Mary Koithan is a Clinical Professor of Biobehavioral Nursing at the University of Washington, School of Nursing. She is board certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in chronic care management of adults. The focus of her clinical scholarship has been symptom management in adults with serious and life-threatening conditions and integrative, whole person care. She currently serves as the Project Director for the Training and Resources for IHS on Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia (TRIAD) program. 

Dr. Larry Newman is an Assistant Clinical Professor Emeritus at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, where he taught in both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. He is dually certified as an Adult/Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Dr. Newman’s clinical and academic work has focused on the care of older adults and individuals from marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+ populations, immigrants, and Native American communities. He previously practiced at the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic, where he developed and implemented a weekly nurse practitioner–led clinic providing both chronic and acute care services.

He also partnered with the University of Iowa College of Dentistry to establish a nurse practitioner–led primary care clinic within the Geriatric Special Needs Dental Clinic, emphasizing interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Prior to retiring from the University of Iowa, Dr. Newman regularly volunteered with the University of Iowa Mobile Clinic and facilitated six-week Well Woman support groups each semester for Spanish-speaking immigrant women.

Dr. Newman currently practices as a nurse practitioner at the Meskwaki Tribal Behavioral Health Center in Tama, Iowa.

Jamie Olsen is a Management Analyst for the DCCS at the Indian Health Service (IHS). Prior to DCCS, Mrs. Olsen served 22 years at the Red Lake IHS Service Unit. From 2000 to 2011, she was a Staff Radiologic Technologist who focused on installing the Hospital’s first in-house mammography unit. Mrs. Olsen was the first mammographer on staff and was responsible for the mammography compliance and regulation program. In 2011, she was promoted to Radiology Supervisor at Red Lake IHS. During this time, she managed IHS Staff and Radiology Contracting Staff. Her primary duty consisted of managing significant contracts at the COR II level. She was responsible for the Radiology budget and was involved in the revenue enhancement committee. Mrs. Olsen also served as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for many Area Wide Radiology projects. She has earned her Diagnostic Radiologic Technology degree through the St. Cloud Hospital School of X-Ray.

Michelle Archuleta, (Paiute-Shoshone, San Juan Pueblo/Tewa) is the National Community Health Representative Lead for the Division of Clinical and Community Services. Ms. Archuleta brings to the Indian Health Service a diversity of experience with athletics, sport, recreation, and community health directing outreach and education programs in supporting healthy lifestyles, prevention and wellness. She joins us from the Bemidji Area Office where she served in dual capacities as the Health Promotion/Disease Prevention and Community Health Representative Consultants. Ms. Archuleta’s work passion includes health coaching, narrative processes and holistic models connecting first person lived experiences with health. She is a contributing chapter author in Living Indigenous Leadership: Native Narratives on Building Strong Communities. She has had many mentors who have guided her along the way, and in taking this position she sees it as both an honor, and a way of giving back to Native communities.

A citizen of the Diné Nation, Taryn works with the IHS Headquarters Division of Clinical and Community Services as the Health Education Consultant.  Ms. Watson earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health Sciences from the University of Arizona and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.  Her extensive professional experience is centered in public health management and administration, working specifically within IHS programs and dedicated to supporting tribal and urban communities.

LCDR Maria Bellantoni, MD, is an internist and geriatrician in the Primary Care Medicine Clinic at Phoenix Indian Medical Center. She is a graduate of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. She completed an internal medicine residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include integrated geriatrics practice in primary care, dementia care models, and substance use disorders in older adults. She currently serves as the IHS Chief Clinical Consultant for Geriatrics & Palliative Care, and provides clinical consultation as a member of the IHS National Elder Health team.

Bruce Finke, MD is Senior Advisor for Primary Care at Ariadne Labs. In this role he works across the organization to support prototype development and implementation efforts focused on the organization and delivery of care for individuals and populations. Bruce draws upon his substantial experience in the design and delivery of primary health care in the U.S. to engage and advise with our partners organization on strategies for making health systems more responsive, efficient, and effective. He also serves as a mentor to our clinical and policy research teams. 

In over 30 years in government health care, Bruce served in leadership roles in the Indian Health Service and the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and worked across agencies on multiple policy initiatives.  He led policy and program development in geriatrics and long term services and support at the Indian Health Service for over 25 years while serving in a variety of administrative roles at the regional and national level and maintaining an active clinical role.  As a senior advisor in the Learning and Diffusion group at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation from 2011 through 2024, he led design of the systems to support learning within and from multiple models of care delivery and payment reform, with a special focus on primary care  and dementia services.   He served on the HHS Advisory Council for Alzheimer’s Research, Care and Services from its inception in 2011 until his retirement from federal service in 2024 and was recognized with the HHS Career Achievement Award in 2023.

In addition to his role at Ariadne Labs, Dr. Finke now practices in Northampton, MA,  supporting the comprehensive, person-centered primary care provided at the Valley Medical Group with geriatric consultation.

Dr. Julia Bellantoni is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She provides outpatient primary care for older adults, geriatric medicine consultation in the emergency department, and attends on an Acute Care for the Elderly inpatient medical service. 

Dr. Bellantoni received her Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University and her medical degree within the Primary Care Leadership Track at Duke University School of Medicine. She completed internal medicine-primary care residency and fellowship in geriatric medicine at the University of Colorado. Her interests include transitions of care, quality improvement, and value-based care delivery models for medically complex and high-risk older adults.

Dr. Michele Bellantoni is Professor of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Medical Director of the Age-Friendly Collaborative of the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Dr. Bellantoni received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  She completed internal medicine training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Johns Hopkins, and a three-year research fellowship at the National Institute on Aging in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.  She began her faculty appointment at Johns Hopkins in 1989 as a clinical investigator studying bone metabolism, then transitioned to clinician-program administrator. She was appointed in 1997 as medical director of the post-acute care services on the campus of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, became Clinical Director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine in 2010, and assumed the leadership role in 2024 of the Age-Friendly Collaborative of the medical center. She was elected in 2012 to the Johns Hopkins Miller Coulson Academy for Clinical Excellence in recognition of her leadership in post-acute care. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Post-acute and Long-term Care Medicine Association and currently chairs the organization’s Futures Program and Workforce Enhancement Committee.  She received the organization’s 2021 James Pattee Award for Excellence in Education. She maintains outpatient practice for older adults with osteoporosis and educates medical trainees across the continuum of geriatric medicine services at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. 

Nora Downey is a Project Manager for the Serious Illness Care Program. In this role, she supports a portfolio of projects which aim to implement the Serious Illness Care Program in a variety of health systems.

Nora previously worked in aging brain research as the Manager of Education, Engagement, and Advocacy at Cogniciti, a healthcare startup, and as Senior Research Coordinator in a geriatric neuropsychology and neuroimaging lab at Massachusetts General Hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Amber Hoon is the Tribal Dementia Program Director for the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council’s (GLITC) “Together Strong” Tribal Dementia Program. Together Strong is a partnership with several Wisconsin-based Tribal Nations and the State of Wisconsin Tribal Dementia Care Specialists to create a training and awareness program on Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases. This program is created from the Tribal perspective, supporting the unique culture and experience of each Tribal Partner.

Prior to her current position, Amber spent 14 years nursing on the Special Care: Alzheimer and Dementia Unit at the Milwaukee Catholic Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was an amazing journey, and she learned a lot from the people she cared for. One of the biggest lessons she feels she needs to share is that people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia are still people with thoughts, strengths, feelings, needs, and wants. It became Amber’s personal mission to learn from those she cared for by:
Finding ways that worked best for them to maintain dignity and independence.

• Helping them live their best lives possible.
• Helping families understand the changes their loved ones were going through; and how to approach those changes according to their loved one’s abilities.
• Providing support throughout those changes.

Amber brings this experience and care to her work with GLITC and other tribal partners, where she helps tribal staff, caregivers, families, and individuals living with dementia understand and learn what to expect through the different stages by providing culturally appropriate trainings, educational resources, and emotional support. Together we are strong!

Outside of her work with GLITC, Amber is the mother to three adult sons. She enjoys spending her free time in the woods with her two dogs and partner. She has a deep passion for learning about plant medicines and traditional food practices, participating in traditional Anishinaabe cultural events and ceremonies, and especially enjoys hearing and learning traditional stories and songs.

Marlene Taha currently serves as the Inpatient Patient Advocate at Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC). She has been employed at GIMC for 30 years, including contracting service, and has served in the role of Patient Advocate and Customer Service Representative for 23½ years. A member of the Navajo Nation, Marlene works closely with patients, families, and visitors on a daily basis, helping them navigate the Indian Health Service system. She assists individuals across all facets of their healthcare experience and supports the resolution of grievances and concerns. Marlene is also an active member of the GIMC Palliative Care Team, where she assists palliative care providers by participating in patient and family meetings, providing Navajo language interpretation, and helping ensure that culturally sensitive and respectful care is delivered throughout the facility.

Ron Eppes is the Director of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Projects at the International Association for Indigenous Aging. Previously, Ron was the Director of Advocacy and Education at the Arc of New Mexico and the Director of Programs at the New Mexico chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Ron and his wife Peggy have moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma to be closer to grandchildren.

Ron studied Mathematics at Oklahoma Christian and Information Systems at Friends University. He has experience working in the corporate world and brings a creative and analytical mindset to the work of IA2. Ron’s introduction to the ADRD world was with his mom. She spent the last 20 years of her life with a diagnosis of mixed dementia and Ron learned what it means to be a family member who helps someone who struggles with this disease.

Ron’s life goal is to be a decent human being and hopes that his community considers this to be true.

Dr. Blind is Cree from George Gordon's First Nation in Saskatchewan. She holds a PhD in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona. She is a Senior Research Scientist and Community Engagement Director for the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus. Dr. Blind has over 15 years’ experience working with Indigenous communities in the field of Indigenous health and dementia research. Her work has contributed to the development of culturally safe dementia health promotion materials and assessment tools in Canada and the US through the Indigenous Cultural Understandings of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias – Research and Engagement (ICARE) project and the Addressing Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Disparities: The American Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (AMICA) project.

Dr. Jolie Crowder serves as the National Elder Care Consultant for the DCCS at the IHS Headquarters. In this role, she serves as the principal representative responsible for planning, formulating, and implementing national elder care policies and programming focused on early recognition, diagnosis, and management of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Additional responsibilities include representing the DCCS in the elder program forward-facing outreach activities and monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the elder care program. Before joining the IHS, she worked for more than a decade with the International Association for Indigenous Aging as a Senior Director and Director of Research and Evaluation and briefly with the National Council for Urban Indian Health. She served as Principal Investigator for a National Healthy Brain Initiative award and lead evaluator for four tribal Administration for Community Living Alzheimer’s grants. In addition, Dr. Crowder has hands-on experience developing plain language, and culturally relevant resources for use by and for Indian Country. She has published peer-reviewed publications on elder abuse, dementia, and, most recently, social determinants of cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native populations working in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Crowder graduated with a master’s in health systems management and a doctorate in nursing science from the University of Virginia, where her doctoral dissertation focused on elder mistreatment in Native populations.

Jamie Olsen is a Management Analyst for the DCCS at the Indian Health Service (IHS). Prior to DCCS, Mrs. Olsen served 22 years at the Red Lake IHS Service Unit. From 2000 to 2011, she was a Staff Radiologic Technologist who focused on installing the Hospital’s first in-house mammography unit. Mrs. Olsen was the first mammographer on staff and was responsible for the mammography compliance and regulation program. In 2011, she was promoted to Radiology Supervisor at Red Lake IHS. During this time, she managed IHS Staff and Radiology Contracting Staff. Her primary duty consisted of managing significant contracts at the COR II level. She was responsible for the Radiology budget and was involved in the revenue enhancement committee. Mrs. Olsen also served as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for many Area Wide Radiology projects. She has earned her Diagnostic Radiologic Technology degree through the St. Cloud Hospital School of X-Ray.

LCDR Maria Bellantoni, MD, is an internist and geriatrician in the Primary Care Medicine Clinic at Phoenix Indian Medical Center. She is a graduate of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. She completed an internal medicine residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include integrated geriatrics practice in primary care, dementia care models, and substance use disorders in older adults. She currently serves as the IHS Chief Clinical Consultant for Geriatrics & Palliative Care, and provides clinical consultation as a member of the IHS National Elder Health team.

Ms. Valerie Jones serves as the Elder Health Care Data Coordinator for the DCCS at the IHS Headquarters. She brings over twenty years of public service experience in the health and human services industries. Her background and interests center on improving health outcomes in Native American communities.

Prior to joining IHS, Ms. Jones served as the Health Administrator of the Navajo Nation Division of Aging and Long-Term Care Support Program overseeing aging services in 110 communities on the Navajo Nation. She also served as the Tribal Arizona Long-Term Care Administrator with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, overseeing intergovernmental agreements with various Tribes in Arizona. Additionally, she worked with the Department of Commerce on the Decennial Census, providing technical assistance and administrative guidance to the Dallas Regional Census Center. Ms. Jones earned her Master of Public Administration degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling degree from the University of Arizona.

Mary Koithan is a Clinical Professor of Biobehavioral Nursing at the University of Washington, School of Nursing. She is board certified as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in chronic care management of adults. The focus of her clinical scholarship has been symptom management in adults with serious and life-threatening conditions and integrative, whole person care. She currently serves as the Project Director for the Training and Resources for IHS on Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia (TRIAD) program. 

Jaqueline Raetz, MD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington. She is board certified in Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Palliative care and continues to practice Family Medicine primary care including outpatient, inpatient, and nursing home care. She practices primary care at Harborview Medical Center which is the main safety-net hospital for King County, providing care for a diverse population of underserved patients. She is faculty lead for the Primary Care Clinical Dementia Training offered through TRIAD

Nichole Cottier, Oglala Lakota, joined the Indian Health Service (IHS) in November 2023 as the Community Health Branch Chief for the Division of Clinical and Community Services (DCCS) and has served as the Acting Director of DCCS since April 2024. She began her career in Tribal public health with the University of Colorado’s National Center for American Indian and Alaskan Native Mental Health Research and then moved on to serve in various roles with the Pine Ridge Indian Health Service and the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board. Nichole has a bachelor's degree in Business Management and over 20 years of experience working with tribal communities to restore traditional health practices, build public health infrastructure, and implement programs to improve health outcomes. Nichole is a certified American Council on Exercise (ACE) Youth Fitness Specialist, a certified Health Coach, a Physical Activity Kit (PAK) Trainer, and a Cooper Trained Fitness Specialist.

Dr. Loretta Christensen, MBA, MSJ, FACS, an enrolled member of the Navajo Tribe, servesas the chief medical officer of the Indian Health Service. The IHS, an agency within the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, is the principal federal health care provider forAmerican Indians and Alaska Natives. As the chief medical officer, Dr. Christensen is IHS’lead expert on medical and public health topics, giving technical consultation and guidance tothe IHS Office of the Director and IHS staff throughout the country on American Indian andAlaska Native health care policies and issues. She provides national leadership for clinical andcommunity-based health programs of the agency, and serves as the primary liaison andadvocate for IHS health professionals.Dr. Christensen began her career with the IHS as a general surgeon. She has recently served asthe chief medical officer of the Navajo Area Indian Health Service from 2017-2021, and aschief medical officer at the Gallup Service Unit from 2014-2017. She also served as acting IHSchief medical officer from May to June 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served asthe co-lead for the COVID-19 Response Branch and the Medical Branch lead for the NavajoNation’s Unified Coordination Group.Dr. Christensen received her undergraduate degree in biological anthropology from HarvardUniversity and her medical degree from Hahnemann University Medical School, now theDrexel University College of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency atMonmouth Medical Center in New Jersey and a fellowship in trauma and critical care atCooper University Hospital. Dr. Christensen also holds a master of business administrationfrom Georgian Court University and a master of jurisprudence with a specialty in healthcarelaw from Seton Hall Law School.Before joining the Navajo Area, Dr. Christensen served for 17 years as the trauma clinicaldirector and associate director of the surgical intensive care unit at Jersey Shore UniversityHospital. She was also the director of integrative medicine and non-invasive pain managementservices, as well as an assistant professor of surgery at the Robert Wood Johnson MedicalSchool. She has specialty training in medical acupuncture, palliative care, functional medicine,just culture, quality management and patient safety. Dr. Christensen is board certified ingeneral surgery and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Leonard D. Thomas, M.D., an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is the Area Director for the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Service (IHS). Dr. Thomas previously served as theActing Area Director from 2015 through 2016 and 2009 to 2010 and also held the position of Chief Medical Officer for the Albuquerque Area Office. 

As the Albuquerque Area Director, Dr. Thomas will provide leadership to 10 service units and25 Pueblos and Tribes in New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. The Albuquerque Area delivers services at the community level through a system of 1 hospital, 14 health centers, 6 health stations, 2 urban Indian programs, one dental center, and one regional residential treatment center. Most health facilities are strategically located near population centers. These facilities offer a broad range of acute care, preventive care, chronic disease treatment, and environmental and educational services to Tribes. 

Dr. Thomas began his IHS career in the Billings Area at the Crow/Northern Cheyenne ServiceUnit where he served as a Family Practice Medical Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and ClinicalDirector from July 1999 to August 2002. In September 2002, he accepted the position of Taos/Picuris Service Unit Clinical Director in the IHS Albuquerque Area. 

Dr. Thomas completed the Executive Leadership Development Program in September 2001and participated in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship in 2004 as an IHS representative. He served on the 2006 Director’s Executive Council representing the National Council of Chief Medical Officers and the 2007 Director’s Executive Council Steering Group. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Association of American Indian Physicians.

Dr. Thomas was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology and Chemistry from Fort Lewis College in Colorado. He attended and graduated from the University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine and completed a 3-year family practice residency at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Indiana.

Dr. Gary Ferguson most recently served as Research Assistant Professor and Director of Outreach & Engagement at Washington State University’s Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) whose mission is to address health equity in Native communities. As a Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Ferguson has a passion for wellness-based, culturally-connected approaches to achieving community health. He is Unangax̂ (Aleut), enrolled in the Qagan Tayagungin Tribe and is originally from the Shumagin Islands community of Sand Point, Alaska. He has a deep passion for reclaiming Indigenous ways of healing, and is a regular speaker, teacher in promoting traditional plants as food & medicine. He is the co-creator of the Store Outside Your Door Initiative, which focuses on how to hunt, fish, gather and grow traditional foods. His past positions include providing clinical services to his home region at Eastern Aleutian Tribes, serving at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium as Wellness & Prevention Director and Senior Director of Community Health Services and as Chief Executive Officer at the Rural Alaska Community Action Program.

Amber Hoon is the Tribal Dementia Program Director for the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council’s (GLITC) “Together Strong” Tribal Dementia Program. Together Strong is a partnership with several Wisconsin-based Tribal Nations and the State of Wisconsin Tribal Dementia Care Specialists to create a training and awareness program on Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases. This program is created from the Tribal perspective, supporting the unique culture and experience of each Tribal Partner.

Prior to her current position, Amber spent 14 years nursing on the Special Care: Alzheimer and Dementia Unit at the Milwaukee Catholic Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was an amazing journey, and she learned a lot from the people she cared for. One of the biggest lessons she feels she needs to share is that people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia are still people with thoughts, strengths, feelings, needs, and wants. It became Amber’s personal mission to learn from those she cared for by:
Finding ways that worked best for them to maintain dignity and independence.

• Helping them live their best lives possible.
• Helping families understand the changes their loved ones were going through; and how to approach those changes according to their loved one’s abilities.
• Providing support throughout those changes.

Amber brings this experience and care to her work with GLITC and other tribal partners, where she helps tribal staff, caregivers, families, and individuals living with dementia understand and learn what to expect through the different stages by providing culturally appropriate trainings, educational resources, and emotional support. Together we are strong!

Outside of her work with GLITC, Amber is the mother to three adult sons. She enjoys spending her free time in the woods with her two dogs and partner. She has a deep passion for learning about plant medicines and traditional food practices, participating in traditional Anishinaabe cultural events and ceremonies, and especially enjoys hearing and learning traditional stories and songs.

Jaqueline Raetz, MD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington. She is board certified in Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Palliative care and continues to practice Family Medicine primary care including outpatient, inpatient, and nursing home care. She practices primary care at Harborview Medical Center which is the main safety-net hospital for King County, providing care for a diverse population of underserved patients. She is faculty lead for the Primary Care Clinical Dementia Training offered through TRIAD

R. Turner Goins received her BA in Psychology from East Carolina University and her MS and PhD in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. In 1998, she completed a two year National Institutes of Aging’s research post-doctoral fellowships at Duke University’s Medical Center with an emphasis in Epidemiology. She was faculty at West Virginia University’s School of Medicine and Oregon State University’s School of Public Health and Human Development before coming to Western Carolina University in 2013. Dr. Goins is the Ambassador Jeanette Hyde Distinguished Professor in the Department of Social Work, College of Health and Human Sciences. 

For the last 20 years, Dr. Goins’s research has focused on American Indian and Alaska Native aging-related issues. She has had the pleasure of working with many tribal communities across the U.S. in the area of elder health although her longest collaborative relationship has been with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Dr. Goins’s research adopts a community-based participatory research approach, wherein her research examines issues of local importance. In 2018, she was a J. William Fulbright Scholar at the University of Auckland for six months which allowed her to examine physical and cognitive health issues among older Māori. Dr. Goins has received over 5.7 million dollars in support of her research program, including funding by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the National Council on Aging, the Reed Foundation, and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. She is a fellow in the Gerontological Society of America and served as the President of the Southern Gerontological Society (2016-17). To date, she has published her research in 82 peer reviewed journal manuscripts, 6 books and book chapters, and 9 research reports.

Marlene Taha currently serves as the Inpatient Patient Advocate at Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC). She has been employed at GIMC for 30 years, including contracting service, and has served in the role of Patient Advocate and Customer Service Representative for 23½ years. A member of the Navajo Nation, Marlene works closely with patients, families, and visitors on a daily basis, helping them navigate the Indian Health Service system. She assists individuals across all facets of their healthcare experience and supports the resolution of grievances and concerns. Marlene is also an active member of the GIMC Palliative Care Team, where she assists palliative care providers by participating in patient and family meetings, providing Navajo language interpretation, and helping ensure that culturally sensitive and respectful care is delivered throughout the facility.

Dr. Jolie Crowder serves as the National Elder Care Consultant for the DCCS at the IHS Headquarters. In this role, she serves as the principal representative responsible for planning, formulating, and implementing national elder care policies and programming focused on early recognition, diagnosis, and management of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Additional responsibilities include representing the DCCS in the elder program forward-facing outreach activities and monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the elder care program. Before joining the IHS, she worked for more than a decade with the International Association for Indigenous Aging as a Senior Director and Director of Research and Evaluation and briefly with the National Council for Urban Indian Health. She served as Principal Investigator for a National Healthy Brain Initiative award and lead evaluator for four tribal Administration for Community Living Alzheimer’s grants. In addition, Dr. Crowder has hands-on experience developing plain language, and culturally relevant resources for use by and for Indian Country. She has published peer-reviewed publications on elder abuse, dementia, and, most recently, social determinants of cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native populations working in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Crowder graduated with a master’s in health systems management and a doctorate in nursing science from the University of Virginia, where her doctoral dissertation focused on elder mistreatment in Native populations.

Nora Downey is a Project Manager for the Serious Illness Care Program. In this role, she supports a portfolio of projects which aim to implement the Serious Illness Care Program in a variety of health systems.

Nora previously worked in aging brain research as the Manager of Education, Engagement, and Advocacy at Cogniciti, a healthcare startup, and as Senior Research Coordinator in a geriatric neuropsychology and neuroimaging lab at Massachusetts General Hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

R. Turner Goins received her BA in Psychology from East Carolina University and her MS and PhD in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. In 1998, she completed a two year National Institutes of Aging’s research post-doctoral fellowships at Duke University’s Medical Center with an emphasis in Epidemiology. She was faculty at West Virginia University’s School of Medicine and Oregon State University’s School of Public Health and Human Development before coming to Western Carolina University in 2013. Dr. Goins is the Ambassador Jeanette Hyde Distinguished Professor in the Department of Social Work, College of Health and Human Sciences. 

For the last 20 years, Dr. Goins’s research has focused on American Indian and Alaska Native aging-related issues. She has had the pleasure of working with many tribal communities across the U.S. in the area of elder health although her longest collaborative relationship has been with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Dr. Goins’s research adopts a community-based participatory research approach, wherein her research examines issues of local importance. In 2018, she was a J. William Fulbright Scholar at the University of Auckland for six months which allowed her to examine physical and cognitive health issues among older Māori. Dr. Goins has received over 5.7 million dollars in support of her research program, including funding by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the National Council on Aging, the Reed Foundation, and the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. She is a fellow in the Gerontological Society of America and served as the President of the Southern Gerontological Society (2016-17). To date, she has published her research in 82 peer reviewed journal manuscripts, 6 books and book chapters, and 9 research reports.

Jaqueline Raetz, MD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington. She is board certified in Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Palliative care and continues to practice Family Medicine primary care including outpatient, inpatient, and nursing home care. She practices primary care at Harborview Medical Center which is the main safety-net hospital for King County, providing care for a diverse population of underserved patients. She is faculty lead for the Primary Care Clinical Dementia Training offered through TRIAD

Scott Robison (Mvskoke Nation - Muscogee) M.Ed. – Scott is a Muscogee Nation tribal member and has been serving tribal communities in the fields of Diabetes Prevention, Health Promotion, and School Wellness for 30 years. He is the Community Health Director for the Wewoka Indian Health Center. During the 16 years prior to coming to Wewoka, he served as the Exercise Programs Coordinator for the Muscogee Nation Diabetes Program, K-6 Physical Education teacher for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in NC, and the Academic Coordinator for the Muscogee Nation Boarding School. Scott participates in his tribal culture by making the Mvskoke ballsticks for his tribe’s stickball games. He is a graduate of Western Carolina University with a Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education and a Master’s degree in Education from East Central University. He resides near Seminole, OK with his wife Janice and has been blessed with 3 daughters and 6 grandkids.

Theresa Clay received her Master of Science degree from the University of New Mexico in Community Health Education and Promotion. Ms. Clay is a Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Specialist and Public Affairs Liaison with the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Service providing culturally appropriate trainings, seeking best practices and resources, and building networks. Prior to joining the Indian Health Service twenty years ago, Theresa worked as a Health Education Manager with the University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center working on several research studies.

Theresa is an enrolled member of the Diné (Navajo Nation). She loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, running and has completed 24 marathons. Most recently on May 4th in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A citizen of the Diné Nation, Taryn works with the IHS Headquarters Division of Clinical and Community Services as the Health Education Consultant.  Ms. Watson earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health Sciences from the University of Arizona and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.  Her extensive professional experience is centered in public health management and administration, working specifically within IHS programs and dedicated to supporting tribal and urban communities.

Megan Russell is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Megan graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from Northern Arizona University. She will be pursuing a Master of Public Health with concentration in Health Promotion at Northern Arizona University starting in Fall 2025. Megan joined IHS in 2020 as a Health Technician and Health Technician Supervisor and now serves as a Public Health Advisor under the Office of Director with the Indian Health Service.

Emily Tahy-Ceballos, EdD, MPH, is an enrolled member of the Navajo Tribe and serves as a Public Health Advisor with the Indian Health Service. She is dedicated to integrating public health initiatives and health literacy into her work. Emily focuses on promoting health, education, and awareness while advocating for American Indian and Alaska Native populations.

Bobbie is a Senior Program Manager with the Alzheimer’s Association, bringing more than 40 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Throughout her career, she has worked alongside volunteers to create meaningful change in communities—whether through faith-based initiatives, programs supporting  individuals experiencing homelessness, or recovery focused services. Her leadership has extended beyond management to include training, coaching, and guiding workshops and retreats that equip others to serve with compassion and effectiveness.

With a career rooted in service and empowerment, Bobbie is passionate about building communities of care where people feel supported and connected. At the Alzheimer’s Association, she leads programs that provide education, resources, and hope for families navigating the challenges of dementia. Known for her warmth, humor, and ability to inspire, she continues to champion both volunteers and professionals in their efforts to make a lasting difference.

Bruce Finke, MD is Senior Advisor for Primary Care at Ariadne Labs. In this role he works across the organization to support prototype development and implementation efforts focused on the organization and delivery of care for individuals and populations. Bruce draws upon his substantial experience in the design and delivery of primary health care in the U.S. to engage and advise with our partners organization on strategies for making health systems more responsive, efficient, and effective. He also serves as a mentor to our clinical and policy research teams. 

In over 30 years in government health care, Bruce served in leadership roles in the Indian Health Service and the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and worked across agencies on multiple policy initiatives.  He led policy and program development in geriatrics and long term services and support at the Indian Health Service for over 25 years while serving in a variety of administrative roles at the regional and national level and maintaining an active clinical role.  As a senior advisor in the Learning and Diffusion group at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation from 2011 through 2024, he led design of the systems to support learning within and from multiple models of care delivery and payment reform, with a special focus on primary care  and dementia services.   He served on the HHS Advisory Council for Alzheimer’s Research, Care and Services from its inception in 2011 until his retirement from federal service in 2024 and was recognized with the HHS Career Achievement Award in 2023.

In addition to his role at Ariadne Labs, Dr. Finke now practices in Northampton, MA,  supporting the comprehensive, person-centered primary care provided at the Valley Medical Group with geriatric consultation.

Nora Downey is a Project Manager for the Serious Illness Care Program. In this role, she supports a portfolio of projects which aim to implement the Serious Illness Care Program in a variety of health systems.

Nora previously worked in aging brain research as the Manager of Education, Engagement, and Advocacy at Cogniciti, a healthcare startup, and as Senior Research Coordinator in a geriatric neuropsychology and neuroimaging lab at Massachusetts General Hospital. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Umila Singh, MFA is a Design Specialist at Ariadne Labs. In this role, she serves as an innovation and design content expert for the Lab, supporting projects to design effective improvement solutions that meet people’s needs and improve their lives. Her professional background includes working as a Senior Innovation Strategist for a safety-net hospital in Paterson, New Jersey, as well as a Strategy Associate for the New York City Administration of Children’s Services, the city’s child welfare system. Working in complex government and healthcare systems, Umila has experience leading projects and conducting user research to elevate the voices and needs of families, patients, and frontline staff. Her design practice is rooted in using equity-centered and participatory tools that bring diverse perspectives to decision-making. She holds a degree in Economics from CUNY Hunter College and an MFA in Design for Social Innovation from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

Dr. Blind is Cree from George Gordon's First Nation in Saskatchewan. She holds a PhD in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona. She is a Senior Research Scientist and Community Engagement Director for the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus. Dr. Blind has over 15 years’ experience working with Indigenous communities in the field of Indigenous health and dementia research. Her work has contributed to the development of culturally safe dementia health promotion materials and assessment tools in Canada and the US through the Indigenous Cultural Understandings of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias – Research and Engagement (ICARE) project and the Addressing Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Disparities: The American Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (AMICA) project.

Michelle Archuleta, (Paiute-Shoshone, San Juan Pueblo/Tewa) is the National Community Health Representative Lead for the Division of Clinical and Community Services. Ms. Archuleta brings to the Indian Health Service a diversity of experience with athletics, sport, recreation, and community health directing outreach and education programs in supporting healthy lifestyles, prevention and wellness. She joins us from the Bemidji Area Office where she served in dual capacities as the Health Promotion/Disease Prevention and Community Health Representative Consultants. Ms. Archuleta’s work passion includes health coaching, narrative processes and holistic models connecting first person lived experiences with health. She is a contributing chapter author in Living Indigenous Leadership: Native Narratives on Building Strong Communities. She has had many mentors who have guided her along the way, and in taking this position she sees it as both an honor, and a way of giving back to Native communities.

Bill Benson has worked in aging and health for 36 years. Along with IA2 Executive Director Dave Baldridge, Benson has co-authored numerous papers on long-term care issues in Indian country. As former staff director for the Senate Labor Subcommittee on Aging, Benson oversaw the successful reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA) in 1992. Under his leadership, that year’s reauthorization included Title VII, Subtitle B–Native American Organization and Elder Justice Provisions — the first federal law created to address the issues of elder abuse and elder justice for Indian elders.

He established The Benson Consulting Group in 1998. In 2002 he joined with Sue Andersen to form Health Benefits ABCs (HBABCs), an independent consulting practice specializing in aging and health policy & services, program development, assessment and strategic planning, and training. Their clients include a number of national, state and private organizations, including n4a, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, the American Health Quality Foundation, National Adult Protective Services Association, American Society on Aging, the Population Association of America. American Planning Council, Institute for Health & Aging at the University of California, San Francisco, the Maryland Department of Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, WISER and others.

From 1993 to 1998 Mr. Benson was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Administration on Aging (AoA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was the acting Assistant Secretary for Aging in 1997. Mr. Benson spent eight years in various capacities in the U.S. Congress including staff director of the Subcommittee on Aging of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, staff director of the Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer Interests of the House Select Committee on Aging, and with the Senate Special Committee on Aging. Mr. Benson played a major role in the 1987 and 1992 amendments to the Older Americans Act including the creation of Title VII, the OBRA ‘87 nursing home reform legislation, numerous Medicare and Medicaid provisions, women’s health, pension and other notable legislative initiatives.

Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., Mr. Benson was with the California Department of Aging including serving for more than five years as the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

He is a past president of the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, president of the Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement & the American Association for International Aging, and chairs the advisory board to the Center on Global Aging at Catholic University of America’s School of Social Work. He is in his 13th season as host of First Person, a weekly series of interviews with Holocaust survivors before live audiences at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C

Ron Eppes is the Director of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Projects at the International Association for Indigenous Aging. Previously, Ron was the Director of Advocacy and Education at the Arc of New Mexico and the Director of Programs at the New Mexico chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Ron and his wife Peggy have moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma to be closer to grandchildren.

Ron studied Mathematics at Oklahoma Christian and Information Systems at Friends University. He has experience working in the corporate world and brings a creative and analytical mindset to the work of IA2. Ron’s introduction to the ADRD world was with his mom. She spent the last 20 years of her life with a diagnosis of mixed dementia and Ron learned what it means to be a family member who helps someone who struggles with this disease.

Ron’s life goal is to be a decent human being and hopes that his community considers this to be true.

Amber Hoon is the Tribal Dementia Program Director for the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council’s (GLITC) “Together Strong” Tribal Dementia Program. Together Strong is a partnership with several Wisconsin-based Tribal Nations and the State of Wisconsin Tribal Dementia Care Specialists to create a training and awareness program on Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases. This program is created from the Tribal perspective, supporting the unique culture and experience of each Tribal Partner.

Prior to her current position, Amber spent 14 years nursing on the Special Care: Alzheimer and Dementia Unit at the Milwaukee Catholic Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was an amazing journey, and she learned a lot from the people she cared for. One of the biggest lessons she feels she needs to share is that people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia are still people with thoughts, strengths, feelings, needs, and wants. It became Amber’s personal mission to learn from those she cared for by:
Finding ways that worked best for them to maintain dignity and independence.

• Helping them live their best lives possible.
• Helping families understand the changes their loved ones were going through; and how to approach those changes according to their loved one’s abilities.
• Providing support throughout those changes.

Amber brings this experience and care to her work with GLITC and other tribal partners, where she helps tribal staff, caregivers, families, and individuals living with dementia understand and learn what to expect through the different stages by providing culturally appropriate trainings, educational resources, and emotional support. Together we are strong!

Outside of her work with GLITC, Amber is the mother to three adult sons. She enjoys spending her free time in the woods with her two dogs and partner. She has a deep passion for learning about plant medicines and traditional food practices, participating in traditional Anishinaabe cultural events and ceremonies, and especially enjoys hearing and learning traditional stories and songs.

Dr. Jolie Crowder serves as the National Elder Care Consultant for the DCCS at the IHS Headquarters. In this role, she serves as the principal representative responsible for planning, formulating, and implementing national elder care policies and programming focused on early recognition, diagnosis, and management of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Additional responsibilities include representing the DCCS in the elder program forward-facing outreach activities and monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the elder care program. Before joining the IHS, she worked for more than a decade with the International Association for Indigenous Aging as a Senior Director and Director of Research and Evaluation and briefly with the National Council for Urban Indian Health. She served as Principal Investigator for a National Healthy Brain Initiative award and lead evaluator for four tribal Administration for Community Living Alzheimer’s grants. In addition, Dr. Crowder has hands-on experience developing plain language, and culturally relevant resources for use by and for Indian Country. She has published peer-reviewed publications on elder abuse, dementia, and, most recently, social determinants of cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native populations working in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Crowder graduated with a master’s in health systems management and a doctorate in nursing science from the University of Virginia, where her doctoral dissertation focused on elder mistreatment in Native populations.

Anna Knight is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and descendant of the Sixkiller and Ross families from Locust Grove, Cherokee Nation. In 1997 she graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She received the Indian Health Professions Scholarship in 2011 and graduated from Georgetown University with her Masters of Science in 2013. Anna’s work experience includes: tribal health programs, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, Accountable Care Organizations, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Special Needs Plans and now Indian Health Service, where she has gained clinical experience in: family practice, internal medicine, nephrology/transplant medicine, urgent care and transitional care management. Anna describes herself as a fierce patient advocate who enjoys the challenge of working with clinically complex patients. She has interest in clinical innovations in the context of value based care which also drive efficiency and cost containment, and how these innovations might be applied in Indian Health Services I/T/U programs.

Anna is also trained as a pediatric and adult forensics examiner. In April 2015, with the support of the Tuolumne Me-Wuk tribal social services department, collaboration with the Tuolumne County District Attorney’s office and Sherriff’s department, she was instrumental in the launch of the very first tribal Sexual Assault Response Team in California.

LCDR Maria Bellantoni, MD, is an internist and geriatrician in the Primary Care Medicine Clinic at Phoenix Indian Medical Center. She is a graduate of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. She completed an internal medicine residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include integrated geriatrics practice in primary care, dementia care models, and substance use disorders in older adults. She currently serves as the IHS Chief Clinical Consultant for Geriatrics & Palliative Care, and provides clinical consultation as a member of the IHS National Elder Health team.

D. Richard Wright, an elder of the Bear Clan, Pillager Band from the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. A U.S. Army veteran, licensed therapist, and spiritual advisor, Richard has dedicated his life to community healing. He supports Native families through his work at the Indian Health Board Clinic, especially in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and serves as a chaplain for those in Hennepin County Jail in Minneapolis.

In his 50s, Richard earned a seminary degree, just one more example of how aging can be a time of purpose and growth. Now in his 70s, he reminds us that getting older isn’t about slowing down, but about stepping into who we are and continuing to give back. His advice to younger generations: “Follow your dreams. Especially working on an education. Read and learn.”

Epidemiologist, statistician, and chronic disease expert, Luohua Jiang, MD, PhD  is a professor at Wen Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics whose research focuses on chronic disease prevention and treatment, namely for diabetes, in socially vulnerable communities.

Her latest work focuses on translating evidence-based diabetes prevention and management interventions into large-scale public health practice among Native American and minority populations. Jiang also provides statistical leadership and consulting to multiple federally-funded studies focusing on reducing health disparities.

Jiang holds a doctorate in biostatistics from UCLA and a medical degree from Peking University Health Science Center.

Lori Winchell, DrPH, APRN, CNP, CWP, has been teaching in the graduate nursing program at St. Catherine University in Minnesota since spring 2019. She began her nursing career after earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Certificate in Public Health from California State University, Long Beach in 1974. She later completed a Master of Nursing in Primary Ambulatory Care (Family Nurse Practitioner) with a minor in Nursing Education from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1980.

Dr. Winchell has practiced as a Family Nurse Practitioner for more than 40 years across a wide range of primary care settings, including rural health clinics, jail medical services, and outpatient county clinics, with a strong focus on serving at-risk and underserved populations. She currently serves as the Wisdom Wellness Clinical Program Manager at Elders Lodge, where her work centers on elder health and wellness.

In addition to her extensive clinical experience, Dr. Winchell has served as a preceptor for nurse practitioner and community health students and has taught in a variety of academic roles, including adjunct faculty, part-time faculty, and clinical faculty.

She earned her Doctorate in Public Health (Preventive Care) in 2011 and subsequently worked as the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program Manager at the Veterans Administration in Southern Nevada. Dr. Winchell later relocated to Minnesota to be closer to her family.

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, and fishing, and she maintains her Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification.

Peggy Jo is the Director of the Elder Justice Project at the International Association for Indigenous Aging IA2. She has dedicated her career to violence prevention, beginning in 2007 with a focus on power-based violence. Progressing in the nonprofit sector, she spearheaded community-based prevention programs and developed expertise in mobilizing communities to address violence, fostering collaboration across diverse fields.

She has extensive experience supporting both tribal and non-tribal Adult Protective Services (APS) professionals and programs. Currently, she leads the first tribal APS working group, bringing together over 150 APS professionals from tribal nations and state agencies to enhance collaboration and improve services.

Drawing from her background in program operations, Peggy Jo has overseen federally funded initiatives, including the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI) at the University of North Dakota and the Native American Elder Justice Initiative National Resource Center (NAEJI) at state, regional, and national levels. As a knowledgeable and culturally informed resource on aging issues for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, she is deeply committed to combating elder abuse and advancing justice for Indigenous elders.

Dr. Sheena Aurora is vice president, Medical Affairs, for the Alzheimer's Association. She works to translate research into clinical practice and gather feedback from clinical practice/health systems and individuals impacted by dementia to help the Association more effectively implement risk reduction strategies, diagnosis, treatments and care models. Dr. Aurora works closely with the Mission Engagement and Health Systems teams to ensure the development of the most robust tools and resources for health systems, clinicians and payers to ensure they are offering the most appropriate and safest access to patients.

Dr. Aurora's previous positions include vice president of medical affairs at C2N Diagnostics and vice president, medical affairs at Impel Neuropharma. Prior to that, she was a medical fellow and launch leader at Eli Lilly. She served more than 11 years in higher education, as a clinical associate professor in the Department of Neurology at Stanford University, and as an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Other previous positions include director of the Swedish Headache Center in Seattle and director, Headache Clinic, Department of Neurology, at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

Dr. Aurora received her bachelor's degree in medicine and surgery from Christian Medical College, in Ludhiana, India. She interned at Wayne State University in Detroit and completed her residency in neurology at the Henry Ford Hospital. She also completed a fellowship in headache and neurophysiology at Henry Ford Hospital. Dr. Aurora has received multiple awards throughout her career and has received numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health, various foundations and pharmaceutical companies. She has published hundreds of manuscripts and articles and has lectured frequently around the world.

Scott Robison (Mvskoke Nation - Muscogee) M.Ed. – Scott is a Muscogee Nation tribal member and has been serving tribal communities in the fields of Diabetes Prevention, Health Promotion, and School Wellness for 30 years. He is the Community Health Director for the Wewoka Indian Health Center. During the 16 years prior to coming to Wewoka, he served as the Exercise Programs Coordinator for the Muscogee Nation Diabetes Program, K-6 Physical Education teacher for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in NC, and the Academic Coordinator for the Muscogee Nation Boarding School. Scott participates in his tribal culture by making the Mvskoke ballsticks for his tribe’s stickball games. He is a graduate of Western Carolina University with a Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education and a Master’s degree in Education from East Central University. He resides near Seminole, OK with his wife Janice and has been blessed with 3 daughters and 6 grandkids.

Theresa Clay received her Master of Science degree from the University of New Mexico in Community Health Education and Promotion. Ms. Clay is a Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Specialist and Public Affairs Liaison with the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Service providing culturally appropriate trainings, seeking best practices and resources, and building networks. Prior to joining the Indian Health Service twenty years ago, Theresa worked as a Health Education Manager with the University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center working on several research studies.

Theresa is an enrolled member of the Diné (Navajo Nation). She loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, running and has completed 24 marathons. Most recently on May 4th in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jessica Rienstra is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board working as an ECHO Case Manager. Prior to joining the ECHO team, she worked as a nurse in geriatric and memory care in Washington and in pediatric health in East Africa. Jessica also worked for over 5 years at a Tribal Health Center in Washington State as a nurse, grant manager, and project director where she helped develop and implement harm reduction, syringe service, and HCV elimination programs. Jessica is passionate about ensuring accessible, destigmatized, and intentional health care for all.

Amber Hoon is the Tribal Dementia Program Director for the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council’s (GLITC) “Together Strong” Tribal Dementia Program. Together Strong is a partnership with several Wisconsin-based Tribal Nations and the State of Wisconsin Tribal Dementia Care Specialists to create a training and awareness program on Alzheimer’s and dementia-related diseases. This program is created from the Tribal perspective, supporting the unique culture and experience of each Tribal Partner.

Prior to her current position, Amber spent 14 years nursing on the Special Care: Alzheimer and Dementia Unit at the Milwaukee Catholic Home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was an amazing journey, and she learned a lot from the people she cared for. One of the biggest lessons she feels she needs to share is that people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia are still people with thoughts, strengths, feelings, needs, and wants. It became Amber’s personal mission to learn from those she cared for by:
Finding ways that worked best for them to maintain dignity and independence.

• Helping them live their best lives possible.
• Helping families understand the changes their loved ones were going through; and how to approach those changes according to their loved one’s abilities.
• Providing support throughout those changes.

Amber brings this experience and care to her work with GLITC and other tribal partners, where she helps tribal staff, caregivers, families, and individuals living with dementia understand and learn what to expect through the different stages by providing culturally appropriate trainings, educational resources, and emotional support. Together we are strong!

Outside of her work with GLITC, Amber is the mother to three adult sons. She enjoys spending her free time in the woods with her two dogs and partner. She has a deep passion for learning about plant medicines and traditional food practices, participating in traditional Anishinaabe cultural events and ceremonies, and especially enjoys hearing and learning traditional stories and songs.