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18th ANNUAL CALIFORNIA
SENIOR INJURY PREVENTION
EDUCATIONAL FORUM
EDUCATIONAL FORUM SPEAKERS
Barb Alberson, M.P.H.
Senior Deputy Director for Policy and Planning
San Joaquin County Public Health Services
Barb Alberson is a public health educator with more than 35 years of experience in the government
sector. In June 2013, Ms. Alberson joined San Joaquin County Public Health Services as Senior Deputy
Director for Policy and Planning. In this role, she is guiding the department through the formal process
to achieve national accreditation status. Ms. Alberson also oversees the department’s Health
Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention program and public health activities that address the built
environment (e.g., impacts of land use and transportation planning on health and mobility).
Micheal Pope
Executive Director
Alzheimer’s Services of the East Bay (ASEB)
Micheal Pope joined ASEB in 1997. She served as Program Director and Director of Development
before becoming Executive Director in 2008. With a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from New
Hampshire College and course work in City Planning and Urban Affairs at Boston University, Micheal
has more than 20 years of experience in health care management, with an emphasis in marketing. She
is a board member of the California Culture Change Coalition Steering Council and a past member of
the Long Term Care Steering Committee and the Service Review Advisory Committee/East Bay
Paratransit.
Micheal believes that everyone must contribute if change is to come about. Serving on the board and
staff of ASEB is one of the greatest highlights of her life, an honor that brings meaning to her every day.
Her two children, Milton and Jade, provide her with laughter, joy and growth from within. They are
the source of her energy.
Christine Walsh, PhD.
Assistant Professor of Neurology
UCSF Center for Memory and Aging Center
Christine M. Walsh, PhD, received her BA degree in physiology from Trinity College Dublin, University
of Dublin in Ireland. Dr. Walsh did her doctoral work at the University of Michigan studying the effects
of REM sleep modulation on learning and memory. She also studied the neural correlates of cognitive
aging. In 2011 Dr. Walsh joined the UCSF Memory and Aging Center where she has been studying
sleep in both healthy older adults and in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Walsh is
particularly interested in the contribution of sleep disturbance to cognitive decline.
MARCH 16, 2018
Educational Forum Speakers
Wendy Peterson
Director
Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
Wendy Peterson has worked in the field of aging policy and services for 19 years, after leaving the
computer industry where she managed technology development start-ups. Since 2002, Ms. Peterson
has directed the Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County, a coalition of community-based
organization that, together, provide health and supportive services to over 50,000 seniors throughout
the county. The Coalition and its members advocate for policy changes that improve the lives of
vulnerable older adults.
Arezo Sayid, MPH
Assistant Director
Afghan Elderly Association, City of Fremont
Arezo Sayid holds a B.A. in International Studies from University of San Francisco, and a Master’s
Degree in Public Health from National University, San Diego. She presently serves as the Assistant
Director for the Afghan Elderly Association. In addition to assisting in the guidance of the organization,
Ms. Sayid co-leads the implementation, development, and continuous expansion of health programs
for seniors in the community. Prior to joining AEA, she was the Clinical Research Coordinator for UCSF
School of medicine, where she performed study procedures for investigational trials. Arezo fulfilled
her practicum with the International Rescue Committee, where she worked on placement services to
newly arrived refugees. She currently serves as a Board Commissioner with the Alameda County Public
Health department, where she reviews and assesses emerging health needs to improve community
health. She is inspired to stimulate the current and future generations in public health education to
create effective health policy decisions while fostering a healthy environment, in which quality of life
and disease prevention methods are delivered to the global community.
Carolyn Mariru Kojima
Program & Outreach Coordinator
DayBreak Adult Care Centers
Carolyn Mariru Kojima, DayBreak’s Program and Outreach Coordinator, brings extensive experience
supporting elders through her work with the Institute on Aging's Friendship Line in San Francisco. Her
passion for advocating for seniors brought her to DayBreak, where she has been administering and
coordinating the Senior Injury Prevention Program. Carolyn is part of a team that has developed and
implemented the Injury Prevention Caregiver Training program.
Carolyn is highly knowledgeable about community resources, and links seniors and their caregivers to
the services and support they need to age at home, in their community.
MARCH 16, 2018
Educational Forum Speakers
Aaron McPherson, DPT, MBA
Aaron McPherson is physical therapist with a doctorate of physical therapy from the University of
South Carolina and an MBA from Georgia College and State University. Aaron previously developed a
multidisciplinary rehabilitation department from scratch to meet the needs of an acute care hospital,
behavioral health unit, and outpatient therapy clinic in Alaska. He has also helped implement
electronic medical records systems and provided supervision and oversight in the areas of quality
improvement and compliance with regulations.
Sadiya Kazi, M.S. OTR/L
Rehab Manager, Acting/Interim Center Director, Occupational Therapist
Center for Elders’ Independence, Oakland, CA
Sadiya Kazi received her Masters in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University and has more
than 14 years of clinical experience. Ms. Kazi’s professional experience includes planning and
management of rehab services and operations, quality improvement, developing and updating
programs, and planning for best utilization of resources. She has fulfilled the function of center
director and provides leadership and supervision for day to day operations. She is also the clinical
instructor for Occupational Therapists Masters students and interns at the Center for Elders’
Independence.
Supervisor Nate Miley
Alameda County District 4:
East Oakland, Castro Valley and Pleasanton
Nate Miley was elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in November 2000 and is serving
his fourth term. Nate has worked to engage communities, protect open space, strengthen our
healthcare system, and create more livable and safe neighborhoods. In January 2011, he was
appointed as President of the Board. Prior to representing District 4, Supervisor Miley had the honor
of serving the residents of Oakland City Council District 6. Nate is also empowering older adults to
improve their quality of life, having dedicated his entire adult life to community and public service.
Erica Peters Blaauw, MSN, RN, PHN, ACNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner – Trauma Department
Alameda Health System – Highland Hospital
Erica Blaauw received her MS in Nursing from Samuel Merritt College in Oakland, and her Post Masters
in Acute Care NP from UCSF. She is a board certified and licensed Nurse Practitioner. Since December
of 2012 she has been managing patients in the Trauma Department at Alameda Health
System/Highland Hospital. She educates intern and resident physicians in standards of trauma care
and technical procedures. Ms. Blaauw actively participates in the quality improvement processes
within the institution; and is involved in educating the staff throughout the organization about trauma
care.
MARCH 16, 2018
Educational Forum Speakers
Joey Tchang
Fall Prevention Coordinator
Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley
Joey Tchang has over 7 years of experience working directly with older adults in fall prevention.
Beyond degrees in Psychology and Business, he also has a degree in Adaptive Fitness Therapy. Joey is
always learning new exercise techniques to help seniors. He has experience instructing: Arthritis
Foundation Tai Chi, Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance, Senior Fitness Association Exercise, Matter of
Balance, N.A.S.M. Senior Fitness, A.S.F.A. Senior Strength Exercise, and Tai Chi for Diabetes. Prior to
teaching fitness to older adults, he volunteered as a Meals on Wheels driver and was a Budget Analyst
at the County’s Superior Court. When Joey is not instructing exercise classes, you may find him
practicing martial arts.
Nicole Albrecht
Administrative Director/Fitness Instructor
Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley
Nicole Albrecht has been delivering health education and fitness classes to older adults for 7 years.
With a Masters in Healthcare Administration, she enjoys spending time as a: Matter of Balance Trainer,
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance Instructor, Geri-Fit Coach, and Senior Fitness Association Exercise
Instructor. Outside of working with older adults, you can find Nicole painting or jogging.
Erica Pitsch, PT, MPT, DPT, NCS
Health Science Associate Clinical Professor of
UCSF/SFSU Graduate Program in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Dr. Pitsch earned her Master of Physical Therapy from the Graduate Program in Physical Therapy at
UCSF/SFSU and her post-professional Doctor on Physical Therapy from the University of Southern
California in 2010. She achieved her Neurologic Clinical Specialist certification in 2012.
Dr. Pitsch specializes in neurologic physical therapy and uses several treatment strategies and
approaches, all focused on promoting optimal challenge, function and recovery in persons with
neurologic illness. She also employs her experience in martial arts, dance, and other sports to keep
training sessions fun and challenging. In addition to teaching in the entry level physical therapy
program, she regularly teaches continuing education to licensed rehabilitation professionals.