Workshops
Choose ONE workshop per session.
IMPORTANT: This program meets the requirements for 5 contact hours for nurses as specified by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing – 244 CMR 5.04. This program has been approved for 5 Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number: D 92659. This program has been pre-approved by The Commission for Case Manager Certification to provide 5 continuing education credits to CCM® board certified case managers.
*Please note that out-of-state attendees are advised to check with your respective state licensure board before registering for CEUs if you have questions about whether continuing education credits from Massachusetts are acceptable for your relicensure requirements.
SESSION 1
10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
The RISE Registry: Alzheimer’s Disease and the Importance of Research Inclusion
Overcoming the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s disease and related dimentias on sexual and gender minorities through awareness and inclusion in research.
Atlanta
Presenter: Whitney Wharton, Ph.D., Cognitive Neuroscientist, Principal Investigator
Dr. Wharton is a cognitive neuroscientist specializing in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. She received her BA from the University of Texas at Austin and completed her doctoral training at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Her research focuses on identifying the mechanisms contributing to Alzheimer’s, including vascular risk factors and inflammatory markers in blood and spinal fluid in individuals who are at risk for the disease due to a parental history. She conducts both observational and clinical trials, enrolling participants from underserved groups, including women, Black/African American individuals, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Dr. Wharton is currently conducting multiple NIH/NIA-funded studies, including: investigating the influence of sex hormones in CSF and blood on Alzheimer’s and inflammatory biomarkers, peripheral arterial function, sleep, and cognition.; investigating the extent to which antihypertensive medications may alter Alzheimer’s neuropathology in African Americans; a national study designed to improve aging-related resources and ensure research inclusivity among LGBTQIA+ individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, and LGBTQIA caregivers; and a multi-center trial of a dietary supplement unique to the Japanese diet (equol) in older adults without dementia. This trial tests the hypothesis that equol will slow the progression of arterial stiffness, white matter lesions, and cognitive decline.
Wisdom Beyond the Binary: Gender Conversations Across Generations
A workshop for building cross-generational conversations around gender identity and expression within the LGBTQIA+/SGL community, including a reflection on common barriers to such conversations.
Portland, ME
Presenters: Rev. Tara Humphries / Lucy Knowlton
Portland, ME
Rev. Tara Humphries (they/them) is a non-binary minister serving as the Developmental Minister at Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland, Maine. Rev. Humphries’ ministry focuses on building communities of belonging and transformation based on the values of justice, love, and radical hospitality. As a gender non-conforming clergy under 30 years of age serving an aging congregation with LGBTQIA+ community members from all generations, one of their areas of focus is working to build a shared language regarding sexuality and gender identity across generational divides and facilitating conversations rooted in patience, love, and curiosity. Rev. Humphries holds a BA in Sociology from Bates College, a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School, and a Certificate of Ministerial Leadership from Andover Newton Seminary. Before entering the ministry, Humphries worked with unhoused queer youth and taught yoga.
Lucy Knowlton (she / they) is a queer, genderfluid teacher who grew up in rural Maine, attended Bowdoin College, and works in the field of education. After tutoring, coaching, substituting, ed tech-ing, and teaching English as a Second Language abroad, Knowlton returned to school in 2020 at the University of Southern Maine to receive her 6-12 Social Studies certificate. She graduated in 2022 before taking on her current role as an Upper School Humanities teacher at the Levey Day School . As an educator, Knowlton’s method of teaching centers on incorporating multiple, new perspectives across social studies and English language arts, bringing particular attention to the voices and experiences of those whom history books and the Western canon have neglected to include, recognize, or celebrate. The humanities are, in her view, one of the best platforms for encouraging empathy, curiosity, and reflection. Knowlton can be found running, reading, doing crosswords, or baking when she is not teaching.
Bridging Connections: Addressing Social Isolation through End-of-Life “Doula Pride” Care
Join us to discuss “Doula Pride” an innovative End-of-Life care initiative addressing the social support needs of LGBTQ+ people and their caregivers with serious illness.
Amherst, MA
Presenters: Raeann LeBlanc / Susan Shaw
Raenn LeBlanc holds a Ph.D. in nursing, a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in public health nurse leadership. LeBlanc is certified as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and as a Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse. Dr. LeBlanc has served as the Seedworks Endowed Associate Clinical Professor of Social Justice in Nursing from 2019-2023 and teaches in the graduate and undergraduate programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. LeBlanc is a member of several community organizations that seek to address the care needs of persons with chronic conditions and serious illnesses, an area where nurses hold a critical role in research, practice, and education. They work with the community to achieve health equity and inclusive care through nurse-led models of severe illness and end-of-life care.
Amherst, MA
Susan Shaw, holds a Ph.D. in medical anthropology. She is the Director of the Center for Community Health Equity Research and Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Policy at the Univerist of Massachusetts Amherst. The Center for Community Health Equity Research (CCHER) draws on mixed-method, participatory research to identify root causes of health disparities and develop innovative, community-based, and policy solutions, with expertise in chronic disease, health literacy, and medication adherence. Dr. Shaw has designed and directed several NIH-funded studies investigating the role of cultural differences in chronic disease management. Publications in Health, Medical Anthropology Quarterly and Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry explore how healthcare providers understand cultural differences and how diverse patients assess cultural values and traditions in the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Shaw supports the co-PI on developing the authentic, community-based end-of-life doula program and conducting a mixed-method evaluation of the program’s pilot implementation.
SESSION 2
12 noon - 1:15 p.m.
Evidence-based CBT group intervention reducing psychological distress among LGBTQ people living with HIV.
This workshop will leverage our group’s ongoing research with older people living with HIV, the majority of whom identify as LGBTQ+. We will present and lead a practice of CBT skills intended to help reduce psychological distress and increase positive health behaviors to promote healthy aging.
Boston
Presenter: Dr. Jacklyn Foley, Clinical Psychologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Dr. Jacklyn Foley’s clinical practice focuses on treating people with co-occurring health and psychiatric conditions. Her research focuses on developing, evaluating, and designing implementation strategies for psychological interventions to promote the prevention and care of HIV. She has three NIH and privately funded grants to determine how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness can improve psychological distress and engagement in positive health behaviors to promote healthy aging, with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease risk reduction. She also has two grants focused on reducing substance use, in part to promote engagement in HIV treatment and prevention.
Unexplored Territory: The Concerns of Aging Transgender Men and their Friends
This presentation will address the Transgender adults struggle with health disparities and discrimination. Practicing therapist, Jude Patton, 84, will be interviewed by author/activist, Jamison Green, 75.
Portland, OR
Presenters: Jamison Green Ph.D. / Jude Patton LMHC, LMFT, PA-C
Yuba City, CA
Jameson Green, Ph.D. is an independent legal scholar and author whose activism has significantly impacted the visibility and healthcare access of transgender and gender diverse people globally. He has served on the boards of directors of FTM International, Inc., the International Foundation for Gender Education, The Transgender Law & Policy Institute, Gender Education & Advocacy, Inc., TransYouth Family Allies, and The World Professional Association for Transgender Health, changing laws and policies to provide nondiscrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, eliminated insurance exclusions in the U.S., and educated millions of people in healthcare professions, governmental agencies, courts, and schools around the world. The author of the prizewinning book Becoming a Visible Man and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, he also served as the Primary Care Protocols Manager and International Guidelines Manager at the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health at University of California San Francisco.
Jude Patton, LMHC, LMFT, PA, is a mental health therapist in private practice. He served on the Board of Directors for World Professional Association for Transgender Health from 1979-1985, and 1999-2001. He’s co-chair of U.S. Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Transgender Elder Care Special Interest Group. Patton belongs to International End of Life Doula Association, a professional organization for death doulas, and their LGBTQ+ Special Interest Group. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association and is on GLMA’s Behavioral Health Task Force. He’s on the Board of Directors for Servant Hearts, which offers a support group in Sacramento, CA, for older LGBTQI2S people. He belongs to the American Institute of Aging, serving on its Diversity and Inclusion Committee and to the Transgender Aging Network. He’s a SAGE Educational Ambassador and volunteers for SAGE Connect. He volunteers as a researcher for Trans Lifeline and as an online Behavioral Health Consultant for a medical clinic serving low-income Hispanic trans, non-binary, and LGB immigrants.
Building Perspective through Intergenerational Storytelling
This session will help participants bring intergenerational solidarity into caregiving conversations, with strategies for outreach, programming, and long-term engagement.
Dallas
Presenter: G.J. Hodson, Consulting Scholar, Theories of Care
G.J. Hodson (he/they/she) is a queer scholar and community health educator specializing in aging, caregiving, and dementia. Hodson initially came to this work at the age of 31, serving as a full-time, solo care partner after his adoptive grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. After their grandfather’s dementia journey ended, Hodson marked the transition by changing their name and earning a Master’s in Sociology and a graduate certificate in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies from Texas Woman’s University. Hodson then graduated into a global pandemic and adapted her skill set to remain virtually indefinitely to protect clients and family. Hodson was recognized in 2022 as a Caregiver Fellow by Caring Across Generations and currently serves on the National Alliance for Caregiving’s Research Collaborative and theTexas PRIDE Health Collaborative Planning Council. Hodson resides in North Texas with one partner, one teen, and two birds. https://theoriesofcare.com.
SESSION 3
2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
How to create a competent LGBT Aging Program
What does an LGBT competent aging program look like? Where do I start? This presentation outlines how Callen-Lorde created a competent and fiscally stable program.
Presenters: Ryan Scanlan / Finn Brigham - Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
New York City
Ryan Scanlan is a Physician Assistant (PA-C) and the Clinical Director of Elder Care at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. Scanlan has been working in HIV and geriatric medicine for 10 years. He developed and implemented a Physician Assistant clinical rotation program for Mount Sinai Hospital’s emergency department and is a current guest lecturer at SUNY Downstate’s PA Program in Emergency and Internal Medicine. He has lectured on transgender medicine, HIV Opportunistic Infections, Antiretroviral Therapy, and HIV in the Emergency Department.
Finn Brigham is the Director of Project Management at Callen-Lorde, where he has worked for 12 years, serving in various roles from Care Coordination to Special Populations services. He has a 22-year history serving LGBTQ/HIV+ communities, including work at The Ali Forney Center and Vermont CARES, as well as various community organizing roles with the Young Leaders Council of The LGBT Center and at Outright Vermont. Brigham has been published in the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health and has presented on LGB and transgender health issues across the country, including at The White House. He has a master’s of Nonprofit Management from The New School in New York City and is a frequent media spokesperson on transgender issues for outlets such as VICE, NY1, NBC & BET.
The Need for Community Among Trans and Gender Diverse Elders
Explore new findings on social isolation and support among transgender and gender diverse older adults and strategies for increasing connection to improve health.
Las Vegas
Presenters: Erin Rook / Stephanie Mendizabal - University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Erin Rook (he/they) is a queer, trans, and neurodivergent public health researcher and practitioner. He currently works as a research assistant with the Rainbows of Aging Research Team at UNLV, while he pursues his master’s and Ph.D. in Public Health. Rook contributes to projects including SAGE’s State of LGBTQ+ Aging Survey and Dr. Jason Flatt’s R01 NIH grant exploring the experiences of LGBTQIA+ caregivers of people with dementia. Rook’s research focuses on transgender health and the impacts of social isolation and community connectedness. Erin also manages Gender Hive, a project focused on improving healthcare access and outcomes for transgender people in Central Oregon. Before finding his way to public health, Erin spent more than a decade as a journalist focusing on LGBTQ+ communities.
Las Vegas
Stephanie Mendizabal (she/her) is a first-generation, neurodivergent student of color pursuing a master's degree in public health. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in global health and work as a licensed physician’s assistant. Currently, she is a research assistant with the Rainbows of Aging Research Team at UNLV. Mendizabal contributes to projects focusing on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ caregivers of people with dementia thanks to an R01 NIH grant and mentorship with Dr. Jason Flatt. Mendizabal also focuses on health disparities in Southern Nevada by working on projects with nonprofit organizations (i.e., UNLV Health, Nevada Youth Network) and community service events (i.e., UNLV Service Day, ThreeSquare). Given her academic and clinical interests in global health, she hopes to work on addressing health inequalities in Peru and the United States.
Dancing Queerly with Steps in Time® for Belongingness and Community
This presentation will look at adaptive partner dance programming with a gender expansive approach for elder service centers aims to build community while increasing belongingness and overall quality of life.
Boston
Presenters: J. Michael Winward / Selina Nieves - Steps in Time®
J. Michael Winward (he/they) is an independent dance artist whose work occurs at the intersection of movement and memoir, memory, and care. Winward is the director of Steps in Time®, which brings social partner dance programs to assisted living and mind care communities. He is also the lead coordinator of Dancing Queerly, a platform for LGBTQ+ dance and performance artist support. Winward has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Bennington College and a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College.
Boston
Selina Nieves (she/her) is a ballroom dance instructor and current Steps in Time® program facilitator. She holds a bachelor’s degre in Psychological Science from Central Connecticut State University. Nieves started ballroom instructing in 2017 and pursued a graduate degree in 2021 after the pandemic shifted her career goals. She aided the creation of her fieldwork site by becoming the first to intern for Michael Winward and his Steps in Time® program in 2022, which sparks joy by bringing social dance to various care facilities and elder communities in the Greater Boston area. She is in her final year at Lesley University, pursuing a master’s in Dance Movement Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her goal and thesis proposal center on increasing belongingness and community through partner dance for the elderly.