Expert Columnist Bios

Amy Bader, ND
Naturopathic Medicine

Amy Bader, ND, practices naturopathic medicine in Portland, Oregon, and will soon begin practicing in Lodi, California. She currently collaborates with Be Nourished, a Portland organization of practitioners dedicated to empowering patients to nurture their bodies and minds in order to live more fulfilling lives.

Dr. Bader holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley. She earned her Naturopathic Doctorate, with honors, from the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Bader has extensive training in clinical nutrition, classical homeopathy, botanical medicine, counseling and physical medicine, as well as in conventional medical treatments. An adjunct faculty member of NCNM, she oversees naturopathic medical students at NCNM's clinic. Drawing on her experience in treating obesity, Dr. Bader is currently spearheading the development of the college's naturopathic weight-loss program. She completed her family practice residency in Portland.

Dr. Bader's treatment plans generally include a combination of natural medicines and specific lifestyle changes designed to bring balance to every system of the body. She is also experienced with a European method of homeopathy known as biotherapeutic drainage. As a primary care practitioner, Dr. Bader is particularly interested in treating challenging health problems such as hormone problems, autoimmune diseases, digestive problems, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, and other chronic conditions.

Lisa Dunn
Real Estate for Seniors

Lisa Dunn is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Minnesota. While she works with clients of all ages, her focus and passion is working with seniors and their families. Prior to becoming a real estate agent, Ms. Dunn worked as a licensed graduate social worker (LGSW) and health care consultant. Currently, Ms. Dunn consults and teaches real estate agents how to make their businesses senior-friendly. Ms. Dunn also authors the blog Real Sage Advice, which discusses senior housing and aging issues.
Ms. Dunn earned her Bachelor of Science from Minnesota State University Mankato, and Master of Arts in Psychology and Counseling Services from St. Mary's University. Her background in social work and counseling gives her unique insight into the maze of senior services, and has helped her develop a holistic approach in working with older adults and their families. Ms. Dunn also holds the Certified Senior Advisor designation from the Society of Senior Advisors, the Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation from the National Association of Realtors, and the Realtor Senior Advisor designation from the Minneapolis Realtor Association.

Dr. Harvey Gilbert
Senior Health

Harvey Gilbert, MD, is a radiation oncologist with over thirty-five years of professional experience in the medical field, working with cancer patients stricken with life-changing illnesses. Dr. Gilbert has edited fourteen medical textbooks and co-authored forty papers in the field of oncology. He founded one of the first inpatient hospices in California, and started three outpatient cancer centers. Dr. Gilbert currently serves as an advisor to multiple hospices and in-home care agencies and is the medical director of the Ben Schaffer Cancer Institute in Lodi, California.\n\nDr. Gilbert received his medical degree from the University of Missouri Medical School in 1965. He then moved to the Bay Area, where he interned at Oakland Naval Hospital and was on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1969. Dr. Gilbert completed his residency in the Radiation Oncology department at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco as well as at UCLA Medical Center and Hospital.

Jill Gilbert
Simplifying Senior Care One Lesson at a Time

Jill Gilbert is the President and CEO of Gilbert Guide, which helps seniors and their loved ones find quality nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and homecare providers. She is the author of “Leading by Example,” a monthly column in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, the chief industry publication for long-term care providers. Jill has been interviewed for a CBS News special, was a key presenter at the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association’s annual conference, and was recently interviewed on San Francisco TalkBack. Gilbert Guide was founded on the concept that quality matters, and its primary goal is to educate consumers on a breadth of senior care issues. Visit www.GilbertGuide.com for a comprehensive provider database, expert advice, and quality assessment tools that help consumers conduct their own “expert” evaluations of providers.

Gary Hirsch
Adult Incontinence

Gary Hirsch realized the need to design and produce quality incontinence care products during his thirteen years as a teacher and principal for children and adults with mental illness and severe disabilities. In assessing the special needs of his students, Mr. Hirsch founded G. Hirsch & Co., Inc. in 1978 with the intent to produce adult-sized incontinent products at a time when these products were not available. Many of his designs have been incorporated by some of the largest manufacturers of incontinent products in the US. Mr. Hirsch has influenced many of the current designs used in today's private-label incontinence products. His designs can be found in leading retail businesses, including Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Walgreen's and Rite Aide.

Dr. Gene Hong
Acupuncture: Pain Relief & Solutions

Gene Hong, MD, is a physician and licensed acupuncturist. Since 1993, he has been in private practice in Portland, Oregon, where he practices medical acupuncture and internal medicine. Dr. Hong has been President of the Board of the Oregon Academy of Medical Acupuncture since 1997 and has served as Treasurer of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture Board since 1999. He is also on the Acupuncture Advisory Committee of the Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Hong is currently attending staff at Emanuel Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital, both in Portland.

Dr. Hong earned his medical degree from Stanford Medical School in 1989, after which he attended the China International Acupuncture Training Centre of the China Academy of Chinese Medicine in Beijing, China, where he earned his Acupuncture Practice Certificate in 1990. In 1992, he completed his residency at Emanuel Hospital. Dr. Hong has also served as Clinical Preceptor in the Department of Medicine at Emanuel/Good Samaritan Hospital since 1994 and Clinical Preceptor at Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, since 1995.
Dr. Hong authored two articles on acupuncture published in Laboratory Medicine:
“Acupuncture: The Historical Basis and Its US Practitioners” and “The Scientific Understanding and Applications of Acupuncture,” both of which appeared in 1998.

Kim Israels
Insights from the Expert: Articles on Life Coaching

Kim Israels earned her Certified Life Coach designation through the Institute of Professional Empowerment Coaching (IPEC). Ms. Israels provides emotional support and empathetic listening to individuals dealing with the transformational changes that come with advancing age. In her private practice, she applies her training and extensive experience helping clients find growth and opportunity in the transitions they face in their lives. As a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist and a hospice volunteer, Ms. Israels also provides care and comfort to the terminally ill and their families. She is also a member of the International Coach Federation.

Ron Kauffman
Caregiving: Parenting Your Parents

Ron Kauffman is a certified senior advisor (CSA) with more than forty years of business experience that includes a decade of work assisting boomers and seniors with issues of aging. In 2005, he was selected to attend the White House Conference on Aging. In 2006, he was recognized once again for his contributions in the field of aging issues, and was granted the Positive Images of Aging Award by the 8-state Southeastern Associations of Area Agencies on Aging.

For more than four years, Ron hosted and produced Senior LifeStyles Intelligent Live Talk Radio, a program that addressed health, wealth and lifestyle issues facing boomers and seniors. In 2007, he was named a fellow by the National Press Foundation for his work in broadcast journalism. Ron is also a syndicated newspaper columnist, and author of the book Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease, published in 2008, which he wrote after becoming the primary care provider for his mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago.

Today Ron is president of Resources for Successful Aging, a company that provides consulting assistance to families facing Alzheimer's disease and other caregiving challenges. He offers situational assessments, care plans, advance directive reviews, and reliable expert referrals. He and his wife, Lisa, who is in private practice as a geriatric care manager, live in Jupiter, Florida.

Paula M. Lawhon
Family Law & Mediation

Paula M. Lawhon is a full-time Family Law and Divorce Mediator in San Francisco and has been practicing law for nine years. Paula works with couples to resolve domestic and family law issues, including complex financial and support issues as well as custody and visitation issues in traditional and non-traditional families. A large percentage of her practice is devoted to providing legal advice and mediation services to couples considering premarital, postmarital and cohabitation agreements. She also publishes a weekly mediation blog at www.sfmediation.com.

Duane Lipham
Financing Long-Term Care

Duane Lipham is a Certified Long-Term Care (CLTC) consultant who writes extensively on long-term care issues and related subjects. Mr. Lipham brings personal passion to the subject of long-term care because he has faced the unique challenges associated with being a caregiver for members of his own family. Along with his professional knowledge of the field, this real-life experience has given Mr. Lipham insight into not only the financial aspects of caregiving, but also the emotional and mental impact that such care can bring.

Dr Ed Markin
Funeral Planning

Ed Markin, BS, MBA, PhD, is Director of Research for the Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation and author of over a dozen books. For the past fifteen years he has operated the Funeral Help Program, which is a clearinghouse for consumer information. He has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows as well as being published or quoted in hundreds of magazines and newspapers.

Margit Novack
Senior Moving Solutions

Margit Novack is a pioneer in the rapidly expanding industry of Senior Move Management and is Founding President of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM). She is also Founder and President of Moving Solutions, a Philadelphia-based move management company, and eSMMART, a unique, web-based training platform for move managers, their employees and people who work with older adults. Margit is known nationally for her expertise in late-life transition issues and hoarding. She earned graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

Laurie M. Orlov
Aging in Place Technology

Laurie M. Orlov analyzes research and trends in the aging in place technology market, which includes technologies that help the elderly remain in their home of choice. Laurie has thirty-four years in the technology and market research industry, including nine years as an analyst and research director at Forrester Research. She is a certified Florida long-term care ombudsman and the author of When Your Parents Need Elder Care.

Kay Paggi
Geriatric Care Solutions & Management

As a licensed professional counselor, certified gerontological counselor and certified geriatric care manager, Kay Paggi has provided empathetic and experienced assistance to older adults and their families for nearly twenty years. Ms. Paggi's background includes facilitating support groups and educational seminars for adults providing care for their aging parents. She is the originator of a brain-stimulating group activity for older adults called "Mental Aerobics" that has been studied by researchers at the University of North Texas on two occasions. A professional geriatric care manager in private practice, Ms. Paggi is also an adviser for Trinity Learning Center productions, which creates educational videos for staff of long-term care facilities. Ms. Paggi has also been on the advisory board for the Emeritus Program at Richland College since 1963. She has a master's degree in counseling from the University of North Texas.

Dr. Ernest Rosenbaum
Supportive Homecare

Ernest Rosenbaum, MD, is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Rosenbaum's passion for preventative medicine prompted much of his work involving clinical research and collaboration with many of the leaders in the field of cancer research and treatment. He is the author or coauthor of more than 60 scholarly articles on cancer and hematology and has written numerous books on improving the care, health and quality of life of cancer patients. Dr. Rosenbaum has also collaborated with his wife, Isadora Rosenbaum, whose experience includes work in immunology research and in an oncology practice, offering advice and psychosocial support. Together, Dr. and Ms. Rosenbaum have coauthored many acclaimed titles on cancer care, including Everyone's Guide to Cancer Supportive Care, Everyone's Guide To Cancer Therapy, Living with Cancer and You Can Live 10 Years Longer with Better Health.

Dr. Rosenbaum cofounded the Northern California Academy of Clinical Oncology in 1970. Early in his career, he was awarded and completed a fellowship in hematology at the Blood Research Laboratory of Tufts University School of Medicine (New England Center Hospital) in Boston, MA, and MIT.

In 1999, Dr. and Ms. Rosenbaum founded Cancer Supportive Care, an informational Web site dedicated to providing educational support to cancer patients, their families, and health care providers.

Carolyn L. Rosenblatt
Legal Advice for Seniors

Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, RN, attorney-at-law, began her career as a nurse, working as an RN in nursing homes and hospitals, and as a Public Health Nurse in Los Angeles and San Francisco for ten years. In 1979, Ms. Rosenblatt began practicing law, representing individuals with personal injuries, doing litigation and trial work. She founded her own law practice in 1983, continuing to represent personal injury clients, including elderly victims of abuse and neglect, through 2007.

In 2007, Ms. Rosenblatt retired from litigation to develop her mediation and consulting practice, in cooperation with her co-mediator, clinical psychologist Dr. Mikol Davis. In her practice, she mediates disputes involving elders on behalf of families, care facilities, and the courts. In addition to the responsibilities stemming from her practice, Ms. Rosenblatt also consults with elders and their families as well as institutions to address a broad variety of aging, health care and legal issues, and serves as a consultant to the American Bar Association on its publications concerning general and legal issues in talking with aging parents. A prolific author, she has written numerous articles on subjects pertaining to elders and has been published in the Journal of Psychiatric Nursing and Nursing Management.

Ms. Rosenblatt earned her BSN in 1971 and her JD in 1978, both from the University of San Francisco.

Christine Salazar, RD
Senior Nutrition

Christine Salazar, RD, has been a practicing dietitian since 1998. She is a consulting dietitian for Hill Physicians Medical Group and the Lodi Integrative Wellness Center. Ms. Salazar specializes in nutrition that focuses on all areas of the lifecycle. A member of the American Dietetic Association and the American Academy of Diabetes Educators, Mrs. Salazar earned her undergraduate degree from California State University at Chico and completed an internship at Aramark Healthsystems.

Arleen Stern
Geriatric Care Management

Arleen Stern has been working with the elderly and their families for over twenty years. She has written and lectured widely on issues involving the elderly. Ms. Stern coauthored Developing Bereavement Support Groups: A Guide for New Leaders (AARP Grief and Loss Programs, 1999). Ms. Stern's work has been quoted in the New York Times and mentioned on radio and in Modern Maturity magazine. She is a licensed social worker and has an MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. Ms. Stern is also a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, Inc.

Joseph A. Woelfel, PhD, RPh., FASCP
Geriatric Pharmacology

Joseph A. Woelfel, PhD, RPh., FASCP, is the Director of Pharmaceutical Care Clinics and an assistant professor at University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He teaches geriatrics, oversees 200 students working in skilled nursing facilities, and manages the on-campus pharmaceutical care clinics. He is also a clinical practitioner with the Lodi Integrative Wellness Center, a collaborative of traditional and complementary medicine and wellness.\n\nDr. Woelfel is the former director of pharmacy services and patient safety officer at Lodi Memorial Hospital. He was also an assistant editor with the Therapeutic Research Center, writing for Pharmacists's Letter/Prescriber's Letter and the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.\n\nDr. Woelfel's personal experiences helping his parents, godmother, and aunt as they aged and needed increasing levels of care, strengthened his commitment to improving care for the elderly. He is dedicated to helping seniors and their families get the information and resources they need to achieve the best possible quality of life.

Suzanne Wolfson
Financial Planning for Retirement

Suzanne Wolfson, CFP® is the founder of For Retired Only™, a fee-based financial planning firm that specializes in the finding the best financial direction and solutions for the pre-retiree and those already in retirement. Ms. Wolfson has over 30 years of experience across a broad spectrum that encompasses many areas of personal financial services and real estate matters. In her roles as a financial planner and advisor, she assists clients and their caregivers in finding solutions and implementing the appropriate decisions to meet their specific circumstances and preferences efficiently. She also has extensive personal and work experience with many elder-related issues, including having advocated for each of her parents over many years. Ms. Wolfson earned a BA in Education in 1976 and an MBA in Finance in 1986. She has been a Certified Financial Planner® since 1986. She is also a real estate broker and the owner of Retirement Real Estate Professionals.

Audrey Wuerl, RN, BSN, PHN
Hospice & Dementia Care

Audrey Wuerl, RN, BSN, PHN, is Education Coordinator for Hospice of San Joaquin in California, which serves San Joaquin County and its surrounding areas. This nonprofit agency has provided compassionate care for patients facing life-limiting illness for over twenty-five years. Ms. Wuerl received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from California State University, Stanislaus. Through the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), which promotes education in geriatric nursing and end-of-life care, Ms. Wuerl is also a geriatric trainer. In her current capacity she works with physicians, nurses, and social services, to facilitate patient referral and ensure continuity of care. Additionally, she collaborates with other community educators to promote end-of-life awareness regarding treatment options and pain management. During her career, Ms. Wuerl has held positions in psychiatric, medical-surgical and operating room nursing. She is also a public health nurse.

A full-time assistant professor at the School of Public Health at Portland State University and regular contributor to Portland's KATU Channel 2 morning program AM Northwest, Dr. Wheeler also runs a consultation practice, MindBody Medicine of Portland, in Portland, Oregon. She recently wrote her first book, 10 Simple Solutions to Stress, and is a sought-after speaker in the areas of stress, wellness, nutrition and weight management. Currently, Dr. Wheeler is at work on her second book, which focuses on stress, nutrition and weight control.

In addition to her traditional medical studies, Dr. Wheeler trained at the prestigious Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine program for physicians at the University of Arizona. One of the first people to be certified in mind-body medicine, Dr. Wheeler continues to serve on the training faculty at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, DC, where she earned her certification. Dr. Wheeler has also completed training in medical nutrition through the premier training program in nutrition for physicians at the Institute for Functional Medicine in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Dr. Wheeler graduated with highest honors from the University of California at Berkeley, where she completed a degree in physiology. She earned her medical degree from Loyola University Medical School and her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Michigan.