Dr. Angela Hill is the Professor and Chair of the department of Pharmaco-therapeutics and Clinical Research and Associate Dean of Clinical Practice at the USF College of Pharmacy. She is also the pharmacy consultant at the USF Health Neuroscience/Byrd Alzheimer's Institute where she is involved in comprehensive medication reviews, patient visits, drug-related research and community outreach. At the Neuroscience/Byrd Institute, Dr. Hill works closely with the Memory C.A.R.E. Center, collaborates with clinicians on-scientific research, and speaks to groups of medical professionals and students. She also provides clinical services at Royal Sun Memory Care Assisted Living Facility and is a consultant for Promise Pointe, Assisted Living Facility. Dr. Angela Hill was one of the pioneer for providing pharmacy services in Memory Disorder Clinics in the State of Florida. To her credit, she has provided medication evaluations for patients with neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Multiple Sclerosis for the Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare NeuroScience Center and USF Neuroscience/Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute since the 90s. She received a Best Practices Award from the Department of Elder Affairs in 2004 for her work with the Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Memory Disorder Clinic. And the “Living Legacy” award from the Alzheimer’s Project for her commitment to Alzheimer’s disease care, research, and community outreach. She is passionate about helping patients and caregivers understand and manage their medications and speaks at caregiver support groups and caregiver seminars.

Prior to joining USF, Dr. Hill taught for nearly two decades at Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and was the pharmacy consultant at the Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Memory Disorder Clinic. Dr. Hill received her Doctor of pharmacy degree from Florida A&M University and received postgraduate training in the neurosciences.

Emily McGuire earned her Bachelor in Science of Occupational Therapy from Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA in 2002 and Master of Health Administration from Penn State University in 2013. Emily’s passion for safe aging in place is backed by advanced training from Stanford University on the Assessment of Motor and Processing skills, home modifications training in 2012, Dementia management training 2017-2020. Emily became a certified health coach in 2014 and became certified in integrative medicine in 2020. Emily combines treatment specialties which include Continence management/Pelvic floor therapy, Neuro-Ifrah approach for neurological rehabilitation, shoulder impingements, home modifications, Dementia management, and disorders of the autonomic nervous system.

David Karchut is a member of the Mission Team for the east region of BayCare Health System. In his capacity at Bay Care, David serves on the Ethics Committee, educates clinicians and community members alike in areas of Mission Integration and Ethics in a complex health care environment, Emotional Health, Nurturing Resilience, Advance Directives, as well as Diversity among an array of topics. In his role at St. Joseph’s Hospitals David also currently serves as the acting leader of the Critical Incidence Stress Management (CISM) team and routinely manages and provides CISM interventions. David holds Master of Divinity with an emphasis on Pastoral Counseling as well as Theology degrees and has extensive experience in couples and family counseling. Prior to his work at BayCare David provided support and counseling for patients, their family members, clinicians and staff at Christus Health in San Antonio, TX, and Catholic Health Care System in Buffalo, NY.

Lanet Own is a Faith community nurse coordinator employed by Bartow Regional Medical Center within the BayCare Health System. Prior to her arrival at Baycare in August 2017, Lanet served 32 years at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper, Indiana. Her nursing experience included faith community nursing, surgical services, gastroenterology, and post recovery. In 2002, she completed University of Southern Indiana School of Nursing and Tristate Health Ministry Organization’s Basic Parish Nurse Education Program an affiliate of the Westberg Institute. In 2004, Lanet received initial funding from the Welborn Baptist Foundation, Evansville, Indiana to become the FCN Coordinator for Memorial Hospital. She has received Coordinator’s Certificate of Completion in 2004 and the Faith Community Nurse Educators Course in 2009 also sponsored by the Westberg Institute. November 2017, Lanet received her Faith Community Nurse Board Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Accomplishments include a published article in the Journal of Christine Nursing. A two-year research project regarding a Transitional Care model. Committee work with the Indiana’s Cardiovascular and Diabetes Initiative to implement the “Better Together Plan” which outlines a statewide plan addressing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. She participated with Southwest Indiana Advisory Committee on Advance Care Planning.

Travis D. Finchum has been practicing law since 1996 and has been a Board Certified Elder Law attorney since 2002. He is the President and founder of the law firm Special Needs Lawyers, P.A. Mr. Finchum specializes in Medicaid qualification for aged and disabled individuals as well as Special Needs Trust drafting and administration. His practice also consists of estate planning, probate, trust administration and guardianship, with a special emphasis on helping families plan for a member with special needs. He also helps families plan for incapacity through alternatives to guardianship.

He is a past Chair of the Special Needs Trust Committee of the Florida Bar’s Elder Law Section and previously served on and Chaired the Elder Law Board Certification Committee of the Florida Bar. Mr. Finchum serves on the Board of Directors for the Arc Tampa Bay, the Advisory Board for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Pinellas County Chapter and on the Guardian Trust Foundation, Inc. He is also a liaison between the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and the Elder Law Section and sits on both of their Executive Councils.

Mr. Finchum founded the Guardian Trusts in 2002, and serves as a Co-Trustee of their trusts which assist individuals with disabilities in protecting their assests for use during their lifetimes without disqualifying them for much needed public benefits. More information can be found at www.GuardianTrusts.org. Mr. Finchum is a double-graduate from the University of Florida. He lives in Oldsmar with his wife Kiersten, son Ethan, and daughter Lillian.

Dr. Jessica Ruiz obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) where her training focused on motivational evidenced-based treatment of substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. She completed her internship, postdoctoral training and was a junior faculty member at Yale University’s Division of Substance Abuse where she obtained additional clinical experience with the treatment of serious mental illness and addictive behaviors.

She has worked as a Motivational Interviewing trainer, coach, supervisor and consultant at a variety of agencies including: Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, Connecticut Mental Health Center, The New York State Smoker’s Quitline, and NSU’s Area Health Education Centers (AHEC). She is particularly interested in the prevention, assessment and treatment of addictive behaviors and the use of motivational strategies to help individuals meet their desired treatment goals. Her professional activities in this area earned her the American Psychological Association’s Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12) Distinguished Student Practice Award in 2008.