Addressing Brain Health in Primary Care Through Community Partnerships

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This session will look at the newly launched WellMed Brain Health initiative that creates clinical and community pathways to address the different levels of need reflected by a person’s results on the annual cognitive screening examination. Based on a score of i) no cognitive impairment, ii) mild cognitive impairment, or iii) dementia, clinic staff now refers patients and family caregivers to the appropriate resource such as in-person or virtual senior centers, caregiver programs, or nutrition programs.

Gina Touch-Mercer, PhD

Director, Behavioral Science Theme, University of Arizona College of Medicine ? Phoenix; Vice President of Cognitive Science, BrainSavers, Inc.

BrainSavers, Inc.

I am most 'at home' in relationships, words, and education. In the past 20 years, I have conducted psychotherapy with clients of all ages and geriatric forensic assessments for guardianship. I've spent 10 years as core faculty in a doctoral psychology program, and 2 years as Behavioral Medicine faculty in a family medicine residency. I am committed to translating psychological concepts to improve health and well-being, through writing and speaking with diverse audiences. My values include respectful collaboration on interdisciplinary healthcare teams, teaching about the positive aspects of aging and diversity, and enhancing individual, family, and organizational well-being.

Paul Bendheim, PhD

Clinical Professor of Neurology and Founder, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of BrainSavers, Inc.

BrainSavers, Inc.

Paul Bendheim, MD, a Phoenix, Arizona, native, is motivated by his passion to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease through evidence-based lifestyle practices. He is clinical professor of neurology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.Bendheim is the founder and CEO of BrainSavers where he leads the ongoing development of its proprietary Brain+Body Total Fitness Program.Dr. Bendheim has a B.A is from Pomona College where he graduated cum laude with a major in art history. He then attended the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, receiving his M.D. degree with AOA honors. He trained initially in internal medicine and then completed a neurology residency and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.Dr. Bendheim is a board certified neurologist and an authority on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. He has lectured around the world, published numerous scientific research articles and is the author of the book, “The Brain Training Revolution: A Proven Workout for Healthy Brain Aging”.He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Previous positions include the Max Varon Visiting Professor of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel; chief medical officer of the Copaxone division at Teva Pharmaceuticals; executive vice president and chief medical officer at Mindset Biopharmaceuticals; medical director of development and research neurologist at the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.Dr. Bendheim is married to the ceramic and jewelry artist Judith Amiel-Bendheim. He has two children Jessica and Daniel, and two granddaughters, Audrey and Amelia. His past-times include reading, gardening, fly-fishing, tennis, an almost daily jog, and socializing (including a good joke or two) with family and friends.

Tina Smith

Director, Caregiver Programs

WellMed Charitable Foundation

Tina Smith is Director of Caregiver Program Operations through the WellMed Charitable Foundation. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Gerontology. Tina started her career working in the long term care industry as an Activity Director and Social Service Director. She then became the Access and Assistance Coordinator at the Bexar Area Agency on Aging where she supervised the in house programs of Benefits Counseling, Care Coordination and Information and Assistance. Tina also taught Gerontology courses at Kaplan University for over seven years. Tina has been with the Caregiver SOS program since September 2016. Tina is a certified Master Trainer for the evidence based Stress Busting Program for Family Caregivers of Alzheimer’s and Dementia and Chronic Illnesses (SBP).

Carol Zernial, MA

Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility and Foundation Executive Director

WellMed

Carol is a nationally recognized gerontologist who was named one of the nation’s Top 50 Influencers in Aging for 2017 by Next Avenue, the digital journalism arm of the PBS system. Zernial holds a master’s degree in social gerontology and has been in the field of aging for more than 25 years.

Zernial currently serves as Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility and Foundation Executive Director at WellMed. In 2020, she received the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/National Recreation and Park Association Innovation Award for Health Equity. In 2021, the National Diversity and Leadership Conference selected her as one of the Top 50 Corporate Social Responsibility Leaders. She was recently appointed to the Texas Nonprofit Council.

Carol is the Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Council on Aging and was appointed to the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council under President Trump. Zernial was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 2015 under President Obama, and 2005 under President George W. Bush. She was a staff member to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging under President Clinton. She is the former chair of the National Institute of Community-based Long Term Care, board member of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and vice president of the Texas Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Zernial received the 2008 Outstanding Professional in Aging Award in Texas for her contributions in the area of evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion. She was named the 2018 Alumni of Distinction for Service in Mission from the University of the Incarnate Word and received the 2017 Murlin B. Johnson Legacy Award.