NAB 2025 Virtual Symposium Sign-up
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Are you curious about how we can transform dementia care to be more compassionate, accessible, and equitable?
If so, join us for an inspiring two-part program featuring leading voices in dementia care, including specialists in global brain health, advocates for culturally responsive care, and innovators in palliative approaches, such as Dr. Tia Powell, author of the highly acclaimed Dementia Reimagined. This year’s symposium explores holistic, human-centered approaches to care while addressing critical disparities in healthcare access and support for marginalized communities.
Through keynote talks and interactive panels, we’ll discuss the lived experiences of diverse populations and share practical strategies for advancing tailored, equitable care. Together, let’s learn, connect, and envision how we can reimagine the journey of dementia!
Event Details
Date: Saturday, February 22nd
Time:
Pacific Standard Time: 10AM - 12:30PM
Mountain Standard Time: 11AM - 1:30PM
Central Standard Time: 12PM - 2:30PM
Eastern Standard Time: 1PM - 3:30PM
Schedule
Keynote Speaker
Part 1: Lived Realities Across Diverse Populations
Exploring Dementia’s Unequal Impact: Insights from Marginalized Communities
Elizabeth Edgerly, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Community Programs and Service
Dr. Elizabeth Edgerly serves as the Senior Director of Community Programs and Services at the Alzheimer’s Association, where she oversees nationwide initiatives that support individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, as well as their families. A seasoned leader within the Association, Dr. Edgerly is also a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialization in geropsychology.
Since joining the Association in 1995 as Chief Program Officer for Northern California, Dr. Edgerly has managed a wide range of care and support programs for individuals with dementia, their families, and healthcare professionals. In 2016, she was appointed Executive Director for Northern California and Northern Nevada, and in 2017, she expanded her role as Regional Vice President, overseeing operations in Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii. In 2024, she took on the role of Senior Director with the Association, overseeing community programs, nationwide.
Dr. Edgerly is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for those affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias. She plays a crucial role in the Association’s efforts to provide high-quality care, educational resources, and support services. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission to serve all those impacted by these conditions.
Dr. Edgerly earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Binghamton University. In recognition of her significant contributions, she was honored as one of the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 100 Women of Influence in 2023 for her advocacy and work on behalf of thousands of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and related disorders.
Disparities Panel
Lyn Weinberg, MD
Dr. Lyn Weinberg, is a board-certified Geriatrician and proudly serves as the Division Director for Geriatrics at Allegheny Health Network (AHN), an integrated academic health system based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She completed her medical school training at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, residency in Internal Medicine at Temple University Hospital, and fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Weinberg is passionate about driving Age-Friendly aligned initiatives, with the aim of improving the safety and patient experience for older adults across the full spectrum of care. She currently serves as the Medical Director of AHN’s AGS CoCare: HELP (Hospital Elder Life Program) which has earned status nationally as a HELP Center of Excellence. She also serves as Medical Director for the AHN Aging Brain Care Program, a supportive program for caregivers of people living with dementia. In addition to her responsibilities as Division Director, she maintains an active clinical practice in Geriatrics, providing care for older adults in the outpatient, inpatient, and home-based settings.
Drew Pickett, PhD
Dr. Drew Pickett, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health & Wellness Design at the Indiana University School of Public Health- Bloomington. His research broadly examines inclusive design and management practices for programs to promote health and prevent chronic disease among traditionally underserved populations. His current projects explore the social connectedness and health behaviors of LGBTQ+ identifying caregivers of people living with dementia. This work aims to understand the unique needs and challenges of LGBTQ+ families, including legal recognition of relationships or discrimination in healthcare settings, and how those things may impact care decisions. His work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Indiana Clinical Translational Science Institute, and the IU Aging Research Network.
Chinedu Theresa Momoh, PhD
Dr. Chi Udeh-Momoh is a Translational Neuroscientist with expertise in dementia epidemiology, based across Aga Khan University Kenya and Wake Forest University USA; and affiliated as a Senior Lecturer at Sheiffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience UK and Karolinska Institute Sweden. In her dual roles as Director of the Imarisha Centre for Brain Health and Aging and Lead of the Genomics and Biomarker Core at the Brain and Mind Institute Kenya, she is developing capacity for dementia and brain aging research, education, and care while collaborating with Mental Health and Neuroscience subject experts, clinicians, and educators across the Aga Khan University, to ultimately build the neuroscience capacity and strength across Global South regional partner institutions, including Pakistan. At Wake Forest University, she leads the Udeh-Momoh Lab for Global Brain Health Equity (U-M = BRAIN) focusing on translational research to advance equitable and culturally-informed strategies for promoting successful aging. She is also an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health. In 2018, she initiated the AFRICA-FINGERS project (as Chief Investigator) that aims to promote healthy ageing and mitigate brain health and biomarker-access inequalities through culturally appropriate, sustainable multimodal intervention strategies in African populations. She is co-Lead of the World-Wide FINGERS Biomarker Consortium, Global CEOi/Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative workstream on Implementation of Blood-based-biomarkers in Clinical Practice and on the Executive committee for the Biofluids-biomarker-based PIA of the Alzheimer’s Association ISTAART (2018 - present). She is also co-founder of the Female Brain and Endocrine Research (FEMBER) consortium.
Having completed a competitive CASE PhD studentship in Neuroscience and Neuroendocrinology at the MRC. Centre for Synaptic Plasticity at the University of Bristol (2010-2014), her research elucidates dementia prevention bio-mechanistic pathways and strategies across diverse populations, adopting a translational approach integrating human clinical studies with experimental animal models. She previously conducted research at Imperial College London, where components of her work received funding from industry partners - Janssen, Merck and Takeda. She currently receives competitively awarded funding for her research efforts from the Alzheimer’s Association, the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, Wellcome Leap and the Global Brain Health Institute. Dr. Udeh-Momoh leads multinational initiatives to address gender and racial disparities in medical research and academia and sits on the Board of Trustees of the British Society for Neuroendocrinology as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead.
Overall, her work is at the forefront of translational neuroscience, bringing together fundamental discoveries in neuroscience with the goal of improving human health and wellbeing.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Part 2: Tailored Care for a Brighter Future
Transforming Dementia Care for Impacted Communities
Tia Powell, MD
Director of the Montefiore-Einstein Center for Bioethics
Dr. Tia Powell, M.D. is a prominent American psychiatrist and bioethicist, known for her contributions to the fields of clinical ethics, public health, and bioethics education. She currently serves as the Director of the Montefiore-Einstein Center for Bioethics and the Einstein Cardozo Master of Science in Bioethics Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, New York. She also holds the Trachtenberg Chair in Bioethics and is a Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Clinical Psychiatry. Powell’s academic work spans multiple disciplines, and she is recognized for her expertise in bioethics as it relates to public policy, end-of-life care, decision-making capacity, and the ethics of public health crises.
Powell's career has been marked by leadership roles in both academic and clinical settings. From 1992 to 1998, she served as the Director of Clinical Ethics at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where she guided ethical decision-making in complex clinical scenarios. Later, from 2004 to 2008, Powell was appointed as the executive director of the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law, where she led critical initiatives such as the development of guidelines for the allocation of ventilators during public health emergencies.
She has been an influential figure in public health ethics, particularly in the context of managing public health disasters. Powell has served on numerous committees for the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine), contributing to five separate projects on ethical issues surrounding public health crises, including her work as co-chair of the IOM report on antibiotics for an anthrax attack. Powell's expertise in bioethics during public health emergencies was instrumental in shaping state and national policies, including New York's ventilator allocation guidelines, which were developed in response to the possibility of a future influenza pandemic.
Dr. Powell’s academic journey began with her education at Harvard-Radcliffe College followed by medical school at Yale University. Her extensive training and multidisciplinary approach have enabled her to navigate the intersection of clinical practice, ethics, and public health policy.
In addition to her academic and clinical responsibilities, Powell has become a key figure in bioethics education, mentoring the next generation of professionals at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and beyond. Her work continues to shape both theoretical and practical aspects of bioethics, making her a leading voice in the field.
Her research interests include bioethics education, dementia care, clinical ethics consultation, and the ethical challenges of public health management during crises. Dr. Powell’s enduring impact on bioethics and public health is a testament to her commitment to improving healthcare delivery while addressing the complex moral and ethical issues faced by patients, providers, and policymakers.
Interventions Panelists
Kirti Khalsa
Kirti Khalsa’s eclectic background has given her the tremendous experience she’s needed to help take the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation from its inception to what it has accomplished and to where it is today.
Her family heritage goes back to Austria and Northern Italy and then Rome, where she was raised. Professionally, she began working in the hospitality industry at the Sheraton Hotel in Rome. Later she became the marketing director for export countries, then director of regulatory affairs for Serono Labs, a large multinational pharmaceutical Company. She also worked for the CFO at Serono’s corporate headquarters, moving from Rome to Switzerland. During those years, she was a martial arts student, holding a black belt in one martial art, and a brown belt in another.
After Dr. Khalsa and she were married in 1992, she became co-founder of the Foundation and has served as COO since then, helping establish the ARPF as the first organization to study the integrative approach to the prevention of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Kirti started serving as ARPF CEO in 2018.
Under her guidance, dedication, and hard work, the ARPF has done breakthrough research at leading academic medical centers such as UCLA, University of Pennsylvania, University of Arizona and West Virginia University. This research has been published in many prestigious journals, including the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. She has also guided the ARPF in the development of its Brain Longevity® Therapy Training Program with the goal of training one million therapists in its Four Pillars of Alzheimer’s Prevention.
Her ability and desire to connect with people, speaking five languages, and her particular kinship with the older generations has allowed ARPF to grow and expand in the Alzheimer’s and greater wellness community. For Kirti, this work has deep personal meaning and her opportunity to give back: she has been practicing lifestyle-based therapies and yoga since she was 19 and became a caregiver in her early teenage years.
With strong work and personal ethics and a keen eye for progress, Kirti is working on the expansion of programs to prevent Alzheimer's and improve brain health in all populations at risk, including notably those suffering from healthcare disparities. With her help the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation is the world’s leader in meditation and memory.I n her spare time, Kirti enjoys gardening, cooking, learning new languages, reading and spending time with her husband and family.
Bert E. Brodsky
Bert E. Brodsky is a leading entrepreneur, real estate developer, and an active philanthropist and member of the community. As founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of BEB Capital, he chairs the investment committee, providing creative direction for the business to execute on its core strategy. A true visionary, Mr. Brodsky devoted the last five decades to innovating in numerous industries, including healthcare, technology, real estate, and hospitality. His incisive direction enabled BEB Capital to thrive as an entrepreneurial healthcare company and, in recent years, a strategic, value-added real estate investment firm.
Based in Port Washington, New York, BEB Capital is an intergenerational real estate business driven to optimize value creation in all aspects of a diverse portfolio of assets. The company partners with investors to create high-risk adjusted returns and promote medium- to long-term capital appreciation. Mr. Brodsky’s real estate portfolio consists of 300 apartments in the New York metropolitan area and 1.5 million square feet of commercial space. He also owns two successful restaurants, The Island Mermaid on Fire Island and City Cellar in Westbury.
Back in 1970, Mr. Brodsky founded his first company, Medical Arts Office Services, Inc., which provided hospitals and other healthcare companies with innovative automated billing services and electronic claims submissions. He then founded Sandata Technologies, LLC, a company that has made vast improvements in the healthcare industry by patenting novel software and telecommunications services to administrative processes now mandated by the U.S. government.
Through the years, Mr. Brodsky has celebrated numerous career successes, and continues to provide strategic direction, influence, and active involvement in several positions. His business acumen has been tapped by many non-profit organizations which have recognized the value he brings to their boards and committees. Among his numerous civic and philanthropic roles, Mr. Brodsky serves as board chairman of the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Fay J. Lindner and is founder and board chairman of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. He started the organization after caring for his mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. In 2013, Mr. Brodsky received the foundation’s “Together for Care” Award.
He is founder and executive chairman of Care Connect, LLC and Mobile Health Management Services, Inc. In addition, Mr. Brodsky is founder of HealthEdge Investment Partners, and BelHealth Investment Partners, LLC, and serves as managing partner of digital marketing agency, Didit.
In 1964, he graduated from the City College of New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Economics. In 2011, Mr. Brodsky received an honorary degree as Doctor of Humane Letters. To date, he is the third alumnus to receive the college’s prestigious John H. Finley Award, which recognizes alumni who have demonstrated exemplary service to the city. Mr. Brodsky is also the proud recipient of the Townsend Harris Medal, also presented by The Alumni Association of CCNY. He is the former President of Lock & Key, the University Honor Leadership Society. Mr. Brodsky attended Bronx High School of Science, and in 2018, was inducted into its first Alumni Hall of Fame.
Kathryn Lawrence, MSN, RN-BC
Kathryn started her nursing career with an associate’s degree in 2002. She continued her education and graduated with a master’s in nursing from Walden University in 2010. She has spent much of her career with a focus on Geriatrics. She maintains a certification in Gerontological Nursing from the American Nurse Credentialing Center. Kathryn currently works for Allegheny Health Network, in Pittsburgh PA as an Elder Life Nurse Specialist. She divides her time between the Hospital Elder Life Program at Allegheny General Hospital and supporting the Geriatric Division of West Penn Medical Associates. Kathryn is also a Dementia Friends Champion and provides education sessions about the types of dementia and communication techniques to new nursing staff.
Esther Pearl
Esther Pearl is the Program Manager for the Alzheimer's Association, CT Chapter. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and a Master of Science degree from Central CT State University. She has been with the Alzheimer’s Association for 8 years and currently oversees the education programs for the State of CT and the amazing volunteers who help present some of these programs.
Having been a caregiver for her husband, who lived with this disease, she has experienced firsthand the challenges of caregiving, of loving someone with cognitive decline and the difficulties navigating healthcare, financial and support systems. She is now able to turn those experiences into opportunities to help educate and support so many others who are facing their own challenges.