Senior Care Partner

Dr. Tom Felke is the Associate Dean of the Marieb College of Health and Human Services and an Associate Professor within the Department of Social Work at Florida Gulf Coast University. He has worked previously at Catholic Charites of Southern Connecticut and at the Connecticut Department of Social Services. Dr. Felke now focuses his teaching and research on macro social work, the application of technology to social work practice and evaluation, and international social work issues. A major focus of this work is the use of geographic information systems (GIS) for program evaluation and research efforts on the needs of seniors, affordable housing, and food insecurity. He is active as a member of several boards and committees in Southwest Florida as well as for national social work organizations. He has served as a Commissioner with the Global Education Commission of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Treasurer of the Florida Association of Deans & Directors of Social Work Programs, and Vice President of the Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors (BPD).Dr. Felke is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and the Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors (BPD).

Dr. Bauer is an Assistant Professor in the Exercise Science program within the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Dr. Bauer holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Michigan State University as well as both a Master of Physical Education degree and a Bachelor of Sport Science degree from Ohio University. Dr. Bauer is a Certified Exercise Physiologist by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and holds an Exercise Is Medicine Level II certification also from the ACSM. Dr. Bauer’s primary teaching responsibilities are core undergraduate courses related to fitness assessment, exercise prescriptions, methods of resistance training and conditioning and care and prevention of human performance related injuries.  She serves as an ACSM Consumer Outreach Committee member, creating brochures on pregnancy and exercise along with publications for Exercise is Medicine (EIM). She also serves as the Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIM-OC) advisor/committee member, along with the FGCU Human Resources Wellness Committee, with Healthy Lee as a physical activity expert, and as a Blue Zones committee member. Dr. Bauer has collaborated with colleagues looking at the physical activity side of health, wellness and weight loss (full plate program), presented lunch talks regarding physical activity recommendations, participation, promotion and resistance training at Lunch Time Wellness talks through the FGCU HR department.  She also created content for physical activity promotion programs such as the Marieb College of Health & Human Services (MCHHS) Get Up and Go and the Physical Activity Breaks project.

Dr. Clack is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Clack holds a Doctor of Science degree in Health Systems Management from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, LA, a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of West Alabama in Livingston, AL, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Dr. Clack is also Certified in Public Health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Dr. Clack has been funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and Georgia Division of Aging Services to provide evidence-based wellness services to senior adults. This funding also includes creation of a reimbursement model to increase private pay, cost share, and voluntary contributions for services. Dr. Clack has been teaching courses in Health Insurance and Reimbursement at the undergraduate and graduate levels for 8 years. Dr. Clack also co-authored a manuscript that was published in the Annals of Medicine & Surgery which examined the impact of insurance deductibles on surgery volumes.

Dr. Bryan Schaffer's teaching experience is quite extensive and includes courses in Organizational Behavior, Principles of Management, Leadership in Organizations, Ethics and Social Responsibility, Human Resource Management, Team and Group Processes, and Strategic Management Simulation Lab. Professor Schaffer's research interests cover an array of topics, including relational demography, leadership, workplace wellness, and group and team dynamics. He has published in peer reviewed journals and proceedings, and has presented his work at various national academic conferences. He is a member of the Academy of Management, the American Psychological Association, and the Southern Management Association.

Prior to his life in academia, Professor Schaffer held numerous supervisory and management positions with the Pillsbury Company, Avon Products, Inc., and McMaster-Carr Supply Company. Before coming to FGCU, he was a faculty member (and Chair of) the Department of Management and Accountancy at University of North Carolina Asheville.

Kelly Occhiuzzo is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Life Home Health, an accredited home health agency. A compassionate leader and entrepreneur with a depth of experience in both direct care and healthcare management, Kelly is an educator, consultant, board director and holistic practitioner. Her thirst for conscious leadership began at an early age and has led her to highly responsible healthcare roles throughout her 30-year career.

Kelly’s early direct care experience as a Certified Nurse’s Aide, Life Enrichment Director and Hospital Liaison, for a national healthcare organization, helped to build a solid medical foundation from which to grow. While working and raising a family, Kelly learned the business of leading and building a culture of care by studying Health Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. Kelly’s concentration in Gerontology was inspired by grandparents who lived with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Applying what she learned, and teaching others, came naturally as she navigated the journey of neuro-cognitive disease alongside her family. Her co-workers marvel at how she has made her executive roles in business development, operations and now ownership of a thriving agency look easy. That’s because for her it is a joy, not a job.

Kelly holds a multitude of Trainer certifications from nationally recognized organizations such as Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, Struthers Parkinson’s Care Network, Rosalynn Carter Institute, and Powerful Tools for Caregivers that equip care partners in best practices to provide high quality care. Kelly readily shares her knowledge, life lessons, and genuine enthusiasm. Compassion in action is her life’s motto.

Diana Bailey is the Vice President of Clinical Services for Moorings Park, Inc.  In this capacity, she manages the nursing home, home health, physician clinic, out-patient therapy program and quality assurance systems within the continuum of care.

Diana is an experienced senior care provider with more than 25 years’ experience.  She received her BS in Healthcare Administration from Michigan State University, her MBA in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix and Dr. of Health Administration from Capella University.  Diana previously managed a senior care community in Harbor Springs, MI for a 12 year period and grew up in Cumberland, RI.

Diana has been happily married to Matthew Bailey for over 27 years and has 3 sons.   She enjoys her time with her family, outdoor activities and is an active member of the North Naples United Methodist Church.

Dean Piccirillo is a senior financial advisor, a principal and client-service team director in the HBKS Wealth Advisors Fort Myers and Sarasota, Florida offices. In addition to his ongoing consultation work with families, Piccirillo directs the HBKS Wealth Advisors Retirement Plan Services Group, which provides investment consulting to dozens of corporate, nonprofit and municipal retirement plans.

Piccirillo brings a vast range of experience and expertise to his work helping clients grow and preserve their wealth. His more than 30 years of experience as an advisor to families and entrepreneur-led businesses along with his firm leadership and supervisory roles make him uniquely qualified to advise clients on wealth management, retirement planning, estate planning, and business succession matters.

He is also an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University and teaches one class per semester to undergraduate finance majors focusing on financial services and financial planning.

Piccirillo earned a master’s degree in financial services from The American College of Financial Services and a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from Slippery Rock University.

Dr. Totterdale earned his B.S. in Statistics from West Virginia University, a M.S. in Competitive Intelligence and a Doctor of Science in Information Systems and Communications from Robert Morris University.

Dr. Totterdale is currently an adjunct professor in computer information systems in the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University where he has taught and developed both graduate and undergraduate technology related courses full time for nine years. He has published in national and international journals and has presented his research findings at several academic conferences. His research interests include health informatics, technology adoption, social media, data privacy and cybersecurity.

Prior to joining FGCU, he was a senior partner with Accenture, a global technology, consulting, and outsourcing services firm. During his 28-year career, he worked with clients in healthcare, high technology, manufacturing, and energy. In the healthcare field, he directed successful programs to implement clinical (OE/RR, Pharmacy, LIS, Nurse Care Planning), medical records, patient accounting, human resources, and general accounting systems for several hospitals.   

A Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), Dr. Totterdale has served as a Director for the Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership and for Moorings Park, a premier life plan community in Naples, FL.  Additionally, Dr. Totterdale has had responsibility for FGCU’s cybersecurity and digital forensics labs, served as a liaison with Cyber Florida and lead the development and delivery of a Cyber Academy for small businesses in SWFL. 

Melissa Thompson, MSW, LCSW, C- ASWCM began her career dedicated to issues in aging after an internship at a skilled nursing facility while attending the Colorado State University School of Social Work. During that experience, she contributed to a research project studying the human animal bond through animal assisted therapy with the residents of the facility. This sparked a passion for providing evidence-based care to aging populations and their loved ones.

Ms. Thompson returned to her hometown of Fort Myers in 2004, where she has served as a care manager, counselor, and supervisor in social service agencies serving older adults in the community. She has developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by her clients through her experience in health care settings, including chronic disease management, hospice, and palliative care.

Melissa has developed and facilitated engaging programs for people experiencing dementia and their caregivers, such as support groups and a ‘caregiver bootcamp’ educational series. Ms. Thompson has effectively administered grant funded services, in addition to those regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She continues to offer aging life care management and counseling services throughout Southwest Florida in private practice.

Ms. Thompson is an adept public speaker and educator. She is an adjunct faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University Department of Social Work and for the Barry University School of Social Work. Her continued research and education focus is on issues in aging, end of life care, trauma, dementia and caregiving, and grief and loss.

Dr. Chris Austin is the Program Manager for Choices by Cypress at Home, a multi-disciplinary Aging Life Care™ Management program.  Cypress at Home launched as a start-up in 2019 and is a collaborative partnership between Cypress Cove Retirement Community and Lee Health, where the Choices program originated.  Dr. Austin has been instrumental in the development and unprecedented growth of the Aging Life Care™ Management Program since its transition from Lee Health to Cypress at Home.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Winona State University and began her Social Work career in community-based mental health case management.  After several years of field experience, Dr. Austin went on to earn a Master’s degree in International Business from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and began working exclusively with the aging population.  Her professional goals and career focus have centered around the direct work of improving the quality of life for individuals who are aging.  This passion for helping others combined with her business acumen has allowed her to hold various leadership positions within geriatric arenas.  Dr. Austin is a Certified Social Work Case Manager through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and earned a certificate in Elder Care Coordination through the Stockton College on Successful Aging (SCOSA).  She is also an Advanced Aging Life Care Professional℗ through the Aging Life Care Association (www.aginglifecare.org).  Dr. Austin resides in Lee County and is a current Co-Chair for the Southwest Florida Aging Life Care Unit.

Gabrielle is a speech and language pathologist with 12 years of experience in a variety of settings, including acute care, sub-acute rehabilitation, pediatrics, outpatient, and home health. She received her master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology from New York Medical College in 2009, and her Doctor of Health Science degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2020.  Her most challenging and rewarding experiences have stemmed from the ALS Clinic in Fort Myers, where she specialized in providing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods for individuals with progressive motor neuron disease. In this setting, she became quite comfortable with high-tech alternative communication methods, including Tobii Dynavox assistive technology. This led to her current position as a Solutions Consultant for Tobii Dynavox in South and Southwest Florida. Her interest in assistive technology led her to participate in the International Alliance of ALS/MND Association’s Allied Professionals Forum in December of 2021, where she presented on Maintaining Social Connection through hi-tech Augmentative Alternative Communication options. Gabrielle finds her work in assistive technology to be both interesting and inspiring; technology changes so rapidly, so there is always more to learn, and new ways individuals can benefit from technological advances.

Dr, Myers is an Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy program at Florida Gulf Coast University and has been on faculty for eight years and earned his Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree from Boston University in 2014. Prior to FGCU, Dr. Myers practiced for over 20 years as an occupational therapist in Dayton, Ohio, working with adults in outpatient rehab, inpatient rehab, home health, and also operated a wheelchair clinic. He also holds a certification as an Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) with the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA) demonstrating expertise in evaluating clients for assistive technology needs to enable independence. He utilizes this experience in the classroom as well as providing wheelchair evaluation services to the SWFL community through Lee Health.

In his role as the Representative Assembly member for Florida for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Dr. Myers was the lead author on a 2021 AOTA position paper on Safe Patient Handling & Mobility. Dr, Myers drew from current evidence and personal experience in detailing occupational therapy’s role in evaluating clients to determine the safest and most effective means to manage safe transfers and repositioning as well as training care partners to reduce injuries and maintain quality of life.

Louisa Cannamela, APRN, serves as the Vice President of Clinical Services for Cypress Living. Louisa leads the development of clinical policies, procedures, and processes to ensure a consistent outcome within the Cypress Living family—as well as maintaining a strong educational and competency program for all clinical team members. She is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with multiple years of experience in both sub-acute, acute and outpatient care of older adults within skilled nursing facilities, primary care offices and client homes. She manages a team of over 40 caregivers for Cypress at Home, while maintaining the company’s CHAP regulations and conducting supervisory visits.

Daniel Katz is a retired executive healthcare professional with over thirty-five years of experience. 

In the first half his career, Dan was the Vice President of Post-Acute Services at Stamford Health System (SHS) in Stamford, Connecticut.  SHS was a fully integrated, multi-facility health system which included a community hospital, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, subacute and long-term care center, homecare and hospice, assisted living and a continuing care retirement community.

In his most recent position, Dan was the CEO of Jewish Senior Life (JSL) in Rochester, NY from 2004-2015.  JSL provides a continuum of healthcare and senior living from independent and assisted living to transitional and long- term care and a broad array of services and specialized programs to meet the needs of individuals who live on campus, as well as for seniors who live in the greater community. 

Dan has served in many leadership roles during his career in healthcare

and senior services. In New York, Dan served as Chairman of the Board of

the Senior Health Alliance of Greater Rochester and Chairman of the Finger Lakes and Rochester Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. 

In Connecticut, Dan served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Association of Not-for-Profit Providers for the Aging; Chairman of the Connecticut Alliance for Long Term Care and a Trustee of the Connecticut Hospital Association.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University, Dan

earned a degree in Health Services Administration from Quinnipiac

University in Hamden, Connecticut.

Dr. Ahmed Samir Elokda joined the faculty at Florida Gulf Coast University in 2014. Dr. Elokda earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Cairo University, Advanced Master’s Degree, PhD, and Post-Doctorate Training in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physiology and Rehabilitation from the University of Iowa. Clinically, Dr. Elokda is a Certified Expert of Exercise in Aging Adults and Certified Lymphologist from the renowned Földi Clinic in Germany. Dr. Elokda is a Prestigious Fellow at The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Dr. Elokda has published several book series, independent monograms, and textbook chapters, with over 150 peer-reviewed abstracts and articles. Dr. Elokda served on the editorial board of prestigious medical journals as well as a keynote speaker at national and international-level conferences. Dr. Elokda has been an active and tenured professor in rehabilitation and medical sciences across a number of American campuses for over twenty-five years. Dr. Elokda has served as Chairperson for the t-Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) and continues to serve as a Senior Professor at Cairo University in Egypt.

Joe Velderman, MCP, serves as the Vice President of Innovation for Cypress Living. Joe is responsible for building and supporting the innovation capabilities of Cypress Living and all of its affiliates. In addition to these innovation efforts, he is also responsible for all technology operations within the Cypress brand; guiding strategy and direction for all infrastructure, enterprise applications, and data initiatives. Joe has always had an affinity for seniors and is passionate about developing and leveraging technology tools as a means for helping seniors age in a healthy and graceful way.

Payal Kahar earned a doctorate in Health Education from Texas A&M University in December 2015. With a background in dentistry and public health, her research focuses on oral health among underserved and rural populations in addition to exploring health disparities among minority populations. Her past research experiences include assessing oral health knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, oral health-related quality of life among rural populations in Central India, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and patients with end-stage renal disease in Southwest Florida. She has also been involved in collaborative work to assess and improve health knowledge levels among underserved communities in Southwest Florida. She has published her work in various peer-reviewed journals such as International Journal of Dentistry and presented at several conferences such as National Oral Health Conference and American Public Health Association Conference. She teaches Health Education Foundations, Needs Assessment & Program Planning, Global Health Systems & Issues, Healthy Communities and Research Methods in the public health program at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Troy Churchill is the President and CEO of Cypress Living and its subsidiaries which includes the luxury retirement community, Cypress Cove, and its home and community-based service provider, Cypress at Home.  Cypress at Home has seen its business grow over 900% in less than 18 months and now offers 4 service lines: Home Care, Home Health, Medical Care, and Care Management, to clients in South West Florida.  Troy is currently leading the development of the expansion project “The Oaks”, which consists of adding 48 villas and hybrid residences as a new neighborhood on the beautiful Cypress Cove campus.    

 Troy joined the Cypress Living Team in November 2018 as the organization’s Executive Vice President and was appointed President & CEO in January 2019.  He has brought a visionary focus and passion for older adult living and care by introducing new innovations and ideas as they work to redefine the care delivery model. Troy is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and prior to joining Cypress Living, he served as an Administrator for over 13 years for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Troy earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Long-Term Care Administration from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee and his Master’s Degree in Health Administration, graduating Magna Cum Laude, from Penn State University.   He also spent 10 months between his sophomore and junior collegiate years performing missionary work as a junior high school teacher to students in the Micronesian Islands.  

Troy resides in Cape Coral, Florida with his wife, Sandra, and his two amazing stepsons.   In his spare time, Troy is an avid Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ fan, enjoys offshore fishing, traveling, and mixing it up with his 5 French Bulldogs.     

Beth Prather is an attorney with Green Schoenfeld & Kyle LLP, a law firm specializing in estate planning, probate and corporate law. Beth is board certified in elder law by the Florida Bar and is accredited by the Veterans Administration. Her practice concentrates in the areas of life care planning, probate, guardianship, Medicaid, VA planning and estate planning. She graduated from Emory University in 1982, Phi Beta Kappa, obtained her MBA from Nova University in 1988 and her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Maine in 1992. She currently serves as secretary of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida State Guardianship Association. Beth also serves on the board of The Heights Foundation and the Area Agency of Aging in Southwest Florida. She is a past president of the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, past president of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, past chair of the Elder Law Certification Committee of the Florida Bar.  She is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Lee County Bar Association. She was named a Super Lawyer every year since 2008 and was included in the 2019 list of Top 50 Women Lawyers by Super Lawyers Magazine.