2025 Conference Speakers
Dr. Elizabeth Santos
Dr. Santos is the Clinical Chief of the Division of Geriatric Mental Health and Memory Care. When patients and families are faced with dementia and possible sequelae such as severe neuropsychiatric symptoms like psychosis, assistance is needed from a variety of sources, not just physicians.
As Director of the Strong Behavioral Health Older Adult Services and Medical Director of the URMC Memory Care Program, Dr. Santos has led multidisciplinary teams caring for patients and families who are dealing with dementia at all levels. Her other work focuses on elder abuse and neglect, capacity evaluation, training evaluators, attorneys and law enforcement and advocacy for older adults.
Nationally, she is very active with the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, the American College of Psychiatrists and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Patrick Lawler
Patrick Lawler serves as Vice President of Sales at Cognivue, bringing with him a background in medical device sales and a profound passion for brain health.
His dedication to advancing cognitive health solutions is deeply personal, having joined Cognivue in 2021 following the loss of his mother to Alzheimer’s Disease. After experiencing how the current health care model failed his family, and realizing how many others share similar grief, he joined Cognivue to be part of the solution to better patient care and be an advocate for those impacted by dementia.
Cassandra Bradford
Cassandra Bradford is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in the medical field. As a trusted educator, leader, and community health advocate, she has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between patients and providers through compassionate education and culturally responsive care.
Cassie has served in diverse healthcare roles—from bedside nursing to diabetes education and transitional care—while also mentoring future nurses and allied health professionals. She is deeply committed to empowering individuals through health education, particularly in underserved and aging populations. As a Faith Community Nurse, Cassie integrates spiritual care with health promotion, meeting individuals where they are with dignity and respect.
Whether she’s speaking at a community forum, supporting clients through her consulting services, or helping caregivers navigate care transitions, Cassie remains driven by one core belief: “Knowledge is power—especially in healthcare.”
Skip Collins
Skip was born and raised in Central New York! He is a graduate of the Cicero-North Syracuse Central School District and the Central City Business Institute. Skip has over 30 years of experience in senior healthcare and housing. Prior to joining Aging Advocates CNY, he worked with Hearth Management as their Marketing and Outreach Specialist. In this role, he coordinated efforts with medical professionals, social workers, and community agencies to ensure his senior clients received the skilled care they needed.
His experience includes working closely with families as they transition their loved ones into senior care. Skip finds it deeply gratifying to guide families through the process of securing the skilled care their loved ones need while ensuring it aligns with their desired level of care.
Skip has extensive expertise in supporting clients affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. He initiated the first program connecting medical students with The Hearth, providing them the opportunity to learn the intricacies of elder care under Skip’s supervision, in collaboration with the University Geriatricians through Upstate Medical Center. Skip is committed to ensuring families and clients receive personalized care and healthcare options tailored to their specific needs. He is certified in Care Connect for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Staff Training.
In 2019, Skip was recognized as the National Hero for the Assisted Living Communities of America, an honor awarded for his excellence in leadership and advocacy for senior care.
When Skip is not assisting seniors and their loved ones in navigating healthcare options, he enjoys spending time with his husband, traveling, and cooking. He is also the proud dog dad to three (yes, THREE!) active dogs.
Claire Mauro
Claire Mauro has 20 years’ experience in the eldercare industry as a counseling psychologist and group facilitator for caregivers in both residential and community groups. Her programs and presentations in a variety of eldercare settings have allowed her to develop respectful relationships with professional caregivers, observe their work and hear their concerns.
Claire holds degrees in psychology, counseling, and cultural production. She was a founder and regular contributor to wellness blog, The Parsley Way, and is coauthor with Diane Simoni of The Grieving Caregiver: The Resilient Caregiver Caring and Coping Well, addressing the emotional life and well-being of caregivers and their care partners. Her personal experience of caregiving at a distance led her to learn about the acute need for eldercare, to increase her compassion for both care partners, and to create outreach programs for the caregiving community.
“The growing need for eldercare services and elder housing communities demands a higher value be placed on our reliance on all levels of caregivers including family members, home health aides, aging specialist services, and geriatricians.”
Tai Ngo Shaw
Tai Ngo Shaw's life story is one of resilience, determination, and boundless energy. From fleeing war-torn Vietnam at a young age to building a successful business and becoming a community leader in Upstate New York, Tai's journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
His commitment to service is evident in his involvement with various community organizations, from assisting refugees to championing Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures. Tai's entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with his unwavering dedication to making a difference, sets him apart.
Whether he's leading the AAPI, New Americans Community or serving on the boards of non-profit organizations, Tai's passion for positive change shines through. Get ready to be inspired and learn more about Tai's remarkable journey of triumph against all odds.
Desta Anthony
Desta Anthony is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner who specializes in Geriatric care, Dementia care, and complex medical management for frail elders, and completed her Master’s of Science degree at Upstate Medical University. She is nationally credentialed in Adult Health with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner with the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.
She holds a designation from the Center to Advance Palliative Care and a certification from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Almost 20 years ago, Desta was the owner of the first medical housecall practice in Central New York, and currently owns Dementia Solutions of CNY, which combines her passion for dementia care planning and serving homebound populations who are unable to access to medical care.
She continues to provide primary care through her work as a geriatric Nurse Practitioner at PACE, at the Heritage, and serves as the Dementia Consultant for the Borer Memory Care Unit at the Nottingham. Through this work she has helped create pathways for palliative care and works closely with Hospice of CNY helping patients and families navigate the terminal stages of dementia. She is also interested in all emerging technology and research areas of dementia and currently serves as the Clinical Lab Director and Investigator for dementia research trials with ICHOR Research. She maintains active membership with the American Academy of Housecall Medicine, and the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York.
Through her work with interdisciplinary teams in these settings she believes that collaboration between researchers, healthcare providers, and care partners is the key to managing dementia well.
Kelly Springer
Kelly Springer is a Registered Dietitian and owner of Kelly’s Choice, the world’s largest dietitian-owned nutrition company. She is author of the book, The New Weight Loss Era: Navigating Nutrition with a Dietitian’s Expertise in the Age of Medications She has been featured on Good Morning America and in The Washington Post, among dozens of other media outlets.
With a passion for transforming lives through nutrition, Kelly delivers dynamic, science-backed keynotes that empower audiences to take control of their health. Her expertise spans mental health related to nutrition, women’s health, weight management, and chronic disease prevention, providing actionable strategies that drive lasting change.
Diane Simoni, LCSW, LICSW
Diane Simoni, LCSW, LICSW, is a clinical social worker and trained spiritual director with expertise in geriatrics, caregiving, and pain management. Her extensive career spans the spectrum of adult care—from her early work as a nurse’s aide to leadership roles as director of clinical development, regional coordinator for the Massachusetts Family Caregiver Support Program, consultant to caregiver support group leaders, and founder of a private psychotherapy practice.
Diane’s psychotherapy practice is rooted in authentic compassion and a deep commitment to her clients' well-being. She empowers individuals to navigate grief and adopt wellness focused life-style practices. Certified in clinical hypnosis, she provides clients who suffer from chronic pain practical tools for coping and an education in self-hypnosis for much-needed restorative moments of relief.
Her professional insights are further enriched by personal experience: during the writing of her book, For Grief’s Sake: The Resilient Caregiver Caring and Coping Well, Diane stepped away from her practice to become the full-time, primary caregiver for her mother, who was living with dementia.
This blend of professional expertise, personal caregiving, and heartfelt compassion uniquely positions her to support and guide caregivers in finding strength and resilience through their challenges.