prospects for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.  Presented by:  James Mitroka, PhD., Associate Professor at the Palm Beach Atlantic Gregory School of Pharmacy.
  • Peaceful Practices to Soothe the Mind and Body.  Presented by:  Lisa Bottke, RN, Clinical Educator with Hospice of Palm Beach County and Lisa Wieczorek, LMT, and Carol Black, LMT.
  • Food and Drink in Alzheimer's.  Presented by:  Leonard Hock, D.O., MACOI, CMD, Medical Director of long term care facilities at Hospice by the Sea.

Events