Get Ready for Falls Prevention Awareness Week 2022

Michelle Mai, MPH is the Senior Program Associate with the Center for Healthy Aging. She brings experience conducting outreach increasing public health education within the community. In this role with NCOA, she provides technical assistance to chronic disease self-management education and falls prevention grantees, striving to help them reach their grant goals as they implement evidence based programs into their community. Michelle received her Master’s degree in Public Health and Bachelor’s degree in Community Health from George Mason University.

Dr. Jennifer L. Tripken is an Associate Director, Center for Healthy Aging at the National Council on Aging. In this role, Jennifer supports the expansion and sustainability of evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs in the community and online through collaboration with national, state, and community partners. Prior to joining NCOA, Jennifer worked for eight years as a university professor in Health Education and Promotion. Before that, Jennifer spent six years as a middle and high school Health Education teacher in New York. 

Jennifer earned her Ed.D. in Health Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, her M.Ed. in Health Education at Boston University, and her B.S. in Athletic Training at Pennsylvania State University.

Donna Bethge is an Aging Services Program Specialist in the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs at the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging.  She serves as the lead for the Falls Prevention grant program and as the Program Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority’s grant. Before joining the team at ACL, Donna worked in the Aging Network in Maryland for 10 years with Area Agencies on Aging and an assisted living community, developing and implementing programs for older adults, as well as supporting and promoting evidence-based programs.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Northern Kentucky University.

Dr. Gwen Bergen has worked in injury prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for almost 15 years focusing most recently on older adult falls prevention and ensuring optimal older adult mobility.  She currently serves as the team lead for the Safety Promotion team which includes the older adult falls work.  She received her MPH from the Emory Rollins School of Public Health and her PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

Daniel Thompson, MPH, is a Communication and Partnership Specialist at CDC Foundation detailed to CDC Division of Injury Prevention Safety Promotion Team to fulfill activities of a 5-year older adult falls prevention grant from Amgen. Daniel comes to CDC Foundation with more than 10 years’ experience in public health communication, health policy and partnership experience.  Previously, Daniel worked in advocacy and policy for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, North Georgia Heart Foundation, the Georgia OBGyn Society, and in a partnership development capacity with the Georgia Department of Public Health.  Most recently, Daniel served as a program manager with the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians for a statewide tobacco and vaping use prevention program. Originally from Atlanta, Daniel earned a bachelor of arts and masters of public health degree at Emory University.  Daniel and his wife, Misty, live in Gainesville, Georgia. 

Tracy Gariepy is a Certified Health Education Specialist (NCHEC CHES). She is currently on a fellowship with the CDC Foundation as the project coordinator for older adult falls prevention initiative under a grant from Amgen . Tracy is a Master Trainer for a Matter of Balance, an evidence-based fall prevention program for older adults. She holds an MS in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Applied Health Research from Clemson University. Her most recent research with the university has focused on building capacity to prevent falls among older adults in rural South Carolina communities. Previously, Tracy was a Health and Wellness consultant in the athletic footwear industry for 12+ years. She is actively involved with her local YMCA as a personal trainer and competitive running coach, and resides in Easley, SC with her fiance Blair.