Rachel Bremness is the Senior Provider Relationship Manager for the Juniper network at Trellis. She is zealous in her desire to create opportunities for the organizations who serve older adults in Minnesota to grow and thrive. In her four years with Juniper, Rachel has coached providers of the Juniper network to develop as the network learns and grows. Rachel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from St. Catherine University in St Paul, MN.

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.

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.

Padraic Stanley is a program manager for community integration at the Rush University Medical Center Department of Social Work & Community Health in Chicago. He oversees multiple projects to bring evidence-based group interventions for chronic condition management, pain management, emotional wellness, and fall prevention to older adults throughout the city. He is the chair of Rush’s Immigrant Health Working Group; an adjunct instructor in the School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago; Associate Professor of Social Work for Rush University College of Health Sciences; a member of the Associate Board of Erie Neighborhood House; and on the Executive Board for the International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG).

Carlee Wasik is currently the grant manager for an ACL Fall Prevention Sustainable Systems grantee for Michigan State University Extension. Her background resides in population health, disease management, and working with managed care organizations. She has created referral workflows within several health care and community settings such as primary care providers, managed care organizations, ophthalmologists, senior centers, and fire departments.

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.

Dianne Davis is Vice President, Community Wellness at Partners in Care Foundation leading 16 professionals implementing evidence-based programs as well as overseeing the nationally-recognized HomeMeds program. She has 25 years’ experience in healthcare administration, Managed Care and Gerontology. Ms. Davis oversees federal, state, county, city and private foundation relationships, and Partners’ contracts for evidence-based programs with health systems. Ms. Davis holds a MPH from UMASS, Amherst and a post-graduate certificate in Gerontology from UMASS Boston. She speaks at numerous conferences, is a member of the Evidence-Based Leadership Collaborative, a mentor for the NCOA Network Development Learning Collaborative and taught a course at UCLA, Evidence-based Programs for Older Adults.

Jen started with Spectrum Generations in 2014 in the Adult Day and Community Support program where she focused on consumer enrollment, care coordination, and staff training and support. She joined Spectrum Generations’ Healthy Living for ME team in 2018 and in her current role supports the development, delivery, and coordination of the evidence-based provider network in Maine.

Jen is a Master Trainer for A Matter of Balance and the Chronic Disease Self-Management series, including Chronic Disease, Chronic Pain, Diabetes, Positive self-management, and Building Better Caregiver programs. Jen also leads Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention, the National Diabetes Prevention Program, and is a training provider for the American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED programs.

Jen lives in Burnham, Maine, and in her free time enjoys cooking, kayaking, and exploring Maine’s many hidden treasures.

Sarah Blonigan is the Juniper Network Director at Trellis. Her background spans the fields of public health, state and federal health care regulations and compliance, and law.

Juniper is a network of over 85 community-based providers throughout Minnesota that offer evidence-based health promotion classes. The classes are offered in community settings and healthcare settings. Juniper and its network of providers improve the health outcomes related to disease management and falls prevention.

As the Juniper Network Director Ms. Blonigan leads the daily operations of the Juniper provider network while contributing to the development of forward-looking strategy.

Ms. Blonigan draws on a broad range of experience as the Juniper Network Director including public health leadership at a tri-county Community Action Program agency; research at University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center; research at Mitchell Hamline Public Health Law Center; health care regulation, compliance, and statutory drafting at the Minnesota Department of Health Regulatory Division; health care provider licensing matters at the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings; health care fraud and abuse at the Department of Justice Civil Division; and legal research for long-term care providers at a Twin Cities law firm.

Ms. Blonigan received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biology and Public Health Policy and Administration at the University of Minnesota. She received her Juris Doctor and health care compliance and health law certificates from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she served as President of the Health Law Society.

A lifelong Minnesotan, Sarah lives in St. Paul with her spouse Tony and their two children. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time outdoors and enjoying nature and doodling.

EDUCATION

J.D., (health law and health care compliance) Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, MN, 2018

M.P.H., (policy and administration), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2017

B.A., (biology) University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2009

PUBLICATIONS

Blonigan, S., & Henning-Smith, C. (2017, December 4). Rural Aging in Place Toolkit – Rural Health Information Hub. Retrieved from https://www.ruralhealthinfo.or...

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.

Lori Oster is the Program Director for Better Choices, Better Health SD (BCBH-SD), South Dakota’s statewide suite of Self-Management Education programs. Established in 2014, BCBH-SD has grown to become a recognized chronic disease prevention resource. Though collaboration with a variety of local, state, and national partners, BCBH-SD now offers six different evidence-based programs to help adults manage their chronic conditions. Lori is a registered nurse and has coordinated the development, growth, and sustainment of BCBH-SD since its planning began in 2013.

Megan Jacobson is the Program Associate for Better Choices, Better Health® SD (BCBH® SD), South Dakota’s suite of chronic disease self-management education (CDSME). She was trained as a Master Trainer in the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program in 2014. Megan has led workshops and trainings for a variety of CDSME programs including chronic pain, diabetes, and workplace chronic disease. Though collaboration with a variety of local, state, and national partners, she works to implement and sustain evidence-based programming, like BCBH® SD, to help people manage and prevent chronic disease in South Dakota.

Dr. McCormack is an Associate Professor and Director of the undergraduate Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). She currently teaches graduate courses in Public Health Nutrition (NUTR 715) and Nutrition and Physical Activity Assessment and Evaluation (NUTR 751). Her research examines how the rural environment shapes diet and physical activity behaviors across the lifespan. Additionally, she serves as an evaluation expert on several SDSU Extension-led projects.

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.

Natasha Vos is the Diabetes Project Manager at the NC Center for Health and Wellness (NCCHW) at UNC Asheville. In this position, Natasha is focused on increasing access to evidence-based programs through expanding the capacity of agencies in offering Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES). Through an Administration for Community Living (ACL) grant, Natasha works primarily in Eastern NC to assist Area Agencies on Aging in receiving accreditation through the American Association for Diabetes Educators (AADE) and becoming Medicare Providers for DSMES. Natasha received her Bachelor’s degrees in Animal Science and Poultry Science from North Carolina State University and her Master’s degree in Public Health from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill. She is a registered dietitian through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Prior to joining UNC-Asheville, Natasha has served in different roles that have developed her skills in project management, community outreach, and service-learning. Natasha worked as a Student Service Specialist with the Carolina Center for Public Service at UNC-Chapel Hill and served two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Campus Kitchen Program at Wake Forest University. Her passions outside of work include rock climbing, reading, fermentation and watching reruns of crime procedurals

Ellen Bailey, MA, MPH, is the Falls Prevention Program Manager for the Healthy Aging NC initiative at the NC Center for Health and Wellness at UNC Asheville. As part of the Falls Prevention grant awarded through the Administration on Community Living, Ellen works with the Healthy Aging NC team to promote evidence-based falls prevention programs across North Carolina, to support regional and state falls prevention coalitions, and to develop clinical-community connections.

Jodi Burke, MSW has 14 years of grant management experience, including working with Area Agencies on Aging and local health systems to provide evidence-based services, state supported efforts around diabetes management and worksite wellness, and federal initiatives focused on CDSMP expansion and improving women’s health. She has extensive experience in chronic disease management and prevention, as well as partner development and coalition building. Ms. Burke is a master trainer in CDSMP, DSMP, Chronic Pain Self-Management (in-person and virtual), Building Better Caregivers and the Powerful Tools for Caregivers programs. She is also a Diabetes Prevention program lifestyle coach.

Ann Andrews, MPH is knowledgeable about business development with respect to CDSMP, Better Choices, Better Health, Enhance Fitness, and A Matter of Balance and has provided oversight to seven federal grants over the past 16 years. Ms. Andrews has extensive experience developing and sustaining relationships with physicians, hospitals, and insurers.  She is a trained leader for both the Building Better Caregivers and Powerful Tools for Caregivers programs.

Caitlin Buechley, MPH is a Senior Program Coordinator in the Patient Services department at the NKFM. As a Leader and Master Trainer for CDSMP, she has 5 years of experience facilitating community-based workshops and leader trainings. Her purpose is to support individuals living with kidney disease, other chronic health conditions, and disabilities in becoming active self-managers of their health.

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.

Kate served as the Director of the Stanford Patient Education Research Center and Professor of Medicine in the Stanford School of Medicine. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Boston University, and her masters and doctorate of public health in health education at the University of California, Berkeley. She came to Stanford in 1979 while a graduate student at Cal to develop and research an educational program that emphasized self-help skills for people with arthritis. This program became the Arthritis Self-Help Course and was the prototype for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, The Diabetes Self-Management Program, the Positive Self-Management Program for HIV, the Cancer: Thriving and Surviving Program, the Building Better Caregiver's Program, the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program, and others. She has authored several books and many articles about arthritis, chronic disease in general, health education and behavioral science. She travels extensively at the invitation of organizations concerned with patient care and academic research. She lives in Mountain View, CA, with her 2 cats and a collection of Native American art.

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.

Keith Kleszynski, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Research in the Section of Geriatric Medicine in the OUHSC Department of Medicine. Keith is also the Associate Director of the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative. Keith has 15 years of research experience including conducting research with American Indian tribes, undocumented Latino immigrants in the U.S., drug court enrollees, and former undocumented Latino immigrants who have returned to Mexico and Latin America. His specialties and research interests involve qualitative research methodologies, population health disparities, geriatric health issues, aging issues, active living, identity, and migration

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.

Sarah Blonigan is the Juniper Network Director at Trellis. Her background spans the fields of public health, state and federal health care regulations and compliance, and law.

Juniper is a network of over 85 community-based providers throughout Minnesota that offer evidence-based health promotion classes. The classes are offered in community settings and healthcare settings. Juniper and its network of providers improve the health outcomes related to disease management and falls prevention.

As the Juniper Network Director Ms. Blonigan leads the daily operations of the Juniper provider network while contributing to the development of forward-looking strategy.

Ms. Blonigan draws on a broad range of experience as the Juniper Network Director including public health leadership at a tri-county Community Action Program agency; research at University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center; research at Mitchell Hamline Public Health Law Center; health care regulation, compliance, and statutory drafting at the Minnesota Department of Health Regulatory Division; health care provider licensing matters at the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings; health care fraud and abuse at the Department of Justice Civil Division; and legal research for long-term care providers at a Twin Cities law firm.

Ms. Blonigan received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biology and Public Health Policy and Administration at the University of Minnesota. She received her Juris Doctor and health care compliance and health law certificates from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where she served as President of the Health Law Society.

A lifelong Minnesotan, Sarah lives in St. Paul with her spouse Tony and their two children. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time outdoors and enjoying nature and doodling.

EDUCATION

J.D., (health law and health care compliance) Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, MN, 2018

M.P.H., (policy and administration), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2017

B.A., (biology) University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2009

PUBLICATIONS

Blonigan, S., & Henning-Smith, C. (2017, December 4). Rural Aging in Place Toolkit – Rural Health Information Hub. Retrieved from https://www.ruralhealthinfo.or...

Erin Eggert is a Community Research Associate working with both the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging (WIHA) and the Community-Academic Aging Research Network (CAARN). A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a BS degree in Exercise and Sports Science and a Masters degree in Nutrition, Exercise and Food Science from South Dakota State University, Erin is a Certified Exercise Physiologist and has experience working with evidence-based programs around physical activity, nutrition, and stress management. She is the faculty trainer for the PALS and Stand Up programs and facilitates research between community partners and academic researchers.

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.