SPARK Film Viewing with Panelist Discussion Co-sponsored with the Alzheimer’s Association
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This course is being offered virtually, via Zoom. You will need a computer, with stable internet service, a webcam, and audio to actively participate. Although a smartphone could be used, it’s not ideal. If you have questions about your technology capabilities please don’t hesitate to ask us before registration.
Overview
In the 2 years preceding Robins Williams’s death, Robin and Susan Schneider Williams were on a quest: to seek the truth about inexplicable changes Robin was experiencing. Tragically, Robin never learned his truth, but Susan finally got their answer. The unknown enemy that had plagued their life came in a coroner’s report months after Robin’s death; it was called dementia with Lewy bodies, one of two diagnoses under the Lewy body dementia umbrella (LBD).
Armed with this knowledge, Susan Schneider Williams has passionately and lovingly devoted her efforts to share their story and raise awareness about LBD through two films: Robin’s Wish, the first documentary about someone with Lewy body dementia, was released nationally on September 1, 2020; and SPARK, a 45-minute educational adaptation of Robin’s Wish, offered through the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). The production of SPARK was made possible by funding from ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
LBDA is proud to make SPARK available to academic medical institutions and organizations as a valuable resource for educational events for healthcare professionals and the general public. The goal is for SPARK to help drive greater understanding, detection, diagnosis, and quality care management of LBD, leading to better outcomes for individuals and families.
CEs: 1
Tuition:
FREE for ALL
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Define the term ‘Lewy body’ and identify common signs and symptoms of LBD
- Explain diagnostic criteria of LBD
Meet the Panelists
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Dr. Lawrence Honig
Dr. Lawrence Honig, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Clinical Neurology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (New York, NY), in the Department of Neurology (Division of Aging and Dementia), Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center. He is Director of the Clinical Core of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University.
Dr. Honig obtained his MD medical degree from the University of Miami (Miami, Florida), and his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley, California). He underwent postgraduate internship in Medicine and residency in Neurology training at Stanford University Medical Center (California). He served on the faculty of the Neurology departments at Stanford University Medical Center, and then at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, prior to his arrival at Columbia University in the year 2000. His research interests are in Alzheimer’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and other disorders of nervous system aging and degeneration. In addition to directing the Clinical Core of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University, he conducts a number of clinical drug study trials, and also engages in clinical patient care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and at the Lucy G. Moses Center for Memory and Behavioral Disorders, in the Neurological Institute.
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Dan Vaughn
Dan Vaughn, diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, worked in various technology, marketing, and business development roles before leading the External Technology Collaborations organization at a Fortune 500 company. In that role, he developed and managed relationships with strategic partners in Asia and the Americas, and led a team that provided technology scouting and other services to enable successful research and development collaborations with companies, universities, and government agencies. Dan served on various advisory and governance boards at Cornell University, the Pennsylvania State University, the State University of New York Research Foundation, and several business incubators.
Dan lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York with Jenn (his wife and care partner), and Bella, their loyal Labrador Retriever. They have two children who have moved out of the house to attend college but return home regularly for home-cooked meals and many good laughs. Dan was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in April of 2021. Since then, his new mission is… “Love. Laugh. Learn. Help Others. Everyday.”
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Brandi Hackett
Brandi Hackett, LMSW, C-ASWCM, attained her BA from Shorter College and MSW from the University of Georgia. Since graduating in 2004, Brandi has worked in a variety of settings primarily with older adults. She began her role with the Lewy Body Dementia Association as Manager of Support Services in September 2020. She is published for her article on “Compassion Fatigue” in the Journal for Certified Senior Advisors and has presented multiple CE classes for allied health professionals.
Susan R. Visconti ~ LBD Advocate
Ms. Visconti has been a Care Partner and Advocate for families coping with Lewy Body Dementia for twenty years. The daughter of Estelle A. Visconti, a Julliard-trained Pianist who suffered for 12 years with LBD, Susan navigated the many challenges of finding ways to comfort and care for her Mom, alongside her Dad — an illuminating struggle given very few in the medical field knew how to advise the best care for someone with LBD!
This led Ms. Visconti to Co-Found the LBD Resource Center in New York, which focuses on providing support, with love, to the Care Partners who share the struggle to meet similar challenges, offering the knowledge and guidance of those who have shared the same experience.
Presently, Ms. Visconti is an Independent LBD Consultant & Advocate, running a local support group for LBD Care Partners in the NY Tri-State area, shepherding many who continue to reach out for counseling about their individual situations.
In addition, Ms. Visconti has had a long career in Publishing and Photography at The New Yorker Magazine, Time Inc, HBO, Fortune Magazine, and as a Teaching Assistant in the Massapequa School District on Long Island.
Ms. Visconti’s main objective & goal is to provide Caring Solutions and Support to LBD Families so that they may find peace in the care that they provide their Loved Ones ~ as a Loving tribute to her Mom, Estelle.
You will receive a unique Zoom Video Conferencing link that will provide you entry into the workshop one day prior to the event. This link will be active approximately a half-hour prior to the start of the event.
To familiarize yourself with the Zoom platform, see these tips to get started, or view this instructional video.
Adelphi University School of Social Work is an approved provider for continuing education credits for the following:
● NYSED Social Workers
● NYSED LMHC
● NYSED LMFT
● APA Psychology
● NYSED Psychology
● NYSED LCAT
● CASAC Renewal pending approval
Successful completion for the award of approved continuing education credits requires attendance at the entire training/workshop and submission of a completed evaluation form.
See full credentialing information and CEUs
Cancellation Policy
Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made seven working days or fewer before the event for any reason—or for no-shows. We can provide credit towards a future workshop up to 24 hours before the event. After that, no credit will be issued.
Accessibility Statement
The Student Access Office ensures equal access to all of Adelphi University’s programs, services and facilities for students with documented needs. Through assistance, advocacy and reasonable accommodations, the office provides an accessible and supportive campus environment.
The Student Access Office provides cost-free assistance and services that are tailored to meet the needs of individuals based on their specific, appropriately documented needs, while preserving Adelphi’s academic integrity and high standards of academic expectations and performance.
If you are a student with a documented disability and wish to request accommodation services, please submit a Petition for Reasonable Accommodations form along with the required information as detailed in the Guidelines for Documentation.
Please be aware that all decisions regarding accommodations and equal access are made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and prevailing University Policy.
For further information, please contact the Student Access Office at 516.877.3806