18th Annual
Long-Term Care Conference

NOVEMBER 8 - 9, 2007
Quality Inn & Suites Highlander Conference Center
Iowa City, IA

CONFERENCE FACULTY

Linda L. Buettner, Ph.D., is a Gerontologist and Recreational Therapist who specializes in therapeutic programs for persons with dementia. A Florida Dementia Trainer Level I and II, Delta licensed Pet Partner Instructor and Team Evaluator, Dr. Buettner is the author of Therapeutic Recreation in the Nursing Home and co-author of Dementia Practice Guidelines for Recreational Therapy and The NEST evidence-based dementia practice guidelines. She is currently a professor at University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Dean Lerner is Director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA). Before joining DIA, Lerner served as Chief Deputy for then Iowa Secretary of State Culver. In that position, he was responsible for all operations including budget, personnel, administrative rules, and legislation. Lerner’s prior experience includes 16 years as an Assistant Iowa Attorney General where he worked in the Consumer Protection, Special Litigation, Tort Claims and Environmental & Agricultural Law Divisions. A graduate of Grinnell College, Lerner then went on to Drake University’s Law School, graduating in 1981.

Anna Ortigara is a registered nurse who has focused her practice in the field of gerontology and Alzheimer’s disease for the past 24 years. She served as the Associate Director of Long Term Care Accreditation for the JCAHO, and was director of Residential Care Services for the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She is currently the vice president of the Campaign for Culture Change at Life Services Network, Hinsdale, IL. She is a frequent national presenter has many published articles on workforce and dementia care topics and has appeared in four videos related to dementia care and understanding the behaviors of persons with dementia.