Alzheimer's Association Professional Training Institute
The Professional Training Institute faculty collectively has more than 150 years of experience in dementia care. All are staff members of the Alzheimer's Association - Greater Illinois Chapter and are master trainers of our train-the-trainer programs including the Illinois Dementia Care, The Best Friends Approach to Dementia Care, and Advanced Topics in Alzheimer’s Care. Professional Training Institute faculty members are also available to conduct on-site customized training to your staff.
For more information, please contact Susan Rothas at susan.rothas@alz.org or 847.324.0383.
Melanie Adams is the Senior Program Manager in the Joliet office of the Greater Illinois Chapter and previously served in the Chapter’s southern Illinois office. She has more than 10 years of experience working with special populations and caregivers in a variety of settings and began her career as a direct care worker. She has a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation with a minor in special education from Southern Illinois University. She is currently completing her master’s degree in organization leadership at Lewis University.
Robert Baker is Program Manager in the Bloomington office of the Greater lllinois Chapter. He has more than 18 years experience in education and management at different levels of care in many elder care organizations. He has a master’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Melanie Chavin is Vice President of Program Services for the Greater Illinois Chapter. She has worked with people with dementia and caregivers in a variety of residential and community-based settings and has provided direct care, education, training, and consultation to many organizations serving older adults. She has authored numerous publications on music therapy and dementia including the book, The Lost Chord: Reaching the Person with Dementia through the Power of Music. She has also authored and co-authored several training curricula. She has a bachelor's degree in fine arts from De Paul University and a master's degree in human services/gerontology from National-Louis University.
James Dearing is Senior Program Manager at the Springfield office of the Greater Illinois Chapter. He oversees program operations and conducts rural outreach in downstate Illinois. He has more than 16 years experience as a professional caregiver with people with dementia and as an educator with family and professional caregivers. He also is pastor of Kilbourne Community Church.
Jeannine Forrest is the Project Manager for the Palliative Care for Advanced Dementia Research study. She has a 25 year history in the practice, education, and research of older adults and end-of-life care, with expertise on pain in individuals with dementia. Jeannine has been a faculty member at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing for 15 years. She collaborates with the World Health Organization as a consultant in palliative care in China and is a member of the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care and Chicago End-of-Life Care Board of Directors. Jeannine completed a doctorate in nursing at the University of Illinois and is a registered nurse.
Daniel Kuhn is the Director of the Professional Training Institute. He has been active in the fields of health care and aging with several organizations in his native Chicago for the past 35 years. He routinely gives presentations on dementia care issues and has been a consultant to numerous elder care organizations. He is a past member of the Board of Directors for the American Society on Aging and serves on several editorial boards. He has authored or co-authored more than 50 books, book chapters, articles, training curricula, and videos on dementia care issues. His most recent book with Jane Verity is The Art of Dementia Care (2007). He completed a master’s degree in social work at the University of Illinois in Chicago and is a licensed clinical social worker.
Susan Rothas is Senior Program Manager for the Professional Training Institute. Previously, she cared for children and adults with chronic diseases, was Director of Quality Management for Advocate Illinois Masonic Center, and was Education Coordinator at Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging. She has presented at numerous professional conferences and community organizations and is a master trainer for Powerful Tools for Caregivers program. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a registered nurse.
Susan Sklar is the Program Manager for the Rockford office. She has a personal experience with Alzheimer’s disease as a caregiver for her mother. Before joining the Association, she was the Program Services Director at a large non-profit agency in Rockford. She has also taught Powerful Tools for Caregivers, facilitated a caregiver support group, and serves on many non-profit boards. She is a Senior Health Insurance Program counselor and volunteers her services to assist older adults with their Medicare prescription drug plans.
