Lorenzo’s House: Shifting the Narrative

222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza,Chicago IL 60654

15 December, 2022

Description

Lorenzo's House is a leading internationally recognized resource for younger-onset dementia. One in every 16 dementia patients are under age 65. You've been asking for support. It's here. With a strong focus on the carepartner and the youth walking this journey, Lorenzo's House is here to shift the narrative for families across the globe. In clinic settings, healthcare professionals can now refer patients to Lorenzo's House, a ready-to-send tailored resource for the whole family. Join Lorenzo’s House for a panel discussion with Dr. James Mastrianni, MD, PhD from the Memory Center at UChicago Medicine, Tessa Garcia McEwen, AM, LCSW from the Memory Center at UChicago Medicine and Dr. Leticia Villarreal Sosa, Associate Dean of the College of Applied Social Sciences, Professor of social work at Dominican University and carepartner to her husband. This discussion will be moderated by Amy Kraft, award-winning journalist and executive editor at Everyday Health. Watch the trailer for Shifting the Narrative — The Story of Lorenzo’s House. Agenda 3:00–3:05pm CT | Welcome remarks from Lorenzo’s House 3:05–3:15pm CT | Shifting the Narrative video 3:15–4:15pm CT | Panel discussion 4:15-5:00pm CT | Reception & networking ABOUT THE PANELISTS Dr. James Mastrianni, MD, PhD The Memory Center at UChicago Medicine Dr. James Mastrianni is an expert in memory disorders and other neurodegenerative conditions. Working on a team of geriatricians, neurologists and neuropsychologists, Dr. Mastrianni provides diagnostic evaluation and long-term management of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Dr. Mastrianni’s research, funded by a $1.5 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, focuses on understanding animal and human prion diseases, which are progressive and infectious neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Mastrianni has published more than 40 scientific articles and several book chapters and reviews. He is an invited contributor for Neurology, Journal Watch Neurology, Genetics in Medicine, Trends in Molecular Medicine and other prestigious medical journals. He was also appointed to a neuroscience advisory committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tessa Garcia McEwen, AM, LCSW The Memory Center at UChicago Medicine Tessa Garcia McEwen brings 18 years of working with diverse populations, doing her best to listen first before giving care. She is interested in providing patients, care partners and families personalized access to resources and exploring strategies for increased quality of life. At UChicago Medicine, McEwen primarily supports all of those that come through The Memory Center with Alzheimer’s Disease and other related dementias (ADRDs). She also provides support via consultation for all outpatient neurology and neurosurgery clinics, including patients with ALS, epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and more. As a graduate student recipient of the Albert T. Schweitzer Fellowship, she focused on bringing grief and loss support to local communities and cultural competence and compassionate care to medical settings. She continues to do so through speaking engagements for medical professionals, graduate students and community members. Tessa is co-founder and medical sector co-lead for Dementia Friendly Hyde Park and serves on several boards and professional associations in social work, healthy aging and dementia care. She completed her B.A. in Sociology at The University of Notre Dame and a masters in clinical social work at The University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. Dr. Leticia Villarreal Sosa Associate Dean of the College of Applied Social Sciences , Professor of social work at Dominican University and carepartner to her husband. Dr. Leticia Villarreal Sosa earned her Ph.D. at The University of Chicago and is an experienced social worker with nearly two decades of direct practice experience. Dr. Villarreal Sosa’s current research projects focus on utilizing Photovoice with the Muslim/Arab American and Latinx communities as a tool for advocacy, and an immigrant student equity project focused on understanding the role of school social workers in supporting immigrant students. Dr. Villarreal Sosa’s forthcoming book focuses on the testimonios of Latinas in Chicago who were activists in the 60’s and 70’s and made a significant impact in the areas of health, education, policy and social services. She is the 2022 recipient of the Davlin Diversity Leadership Award and was awarded a grant from New York Life Foundation to develop a culturally informed response to grief and loss certificate. She provides professional development for social workers nationally and internationally in areas of equity, leadership, immigrant youth, ethics and trauma. She is the mother of Atzin, a 25-year-old in law school, and the care partner to Rolando, her husband of 27 years, who was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, specifically Posterior Cortical Atrophy in 2020. They reside in Chicago, with their two chihuahuas, Bella and Coco. ABOUT THE MODERATOR Amy Kraft Award-winning journalist and executive editor at Everyday Health Amy Kraft is an award-winning journalist and executive editor at Everyday Health where she oversees coverage of heart health, digestive health, opioid use disorder and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Prior to Everyday Health, she was on the health and science desk at CBSNews.com where she reported on topics such as the link between an algae bloom toxin and Alzheimer's disease and how to boost a baby's "good bacteria" after a C-section birth. Her writing has appeared in Crain's Chicago Business, Discover, Scientific American, TheWeek.com, Newsweek, Psychology Today and Popular Science. She has also worked in audio for a number of science podcasts and hosted her own audio show on the history of fairy tales. As a TBI survivor herself, Amy is passionate about creating content that sheds light on invisible illnesses and exposes gaps in care. She has a master's degree from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. In her spare time, she likes to read, bike and perform improv at Second City in Chicago, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and two cats.