Certified Geriatric Care Professional

Kiplee Bell - MD

Kiplee Bell, MD, earned board certification as a Physician Assistant, an additional master’s degree in Gerontology and finally her Doctorate in Medicine. Over the course of her career, Dr. Bell has worked in acute care, urgent care, ambulatory care and long-term care settings. Currently, she often diagnoses and treats geriatric patients for a variety of medical and behavioral symptoms.

She has served as a consultant to pharmaceutical companies across the U.S. on the impact of drug development on geriatric patients and has been published in several academic journals. She is respected by both her patients and professional associates for her ability to communicate meaningful information in a memorable, practical manner. To learn more about Dr. Bell, please visit: www.impactfulcaregiving.com

Trent Brown - MOT, OTR/L, ATP, BCG

Trent Brown, MOT, OTR/L, ATP, BCG, is a practicing therapist in Utah and is one of 36 credential holders of a board certification in gerontology (BCG) from the AOTA. Mr. Brown also holds a certification as an assistive technology professional (ATP) from RESNA. He completed his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Utah where he is also an adjunct professor. He is employed by the Department of Health (UDOH) to develop, implement, and operate healthcare quality improvement programs and has authored multiple laws to legislate improved patient care. Mr. Brown also reviews clinical documentation for UDOH as an expert witness in reviewing cases. Mr. Brown has over 15 years of clinical experience in skilled nursing, transitional care, acute, and home health. Recently, he served as the VP for the UOTA where he co-authored SB 131 advancing OT practice in the state of Utah and has received multiple awards for his clinical, academic, and legislative work. Through his expertise in advocating for therapy services authoring law and rule he has evolved into an expert presenter on ethical and legal issues facing therapy. Mr. Brown has provided courses for thousands of clinicians throughout the country in conferences, private settings, and specialty conferences. Mr. Brown is a master clinician and lecturer on a myriad of topics including joint arthroplasty, core strengthening, documentation, aging, functional mobility, ethics, and fall reduction. He has also been a keynote speaker at multiple events throughout the country.

Michel Janet (Shelly) Denes - PT, CFPS, C/NDT, CGCP

Shelly Denes, PT, CFPS, C/NDT, CGCP, is an expert in fall prevention and neuro-rehab with more than 25 years of experience treating patients with hemiplegia, and neuromuscular disorders, TBI, and SCI. She has a special interest in Covid-19 ‘Long Haulers’ and advanced technology. She has had extensive involvement with neuroprosthetic devices, lower extremity orthotics, and exoskeletons, especially at the Rehab Institute of Michigan.

Ms. Denes presents nationally at seminars on fall prevention and geriatric rehabilitation. Denes is a graduate of University of Michigan’s PT program and holds certifications in Neurodevelopmental Treatment for Adult Hemiplegia (NDT) done at The Rehab Institute of Chicago, a certification as a ‘Fall Prevention Specialist’ and a ‘Geriatric Care Professional Certification’. She additionally serves on the Evergreen Certifications Advisory Board.

Nanette Lavoie-Vaughan - MSN, ANPCP- DNP

Nanette Lavoie-Vaughan, MSN, ANPCP- DNP, is an adult nurse practitioner and currently practices in Raleigh, NC, focusing on geriatric and psychiatric care in long-term care. She has over 30 years of experience, including long term care, acute care, primary care and home health. She received her MSN from Florida State University and her DNP from Vanderbilt University. Nanette earned a Cultural Dementia Care from Stanford University and has presented nationally and internationally to various interdisciplinary audiences on various geriatric diagnoses/treatments, dementia, pain management, and caregiver concerns. She is the author of Eldercare: The Comprehensive Guide to Caregiving and a new evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the non-pharmacological management of behavioral problems in dementia. Her knowledge and research has been recognized through published work in Clinics of North America and in book chapters and online continuing education modules. Additionally, Nanette serves as an expert witness for law firms on cases related to her field of expertise.

Leigh Odom - PhD, CCC-SLP, CDP, CADDCT

Leigh Odom, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, CDP, CADDCT, is an associate professor of speech-language pathology at Western Carolina University. She has been practicing as a speech-language pathologist for nearly 15 years almost exclusively with families affected by neurogenic communication disorders. As the lead academic and clinical instructor of neurogenic content in her department, Dr. Odom has been teaching both graduate and undergraduate neurogenic courses since 2008. Dr. Odom is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, frequently collaborating with families and healthcare providers to improve dementia care as a dementia care trainer and support group facilitator. She has published nearly 20 articles in peer-reviewed research journals, and has led numerous trainings at state and national professional conferences. Dr. Odom is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences, and the North Carolina Speech-Hearing-Language Association.