Clay Jacobs, Executive DirectorAlzheimer’s Association- Greater PA Chapter
“Doing is a quantum leap from imagining”
Clay Jacobs has the incredible opportunity to connect talented, passionate people and help them work together to achieve greater impact towards the Association’s vision of a World without Alzheimer’s and all other dementias. As Executive Director for the Alzheimer’s Association- Greater Pennsylvania Chapter this means working with staff,volunteers and partner organizations to translate organizational vision into reality across 59 of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
By working with staff, volunteers, organizations and others, Clay’s focus is on supporting and engaging research,driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support through public and private policy advancement.
Under his leadership, the Greater Pennsylvania Chapter has been one of the premier Chapters of the Association,consistently achieving results in the top 10% nationwide for care & support, concern & awareness and public policy,all supported by the #7 largest Walk to End Alzheimer’s program in the country. Clayton has previously served as amember of PA State Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force & currently serves on the Pennsylvania Dept. of Aging Diversity and Inclusion Council, America250Pa Advisory Council and numerous nationwide Alzheimer’s Association work groups including those focused on strategic planning, health system engagement and building community boards of excellence.
Dr. Stephanie Johnson is a licensed clinical and research neuropsychologist with a private clinical practice in the Washington DC area where she specializes in the assessment and diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders. She has served as a consultant for both the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, UW-Madison, and for the Stroke Disparities Program with Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Johnson received extensive training in the area of differential diagnosis of cognitive disorders while completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the Joseph and Kathleen Bryan
Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (Bryan ADRC) at Duke University Medical Center. After the completion of her fellowship, Dr. Johnson went on to join the medical faculty at the Johns Hopkins Hospital with the Department of Neurology. While at Johns Hopkins, she broadened the scope of her research to include the exploration of the physiological effects of stress on the development of Alzheimer’s disease in ethnically diverse populations. Dr. Johnson also continued to provide differential diagnosis to various patient populations in the Cortical Laboratory at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. After her tenure at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Johnson opened two clinics in the Washington DC area focused on clinical neuropsychological assessment of neurological disorders.
Dr. Johnson recently wrote about the impact of COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s on elderly communities of color. In the article she talks about why that is the case, and gain insights on handling this crisis as best practices are developed.
COVID-19 has profoundly impacted the elderly population. Although Alzheimer’s disease (AD) does not appear to increase an individual’s risk of contracting COVID-19, Alzheimer’s has had a significant effect on a population that suffers from additional underlying illnesses, which can complicate the clinical manifestation of the virus. What has been particularly notable is COVID-19’s effect on elderly communities of color diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease
Chanel Crowder, Marketing Executive. Along with her siblings Pam and Larry took care of their father who had Alzheimer’s for more than 17 years . Ulus Crowder or Mr. U as he was called passed this past summer from COVID-19. Chanel also takes care of their mother who was diagnosed with dementia. Because both parents had forms of dementia Chanel and her siblings have participated in numerous clinical trials. I tell her family’s story in my film and she movingly talks about the challenges but also the importance of clinical research:“Yes there is a cloud that rises over you- am I going to get it… but I don’t want to live in that fear. I am a person of faith and I just believe that I won’t get it but at the same time I am smart enough to realize I have to participate in research ..we have to help the next generation..I have to help my nieces… and my nephew as well and that is so important. That was the impetus for us to get involved.”
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