From left: Director for Diversity in Research and Education Tigist Hailu, Research Coordinator Kristin Harkins, Research Coordinator Nayoung Kim, Research Coordinator Arun Pilania, Psychometrist Laura Saad, Assistant Director of Care Programs Alison Lynn, Senior Research Coordinator Martha Combs, Research Coordinator Grace Stockbower, and Research Coordinator Joe Harrison.
On a sunny Saturday morning, March 25, the Penn Memory Center welcomed research participants and study partners to the Inn at Penn for the annual Research Partner Thank You Breakfast.
The breakfast, which celebrates the contributions and commitments from guests, allowed PMC faculty and staff to present about the most up-to-date research and priorities for the center.
Guests were treated to a musical performance by violist Rimbo Wong, an ArtistYear fellow working with PMC this year, and guitarist Deirdre MacFarlane, a PMC social work intern.
ArtistYear Fellow and violist Rimbo Wong performs with PMC Social Work Intern Deirdre MacFarlane as guests take their seats.
Felicia Greenfield, MSW, LCSW, Director of Clinical Research Operations and Care Programs, kicked off the series of speakers and introduced Betsy Szamboti, Director of Community Relations at Artis Senior Living of Huntingdon Valley. Artis Senior Living sponsored the event.
Dr. John Q. Trojanowski, Director of Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Core Center, along with PMC Co-Directors Dr. Jason Karlawish and David Wolk, each spoke to the importance of Alzheimer’s research and outlined the general field of Alzheimer’s care today and in the future. Between national collaboration efforts, advances in patient outreach, and ongoing pharmaceutical trials, the guests were given a panoramic view of current Alzheimer’s research.
Alison Lynn, LSW, Assistant Director of Care Programs, and Tigist Hailu, MPH, Director of Diversity in Research and Education, shared the stage to highlight the importance of community outreach and participation as well as the many types of care programs at the Memory Center including caregiver classes, counseling sessions, and the monthly memory cafés.
Director of Clinical Research Operations and Care Programs Felicia Greenfield, left, and Assistant Director of Care Programs Alison Lynn
Neuropsychologist Dr. Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton and Greenfield wrapped up the speaker lineup with energetic closing remarks about the new “Caring Difference” suite of programs for patients and their caregivers.
To close the event, there was a Q+A panel and the guests were quick to ask probing and clarifying questions of the members on the panel. The questions ranged from ‘How can I become more involved?’ to ‘If money were no object, what’s at the top of the wish list for an Alzheimer’s researcher?’
From left: PMC Co-Director Dr. Jason Karlawish, PMC Co-Director Dr. David Wolk, Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Core Center Director Dr. John Q. Trojanowski, Neuropsychologist Dr. Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton, Director of Clinical Research Operations and Care Programs Felicia Greenfield.
Said one questioner: “That was one of the most engaged audiences I’ve seen at an event like this in a while. They were locked into what the speakers were saying the whole time.”
PMC Co-Director Dr. Jason Karlawish mingles with guests at the 2017 Research Partner Thank You Breakfast.
“I was just happy to have some eggs,” one guest piped in. “The speakers were good too.”