I am a Senior Research Scientist at the University at Buffalo Primary Care Research Institute. My research focus is in primary care geriatric health services research specific to medication safety and deprescribing and patient/caregiver empowerment to guard against medication harm. My work is embedded in Team Alice, a nationally unique, multi-stakeholder deprescribing group that evolved from the Alice Story, a real case derived from the tragic death of Alice Brennan triggered by preventable medication errors and system failure. Team Alice consists of academic, primary care, regional health information partners, and an active group of patient stakeholders. I have been a leader in the older adult patient stakeholder engagement efforts and serve as the coordinator of Elder Voices. I am committed to pursuing patient-driven deprescribing research that will increase shared clinical decision making that can potentially reduce medication burden and improve the quality of life for older adults. My research interests are empowering older adults and their caregivers to be instrumental in health system change that will advance patient-centered care. This includes research in the area of social determinants of health with comprehensive screening to improve health care delivery that is responsive to the needs of the individual patient.

Mary Brennan-Taylor is Vice President of Programs for the YWCA of the Niagara Frontier and community activist with a passion for patient and victim advocacy. Following the death of her mother, Alice Brennan from medical error, Mary embarked on a ten year campaign to bring the patient voice into the schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and physical therapy. As a Consumer Reports Safe Patient Advocate, Mary has addressed multiple meetings of the Centers for Disease Control, Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and has been invited by numerous state hospital associations to serve as a guest lecturer at annual conferences.

A University at Buffalo Department of Family Medicine Adjunct Research Instructor, Mary volunteers her time as a monthly lecturer in the Medical School and serves as a founding member of Team Alice, a Multidisciplinary team focusing on geriatric patient safety.

Mary is the Co-Founder of Lockport Blue, a grass roots community wide initiative to engage the public with law enforcement; a member of the City of Lockport Board of Ethics, Niagara Hospice Board Member, Vice Chair of the Lockport Community Television Board of Directors and Lockport Public Arts Council

Kerry Peek has her BFA in Graphic Design/Communication from the University of Buffalo.  She joined the staff at the Cheektowaga Senior Services Department in 1996 as the full-time craft instructor then promoted to the Recreation Supervisor.   

In 2007 Kerry was appointed Director and has been working along with her staff team and volunteers to provide quality programming in the areas of nutrition, recreation, transportation, health & wellness, education, fine arts, special events, group travel opportunities and case management services.   

Cheektowaga is a large suburb of Buffalo, NY, population just under 90,000.  About 33% of their residents are over the age of 60.  Annually, approximately 15,000 seniors participate in programming by the Senior Services Department.  In 2021, Kerry and her team received a Community Impact Award from the Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce.  Kerry and her team continue to look for new ideas and programs that inspire and empower older adults.   

In her free time, Kerry enjoys taking road trips with her husband David, swimming at her local YMCA, greeting card making with her sister and their creative friends, playing cards, trivia & board games and attending live theater performances with her mom.

Kathleen Cameron, BSPharm, MPH, has more than 25 years of experience in the health care field as a pharmacist, researcher, and program director focusing on falls prevention, geriatric pharmacotherapy, mental health, long-term services and supports, and caregiving. Cameron is Senior Director of the NCOA Center for Healthy Aging, where she provides subject matter expertise on health care programmatic and policy related issues and oversees the Modernizing Senior Center Resource Center.