1. Geriatric Workforce Enhancement in Rural Communities: Integrating Care, Expanding Access, and Improving Outcomes

Dr. James Y. Lin is a board-certified internal medicine and geriatric physician with additional certifications in hospice and palliative care. He serves as President of the LECOM Institute for Successful Living and Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), where he also founded and is the Program Director for Northwestern Pennsylvania’s first Geriatric Fellowship Program. A nationally recognized leader in geriatric care innovation, Dr. Lin also serves as the Course Director for Geriatrics and has developed comprehensive senior service lines across acute care, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, home health, and community-based programs. He has secured and directed more than $20 million in federal and state grant funding to advance rural residency training, geriatric workforce development, vaccination outreach, chronic disease management, and long-term care resiliency initiatives. Dr. Lin is Medical Director for multiple healthcare organizations and founded the region’s first mobile wound care program for skilled nursing facilities. He is a frequent CME lecturer and recipient of numerous honors, including the American Geriatrics Society’s Clinician of the Year Award.

Kristen is an accomplished healthcare executive with extensive experience in senior living, home health, and community-based care. She has expertise in operations management, business development, and regulatory compliance, with a strong track record of driving occupancy growth, optimizing budgets, and enhancing quality of care. With an expansive breadth of experience, Kristen is adept at leading cross-functional teams, developing strategic marketing initiatives, and implementing innovative programs to improve resident and client outcomes. Being passionate about fostering strong community relationships and delivering exceptional service to residents, families, and stakeholders is innate to Kristen. Her approach and expertise in the use of current technological advancements such as AI, EHRS and PowerBI, strengthens and elevates her teams to higher levels of performance.

Melanie Titzel has over 35 years of experience in senior living operations and community leadership, along with adjunct faculty experience. Many of those years have been served at LECOM Institute for Successful Aging. Melanie is the current Engagement Officer and has held many other positions in her career progression including Director of Operations, Nursing Home Administrator, Executive Committee, Director of Senior Living as well as Executive Director, and Vice President at Senior Retirement Management, Inc. Additionally, Melanie is and has been an Adjunct Instructor at Mercyhurst University for Organizational Leadership and Gerontology. For the past 10 years she holds position of President of the Northwestern Region for the Pennsylvania Council on Aging where she served 2-year prior as the Vice President. Melanie is an active board member for LECOM Nursing and Rehabilitation. She earned her Ph. D in Organizational Learning and Leadership from Gannon University with her dissertation in Moderating Resources in the Stress and Coping Process of Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers. Her Master of Science in Recreation was earned from Pennsylvania State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (Cum Laude) is from Mercyhurst University. Melanie is certified and licensed as follows: Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, Alzheimer’s Association Community Educator, Caregiver Burden Reduction Trainer, Certified Geriatric Care Manager, Certified Tap Dance Instructor, Certified Classical Ballet Dance Instructor, Certified Jazz Dance Instructor, Personal Care Home Administrator, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Pennsylvania Day Care Director Certificate, Virtual Dementia Tour Facilitator, Master Trainer-Powerful Tools for Caregivers, Master Trainer-A Matter of Balance, Master Trainer Chronic Disease Self-Management/Master Trainer Diabetes Self- Management, Food Handler, and Certified Life Coach.

Tara is a healthcare operations and program implementation leader with over 10 years of experience advancing geriatric workforce development and primary care integration at the LECOM Institute for Successful Living. Since 2016, she has served as Project Coordinator, leading the implementation, reporting, and quality improvement of multiple phases of the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) and related initiatives serving rural and underserved communities. She coordinates the Lake Erie Integrated Geriatric Health Team (LIGHT), supporting interdisciplinary training environments, provider education, technology-enabled learning, and community partnerships that expand access to geriatric supports and services. She holds a Master of Health Services Administration from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Accounting from The Pennsylvania State University.