Conference Speakers

Dr. Miles’ interest in chronic disease and its impact on mortality, health care and the development of functional limitations has long been a focus of her research career.

Steve Hoover, PhD, retired after 29 years as a professor at St. Cloud State University (SCSU). He currently works part-time as the Healthy Aging Coordinator at the Central Minnesota Council on Aging as a program developer for the Juniper Program.

As Health Systems Director, Lisa Groon supports the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission to enhance and expand the depth, breadth, and pace of research and signature care and support programs for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia and their caregivers.

To support the organization in achieving its mission to end Alzheimer’s and other dementia, Ms. O’Brien oversees care/support programs, health systems, diversity/equity/inclusion and public policy at the Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter.

With over 25 years of experience working with state and federal governments, Beth manages public policy at the Alzheimer’s Association in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Oversees diversity efforts for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Steven Atkinson is a Board Certified Physician Assistant specializing in Geriatric Internal Medicine. He is co-founder of Twin Cities Physicians and has served as faculty at the University of Utah since 1994. He loves caring for older adults and strives to elevate the level of care they deserve.

Ted is a grief and family educator who utilizes stories to prompt self-awareness and resilient ways of coping.

Dr. Karsten is an early-career psychologist. Her main role on BRO Team and Geropsychiatry program is to aid care providers in utilizing behavioral interventions to address Veterans’ target behaviors that put them at risk for not finding or losing placement in long-term care.

Erika Jacobson is a masters trained social worker with a certification in gerontology who serves as the program coordinator for the Behavioral Recovery Outreach Team (BRO Team) at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center.

Amanda Gundvaldson is a masters prepared level nurse with a specialty in nursing education.  She serves as a member of the Behavioral Recovery Outreach team at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center.

Authentic Aging was born through a personal journey combined with 2 ½ years of research.

Rajean Moone, Ph.D., is the faculty director for long-term care administration in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Minnesota. He serves as the associate director of education for the Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation in the School of Public Health.

Specialties within the field of aging: policy, chemical addictions/mental health, diversity, sexuality and women.

Will Phillips is State Director of AARP Minnesota, a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization with more than 650,000 Minnesota members.

Jim Pacala is professor and head of the University of Minnesota Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

Dr. Osterholm is on the front lines of our nation’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. He is a distinguished member of President Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board and served as a Science Envoy for Health Security on behalf of the US Department of State (June 2018 – May 2019).

Executive Director, Central MN Council on Aging. She is a Past President of MGS and serves as the Chair of the Minnesota Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

Sarah is a provider relationship manager with Juniper since October 2018. In this role, she applies over 13 years direct care experience as a Licensed Social Worker, supporting older adults and their families in the skilled nursing facility, hospital, and community settings.

Maisie provides policy guidance, interpretation and support to OOLTC staff regarding regulation, statutes, rules and policies related to various long-term care settings, payer sources and other components of the long-term care system.

Prairie Five covers the 6W region of Minnesota – Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine counties. The median age in many of these is around 50.

Ginearosa Carbone is a third year American Indian medical student and researcher from Sand City California currently attending the University of Minnesota Medical School partnering with The Center of American Indian and Minority Health housed based at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus.

Jon has been serving passionately in the field of aging since 2001.

With an Associate of Arts Degree from Normandale Community College and over 25 years of experience in finance and customer service, her passion has always been focused on helping people and making a difference in their lives.

Monticello Senior Center Director thru Senior Community Services/ Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health and Gerontology.  Pam has worked in senior centers for the past 41 years and is starting her 29^th year in her current position.

Joe is a community service oriented individual who is passionate about senior housing and quality of life issues.  Joe joined Senior Community services in 2019 to manage the expansion of the HOME Program into Wright County.

Robbin leads the planning and execution of community-oriented activities, partnerships and engagement at the organizations and agencies at CHAI. Her position proactively cultivates, grows, and manages CHAI’s network of partner community agencies and organizations, and placing a special emphasis on increasing collaboration with black, indigenous, and communities of color as well as sexual and gender minorities (SGM).

Wright joined the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging in June 2016 with over 20 years of experience serving in the non-profit, philanthropy, public health, and aging sectors.

Odichinma (Odi) Akosionu is a 4th year Doctoral Student in the Health Economics track of the Health Services Research, Policy and Administration Program at the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health. Her research area is in the economics of aging- investigating how structural discrimination and racial inequities shape the experiences and health outcomes of older adults receiving long term services and supports.

Gwen Ellis has been a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities. Gwen is a Restorative Practices Circle Keeper, with an emphasis on leadership and youth development. She also works within her community as an African American Cultural Arts instructor. Mrs. Ellis currently has the privilege of being appointed and anointed to serve in the role of caregiver to her cherished, senior family members.

Dr. La Valleur is a retired Obstetrician, Gynecologist with an interest in Menopause, Mature Women’s Health and Sexual Health. She recently became an AASECT Certified Sexual Health Counselor.  She speaks on the above topics.

Dr. Thoman is trained in family medicine and has worked in public health and health care advocacy for more than 2 decades.

Patricia Hoolihan’s latest book is Hands and Hearts Together – Daily Meditations for Caregivers from Holy Cow! Press. For decades she has taught a variety of writing courses at The Loft in Minneapolis and Metropolitan State University and she is currently teaching at The Loft and freelance classes.

I am an artisan/teacher utilizing textile arts to encourage curiosity, communication, growth, and healing for myself and my fellow human beings. Textiles hold a historical record of our time on this planet and are common to all of us.

Angie Renee has been a clay teaching artist for the last 20 years in many capacities around the Twin Cities metro area.  She started her teaching artist career at Northern Clay Center and now is the Vitality Arts Director and teaching artist at The Rumriver Art Center in Anoka. 

Julie Pfitzinger is the Senior Editor at Next Avenue and is responsible for the Living channel, focused on topics including the arts, family and relationships, loneliness and isolation, and grief and loss.

Aging advocate and strategist for JustUs Health, specializing on issues surrounding healthy equity and dementia.

Community researcher and policy analyst with JustUs Health, specializing in LGBTQIA+ community health access, experiences, and outcomes.

Dr. Conlon Mayfield specializes in the areas of Social Psychology and Sociology of Mental Health

Roberta Meyers MD, MPH is an internist and geriatrician at Hennepin Health Care System and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota.