Florida Atlantic University - Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing

particularly individuals with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. She has been providing counseling in a variety of settings in South Florida since 1993. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Hendrix College, Master's Degree from Columbia University, Teachers College, and Doctorate from Utah State University. She completed her internship at Tulane University Medical School.

Dr. Sparks currently serves as Director of the Louis and Anne Green Memory & Wellness Center of Florida Atlantic University where she oversees all of programs and services for persons with mild and moderate memory impairment. These include the Memory Disorder Clinic offering comprehensive evaluations, counseling for patients and their family members, care consultations, support groups, community referrals, a driver assessment program, a dementia-specific Adult Day Center, and a variety of research projects.

Kevin J. Lapinski, PhD, Licensed Psychologist, Geriatric Neuropsychologist

Kevin Lapinski is a Geriatric Neuropsychologist in clinical practice since 1994. He completed his undergraduate work in psychology from Rutgers University. Dr. Lapinski went on to complete his doctoral work at Nova University which included a one-year internship training in neuropsychology at Jackson Memorial Medical Center/University of Miami School of Medicine. Wanting to specialize in the area of Geriatric Neuropsychology, Dr. Lapinski completed a residency program and fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center/University of Miami School of Medicine.

After completing his doctoral degree, residency and fellowship, Dr. Lapinski entered private practice. In 1996, he was involved in the program development and served as Clinical Director of an inpatient geriatric psychiatry program at an area hospital. In 2002, Dr. Lapinski joined the team at Florida Atlantic University to be the Geriatric Neuropsychologist at the Memory and Wellness Center. In 2004, Dr. Lapinski received an appointment as an Affiliate Clinical Assistant Professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Dr. Lapinski continues to practice Geriatric Neuropsychology in Palm Beach County and at the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center at Florida Atlantic University.

Debra Hain, DNS, ARNP, BC Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Debra Hain is a board certified gerontological nurse practitioner who specializes in work with seniors. Her area of expertise is caring for older adults with memory impairment. She has been caring for this population for the past six years and has been a nurse for over 20 years. She earned her nursing degree at Gateway Technical College in Wisconsin; her master and doctoral degrees are from Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University.

Currently, Dr. Hain is working part-time as a gerontological nurse practitioner at the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center. She is a member of a multidisciplinary team conducting comprehensive evaluations. In addition, Dr. Hain is on the faculty of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing of Florida Atlantic University and is involved in various research projects currently being conducted at the Memory and Wellness Center.

Marie M. Herrmann, MS, ARNP, BC, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner

Marie Herrmann is originally from Rochester, NY and has lived in Florida for over 30 years. She graduated from FAU with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. She is an ANCC board certified Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist. Prior to coming to the Memory and Wellness Center in 2005 she worked in home health care and wound management. Her clinical interests include geriatrics, memory disorders and psychiatry.

Dorothy J Dunn, MSN, ARNP, BC, Family Nurse Practitioner

Dorothy (Dot) Dunn is a board certified family nurse practitioner who specializes in family health and wellness. She has been a nurse for 30 years and received the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Rhode Island College at Providence, Rhode Island and the Master of Science in Nursing degree from Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tennessee. Currently, she is attending the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University Doctoral Program. She is interested in promoting family health and nurturing well-being by meeting the needs of families and persons with memory disorders.

Glenda Russell Connolly, MSW, LCSW, Coordinator of Family Services

Glenda Connolly's education includes a Master's Degree in Social Work and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from Florida International University and a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from Barry University.

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She serves on the Ethics Committee of the Florida Chapter of NASW. She is past volunteer for the Guardianship Program of the State Attorney's Office in Broward County.

Her professional experience includes 18 years in social work, with 13 years as Director of Social Services in a skilled nursing facility and nine years of private practice as a psychotherapist and consultant. She has also had 13 years as a Field Instructor for both FAU and FIU, providing internships to social work students.

Connie Simonetti, Program Assistant

Connie Simonetti grew up and worked for most of her adult life in Miami as a program and systems analyst for various industries. In 2002, after moving to Boca Raton, she became involved with the Memory and Wellness Center after seeing an advertisement for volunteers for a research project for seniors with memory loss. Being interested in the effects of memory loss, she volunteered for over a year and then accepted her current position with the Center.

Barbara Curtis, BA, Day Center Manager

Barbara Curtis received a BA in Health Administration from Florida Atlantic University and an Associates degree in Accounting/Business from Broward Community College. Barbara has been involved in serving the needs of seniors in South Florida since 1981.

She served in several capacities with various home health agencies, including Upjohn Healthcare Services, Professional Care, Inc. and Friends Assisting Seniors. For ten years Ms. Curtis worked for the Mae Volen Senior Center in Boca Raton. While there she held positions as Adult Day Care Activities Coordinator, Director of Senior Center Programs, Senior

Wellness Program Supervisor and Director of Community Relations. Barbara was also employed by the City of Deerfield Beach and worked for nearly six years at the Northeast Focal Point Senior Center. At this facility, Barbara served as Case Manager for the Alzheimer’s Day Care program and Social Services Coordinator for the facility.

During her career, she has been actively affiliated with numerous community organizations including Professional Resource Network, Elder Services Resource Network, Alliance for Dementia Professionals, Broward Coalition on Aging, Women in Healthcare, Humanitarian Society, Inc. and Florida Association of Senior Centers.

Belinda Murray, RN, Senior Nurse, Assistant Day Center Manager

Belinda Murray graduated from Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio with an Associate of Science degree in nursing. She came to Florida in 1982 from Cleveland, Ohio and worked in long-term care for fifteen years. She has worked in adult day centers for the last 13 years. Most recently she worked for the Wilton Manor Adult Day Center as Center Coordinator and Nursing Coordinator of their three Adult Day Centers in Broward County. She started work at the Memory and Wellness Center in July 2006.

Russell Solomon, BA - Activities Director

Received his Bachelor of Music from Arizona State University and later received certification in Music Therapy. Russ comes to the Center after running in his own Music therapy business and working in Assisted Living facilities in South Florida and New York as a recreation and activities director.

Jean Denk, BME, Program Assistant

Jean Denk completed a Bachelor of Music Education from The State University of New York at Potsdam and completed graduate classes from Nazareth College in special education. She then taught music in elementary through high school. After spending several years raising two children, she began teaching and writing music for nursery schools in the Rochester, New York area. She moved to South Florida in 1996 where she began working for the City of Coral Springs in their Community Relations Department. Later she took a position with the Habilitation Center for the Handicapped in Boca Raton and found she enjoyed working for a nonprofit organization and helping those in need. She was attracted to a position at the Memory and Wellness Center because she had a special loved one who suffered from memory loss.

Ruby Hall, Licensed Practical Nurse

Ruby Hall was born and raised in Southern Illinois. She attended and graduated nursing school in Broward County, Florida. Before coming to the Day Center of the Memory and Wellness Center she worked in the medical field for 25 years in various settings, including hospitals, physician offices, and as a visiting nurse and private duty nurse.

Shari Sanzo, Activities Assistant

Shari Sanzo is a native of Zanesfield, Ohio. She moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 1969 and graduated from Boca Raton Academy in 1978. She worked for nine years at Mae Volen Senior Center as an Activity Assistant. She then went on to work as Activity Coordinator at the Levis Adult Day Center on the Boca Raton JCC Campus before joining the Day Center staff of the Memory and Wellness Center as an activities assistant.

Valerie Wilson, Activities Assistant

Valerie Wilson was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Early in her career she worked for the City of Windsor Recreation Department as a lifeguard and swim instructor, teaching all ages from infants to seniors.

Her college experience at St. Clair Community College lead her to Union Gas, a utility company, where she worked for 23 years doing counseling & assisting customers. She retired to Florida in 1999 with her husband to enjoy everything the outdoors has to offer.

Valerie has volunteered for many organizations through the years. She came to the Memory and Wellness Center as a volunteer and was recruited to join the full-time staff in 2005.

Cheryl Falk, Activities Assistant

Originally from New York, Cheryl Falk has lived in Florida most of her life. She received a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology and photojournalism from the University of Florida and Associate degree in Emergency Medical Science from Palm Beach Community College (PBCC). She is currently working towards an RN degree at PBCC.

Thelma DePamphilis, Activities Assistant

Thelma DePamphilis is originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She graduated High School in New York and has lived in Florida since 1991. Thelma came to the Memory and Wellness Center as a volunteer after being a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient. She was hired by the Center following her faithful service as a volunteer.

Vicki Green, Activities Assistant

Vicki Green was born and raised in Ohio. She attended Ohio State University and majored in Liberal Arts. For a number of years she owned and managed an antique business and showed quarter horses throughout the east coast and Texas. She attended the local Area Agency on Aging’s course on volunteer training and volunteered at a dementia-specific day center in Boynton Beach before coming to the Memory and Wellness Center – first as a volunteer and then as a staff member.

Joan Corn, Activities Assistant

After graduation from high school Joan Corn attended Pace University in New York City and studied business administration. She served as a legal assistant in the corporate department of a Wall Street law firm. While raising her family she worked part time in a number or capacities, including secretary for Abbott Laboratories, party planner and travel agent. She later returned to the legal field and worked for an international law firm in New York City. Her 18-year tenure at this firm included work as an administrator in the tax department and corporate department. Joan came to the Memory and Wellness Center as a volunteer and was soon hired as an Activities Assistant.

Ruth “Natalia” Suarez - Activities Assistant

Currently attends Palm Beach Community College majoring in Nursing. Natalia has worked at the Center since April of 2007 in the Parkinson Program and now works in all aspects of our Day Center program.

Erica Gurney - Activities Assistant

Carlos “Roberto” Ledesma-Durand - Activities Assistant

Originally from Peru, Roberto has had experience as a substitute teacher and Real Estate Broker. He attended Pacifico University in Lima Peru where he studied marketing and is currently a student of social sciences at Florida Atlantic University.

Michelle Owens, MA, Research Associate

Michelle Owens graduated from FAU in 2005 with a Master’s Degree in Psychology. Her area of interest was psychobiology. Michelle began working part-time at the Memory and Wellness Center while a student. She worked first as a psychometrician on research studies and later as an interventionist in various studies. Michelle currently works full time providing driving evaluations, coordinating studies, and assisting with community outreach events.

Bertha Tappen, BBA, Assistant Budget Coordinator

Bertha Tappen is originally from Venezuela and has been working in the accounting field since she finished high school. Upon arrival in the U.S. she first set her mind to adapt to a new culture and language along with obtaining her Associates Degree at the Broward Community College. After becoming the mother of two boys, she came to Florida Atlantic University to continue her education. While pursuing her Bachelors Degree, she became a staff member of the Memory & Wellness Center in the Accounting Department.

Bertha earned her Bachelor of Business Administration (Major Accounting) in 2007. She describes her experience with the Memory & Wellness Center as a very positive learning experience, not only as a professional but also personally through caring and placing people first. She is also currently involved with a volunteer program with the IRS to help low income seniors prepare their personal tax returns. Her goal is to get her Master of Business Administration Degree and have the opportunity to volunteer in different programs to benefit seniors.

Patricia Saidon, MA, Art Instructor

Pat Saidon is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has a master’s degree in art is a working artist. She also teaches numerous art classes for seniors, including seniors with memory impairment.

Anna Lisa Curtis, Research Assistant

Anna Lisa Curtis is an honors scholar studying psychology and multi-media journalism at Florida Atlantic University. She has served as a research assistant and activities assistant on a number of projects at the Memory and Wellness Center. She is an accomplished seminar designer and facilitator

Vera Paley, Certified Yoga Instructor

Vera Paley has been a Certified Yoga Instructor for over 20 years and practitioner of yoga for over 40 years. Her career history has also included the management of a university book store and management of a hotel/resort.