Annual Conference

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Conference Agenda

26th Annual Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

August 26-27, 2026

Sheraton Refuge Hotel and Conference Center, Flowood, MS

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Time
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.Sponsor Exhibit Set-Up
Registration Open

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

TimeType of SessionSession TitleSpeaker, Title and OrganizationCredits
7:15 - 8:15 a.m.Registration, Continental Breakfast & Sponsor Exhibits Open
8:15 - 8:30 a.m.Welcome and IntroductionsKathy Van Cleave, LMSW, LCMHT, Director of Education and Outreach, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Conference ChairN/A
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.General Session 1Prevention as Your Best DefenseKimberly C. Tarver, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division Chief of Geriatrics, Director of Clinical Services, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical CenterGeneral
9:30 - 10:00 a.m.Break - Sponsor Exhibits Open
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.General Session 2Blood-Based Biomarkers and Their Clinical RelevanceKevin Sullivan, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Assistant Director, Neuroepidemiology Research Core, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center

Juebin Huang, MD, Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Director, Neuroclinical Research Core, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center		General
11:00 a.m. - noonGeneral Session 3Managing Early Alzheimer's: Approved Therapies and the Pipeline Shaping the FutureRonald L. Schwartz, MD, CPI, Director, Memory Center, Hattiesburg ClinicGeneral
Noon - 12:45 p.m.Lunch Provided and Door Prizes
12:45 - 1:45 p.m.Concurrent Session 4aThe Case for Inclusion: Why Diversity Matters in Alzheimer's ResearchStacee Brewer Naylor, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRP, Director of Clinical Research Operations, The MIND Center, Deputy Director, Jackson Heart Study - Field Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center1.0 SWK Cultural Competency
Concurrent Session 5aIs it Depression, Dementia, or Both? Working With Co-Occurring Disorders in Older AdultsJanice Sandefur, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, Owner, Psychotherapist and Educator, Heart Space Counseling & ConsultingGeneral
Concurrent Session 6aBeyond Medication: Evidence-Based Approaches to Challenging Behaviors in DementiaChloe Kilman, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatrics, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical CenterGeneral
1:45 - 2:00 p.m.Transition Break
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.Concurrent Session 4bThe Case for Inclusion: Why Diversity Matters in Alzheimer's ResearchStacee Brewer Naylor, PhD, MSN, RN, CCRP, Director of Clinical Research Operations, The MIND Center, Deputy Director, Jackson Heart Study - Field Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center1.0 SWK Cultural Competency
Concurrent Session 5bIs it Depression, Dementia, or Both? Working With Co-occurring Disorders in Older AdultsJanice Sandefur, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, Owner, Psychotherapist and Educator, Heart Space Counseling & ConsultingGeneral
Concurrent Session 6bBeyond Medication: Evidence -Based Approaches to Challenging Behaviors in DementiaChloe Kilman, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatrics, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical CenterGeneral
3:00 - 3:30 p.m.Break - Sponsor Exhibits Open
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.General Session 7Nutrition to Promote Cognitive HealthElizabeth Ames M. Fryoux, MD, Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical CenterGeneral
4:30 - 4:45 p.m.Closing RemarksKathy Van Cleave, LMSW, LCMHT, Director of Education and Outreach, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Conference ChairN/A
Total CE Hours: 6SWK: Total 6.0 hours: up to 1.0 SWK Cultural Competency and/or up to 6.0 SWK General pending sessions chosen

Thursday, August 27, 2026

TimeType of SessionSession TitleSpeaker, Title and OrganizationCredits
7:15 - 8:00 a.m.Registration, Continental Breakfast & Sponsor Exhibits Open
8:00 - 8:15 a.m.Opening RemarksKathy Van Cleave, LMSW, LCMHT, Director of Education and Outreach, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Conference ChairN/A
8:15 - 9:15 a.m.General Session 8Addressing Health Care Professional BurnoutDanny Burgess, PhD, Associate Professor, Licensed Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical CenterGeneral
9:15 - 9:45 a.m.Break - Sponsor Exhibits Open
9:45 - 10:45 a.m.Concurrent Session 9aSpirituality and Dementia: Supporting Meaning and Connection through Cultural ContextDebra Brewer, Founder, Wisdomtree Ministries

Theresia Johnson-Ratliff, PhD, LCSW, MSW, CG-C, Clinical Social Worker, Fitness Clinic Wellness		1.0 SWK Cultural Competency
Concurrent Session 10aHelp is on the Way! Real Resources for CaregiversLaura Pannell, PhD, CPG, Associate Professor of Psychology, Blue Mountain Christian University, Retired June 2026, President, Mississippi Gerontological SocietyGeneral
Concurrent Session 11aFrom Legacy to Discovery: Honoring Lives, Advancing Brain ResearchChristina Romani Piersol, Manager, Business Operations, University of Miami School of Medicine, Brain Endowment BankGeneral
10:45 - 11:00 a.m.Transition Break
11:00 a.m. - noonGeneral Session 12Strength in Their Stories: Persons with a Lived ExperienceKimberly C. Tarver, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division Chief of Geriatrics, Director of Clinical Services, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical CenterGeneral
Noon - 12:45 p.m.Lunch (Provided) and Door Prizes
12:45 - 1:45 p.m.Concurrent Session 9bSpirituality and Dementia: Supporting Meaning and Connection through Cultural ContextDebra Brewer, Founder, Wisdomtree Ministries

Theresia Johnson-Ratliff, PhD, LCSW, MSW, CG-C, Clinical Social Worker, Fitness Clinic Wellness		1.0 SWK Cultural Competency
Concurrent Session 10bHelp is on the Way! Real Resources for CaregiversLaura Pannell, PhD, CPG, Associate Professor of Psychology, Blue Mountain Christian University, Retired June 2026, President, Mississippi Gerontological SocietyGeneral
Concurrent Session 11bFrom Legacy to Discovery: Honoring Lives, Advancing Brain ResearchChristina Romani Piersol, Manager, Business Operations, University of Miami School of Medicine, Brain Endowment BankGeneral
1:45 - 2:15 p.m.Break - Sponsor Exhibits Open
2:15 - 2:45 p.m.Sponsor Exhibits Breakdown
2:15 - 3:15 p.m.General Session 13Dementia Conversations and the Power of SupportJo Ann O'Quin, PhD, Professor Emerita of Social Work, University of Mississippi

Lyssa Weatherly, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center		General
3:15 - 4:15 p.m.General Session 14Lessons Learned from the My Mama Joe ProjectP. Herbert Caldwell, EdD, Coordinator of Outreach, The Mama Joe Project.5 SWK Cultural Competency, .5 General
4:15 - 4:30 p.m.Closing RemarksKathy Van Cleave, LMSW, LCMHT, Director of Education and Outreach, The MIND Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Conference ChairN/A
Total CE Hours: 6SWK: 6 hours total: up to 1.5 SWK Cultural Competency and up to 5.5 SWK General (depending on session selections)
Total CE Hours: 12