About
Our purpose is to make use of our combined knowledge, experience, and resources to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their families.
Led by the Alzheimer’s Association, National Council of Dementia Minds, Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and the State of Michigan, the Michigan Dementia Coalition came together in late 2016 to identify current needs and opportunities for Michigan to become a more dementia capable state. Since then, approximately 300 people from various dementia-related backgrounds have engaged in meetings or participated in workgroups.
Mission
The Michigan Dementia Coalition is a group of organizations and individuals working together to improve quality of life for people living with dementia and their families. We are powered by our passion.
Vision
Our vision is to promote a strong, capable, supportive dementia infrastructure in Michigan.
Steering Committee Members
Kristine J. Ajrouch, PhD, University of Michigan Institute for Social Research & Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease
Melanie Baird, LMSW, Alzheimer’s Association Michigan
Brandon Beck, Area Agencies on Aging of West Michigan
Scott E. Counts, PhD, Michigan State University Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine
Lisa Dedden Cooper, JD, National Council of Dementia Minds
Curtis Gritters, RN, BSN, MBA, CDP, Dementia Institute
Joan Ilardo, PhD, LMSW, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Barry Kaufman, Retired and Living with Lewy Body Dementia
Amanda Leggett, PhD, FGSA, Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology & Department of Psychology
Jim Mangi, PhD, Care Partner & Dementia Friendly Services
Krissan Moss, Advocate and person living with Lewy Body Dementia
Hank Paulson, MD, PhD, Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center
Scott Roberts, PhD, University of Michigan School of Public Health
Sheria Robinson-Lane, PhD, MSN, MHA, RN University of Michigan School of Nursing
Katrina Summersett, Presbyterian Villages of Michigan
Fei Sun, PhD, MSW, Michigan State University School of Social Work
Irving E. Vega, PhD, Michigan State University Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine
Erin Wallace, Michigan Assisted Living Association
Karen Willard, JD, Attorney & Former Legislator
MDHHS Staff
Alexis Cooper, MHA, Dementia & Healthy Brain Unit, MDHHS
Nick Drzal, PhD, MPH, RDN, Health Promotion & Active Aging Section, MDHHS
Sally Steiner, LMSW, Health Promotion & Active Aging Section, MDHHS
Shona MacKenzie, MPH, Dementia & Healthy Brain Unit, MDHHS
Karen McCloskey, Diabetes & Other Chronic Disease Section, MDHHS
Michigan Dementia Coalition Co-Chairs
Melanie Baird
Interim co-chair. Vice President of Programs at the Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter representative.
Lisa Dedden Cooper
Director of Operations at the National Council of Dementia Minds
Amanda Leggett
Associate Professor at Wayne State University in the Institute of Gerontology and Department of Psychology and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan