Alanna Rahm, MS, PhD, LGC

Chair | Geisinger

Alanna Kulchak Rahm, MS, PhD, LGC is a licensed genetic counselor and holds a doctorate in Health and Behavioral Science. She has over 20 years’ experience in cancer genetics and currently serves on the national Lynch Syndrome Screening Network (LSSN) Board of Directors. Her personal research focuses on the implementation of genomics to improve population health; including implementation of Universal Lynch syndrome screening, cascade genetic testing, patient and provider understanding of genomics, and patient engagement in research. She has conducted public health and health systems research for nearly two decades.

Holly Drutarovsky, PA-C

Holly Drutarovsky is a neurology physician assistant at Geisinger's Memory and Cognition Center as well as in general neurology in the hospital and outpatient clinic. She graduated from Marywood University with a masters degree in physician assistant studies, and holds an undergraduate degree in neuroscience with a minor in psychology from Temple University's Honors Program. She is looking forward to being a dementia case specialist for the D-Care study.

Michael Fox

Michael Fox is a board certified internist who has been working for the Geisinger Health System since 1991. He graduated Hahnemann Medical School in 1988 and completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson University in 1991. He is also an associate professor of clinical medicine at Geisinger Community Medical School.

David Hage

David Hage is Director of Field Education in the Misericordia University Social Work Program. He has a BSW degree from Misericordia University, an MSW from Marywood University, and working on a Ph.D. at Concordia University Chicago in Leadership & Gerontology. He is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM), Certified Remotivation Therapist-Level II (CRMT II), and Certified Advanced Aging Life Care Professional™.

Patricia (Patty) Horn

Patricia (Patty) Horn will be 78 in March. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s almost three years ago. Patty was a school bus driver for many years and loved her job. She devoted her life to her husband Harry who was a quadriplegic for their entire marriage which was 23 years. Patty loves to be outside in her flower beds and was at one time a social butterfly -- no matter where she went she knew someone or found someone to talk to. She is the mother of 2 and grandmother of 3 and loved by all who know her.

Marquene Klimchok

Marquene Klimchok is the Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator at LIFE Geisinger. LIFE Geisinger is an innovative program to help older adults live independently. Her job entails working with potential participants and their families to enroll in the program, screening referrals for the program as well as referring them to other agencies and entities and educating the community and medical professionals about the program.

Ilene Ladd

Ilene Ladd has worked at Geisinger for 11 years as a Project Manager. She has served as PM for several national multi-site studies. Ilene is particularly invested in this project as her father, grandfather, grandmother and great grandfather all suffered from dementia.

Alyssa Maria

Alyssa Maria received her B.S in Biology from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. In 2003 Alyssa and her husband, Jay, opened the Home Instead Senior Care franchise serving Luzerne County. Alyssa has worked extensively with her staff of over 80 Caregivers to serve seniors in Luzerne County, many of whom have dementia. Alyssa provides community training workshops for family caregivers looking to improve communication and quality of life for their loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Paul and Carol Omalia

Paul and Carol Omalia are a family dealing with early onset Alzheimer's disease that runs in Paul's family. They are looking to help other people who face living with dementia and ways for the health care system to help serve them better.

Kristen L. Shipsky, MSW, CDP

Kristen L. Shipsky, MSW, CDP is a certified dementia practitioner. Kristen has worked in long term care first as a Social Service Director and later as a social worker on a dementia care unit. Kristen currently works for the Alzheimer’s Association as the Constituent Services Coordinator for the Greater PA Chapter, Northeast Office

Sonia Waidelich

Sonia Waidelich has been married for 32 years but now finds herself with a part time husband due to her care of her mother. Sonia moved in with her mom 2 years ago after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Mom is 77 and in the mild stage of Alzheimer’s but some days are a struggle and frustrating. The love she has for her mom is what gets her through day to day.

Karen Wolf

Karen Anne Wolf, PhD, RN, ANP, is a nursing educator and sociologist with more than forty years of experience in health care and higher education.  A community health clinical specialist and nurse practitioner, she has lectured widely on health policy, nursing history and community-public health.  Now semi-retired, she relocated back to the Central Pennsylvania region five years ago to serve as a caregiver for a family member. She lives in Lewisburg with her husband and has two adult children.

Jill Curtis

Jill Curtis, obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Slippery Rock University. For the past 22 years, she has worked in a variety of health care settings including acute inpatient geriatric psychiatric care and long term care. Jill was an education and outreach coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater PA Chapter for four years. In May 2019, Jill joined 365 Hospice in State College, PA as a medical social worker. Jill is passionate about bringing Alzheimer’s education and support to our rural communities in Pennsylvania.

Fran Decker

Fran Decker has been a Geriatric and Medical Social Worker for more than forty years. Previous positions she has held include: Geriatric Social Worker for Albright LIFE, Patient Service Specialist for the American Cancer Society, Geriatric Care Planner for a Law Firm, Home Health and Hospice social worker, Hospice volunteer coordinator and bereavement counselor and Case worker for the Area Agency on Aging in Clinton County. She has volunteered for 30 years for the Alzheimer’s support group in Clinton County and she spearheaded the creation of the Covenant Café, an activity group for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.