Providing education, support, and resources
to guide you on your dementia care journey
Serving Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in Northern California
Our Advisory Board
We are pleased to introduce our Advisory Board. This wonderful group of professionals is committed to sharing their skills, guidance, and knowledge to support Sage as we strive to achieve our goal of providing compassionate, person-centered care to all those impacted by dementia. Each brings to our organization a wealth of skills and experience in the field of healthcare and we are thrilled to have them on our team!
Melanie
Henry
Melanie Henry, Founder and CEO of the Driver Cognitive Assessment Center in Pleasanton, specializes in evaluating older drivers and their skill sets. It was during her tenure as a Transportation Co-ordinator for a volunteer driver medical ride program for seniors that she identified the pressing need for an impartial and objective driver cognitive assessment service.Melanie’s credentials as a Licensed Driving Instructor and Driver Rehabilitation Professional underscore her dedication to enhancing road safety for all. Her expertise extends to co-authoring the best-selling book “Difficult Aging in Place Conversations”. She shares her knowledge on aging and driving topics as a presenter both locally and nationwide.
Joe
Carlucci
Joe Carlucci, PT, MS, MBA, has been
in health care for over 40 years. Joe has practiced physical therapy in multiple settings, including acute care, skilled nursing, outpatient, and home care. He eventually moved into an administrative role at ValleyCare Health System/Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley as director of Physical and Sports Medicine. Joe also served in other leadership roles including Patient Safety Officer, director of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, and Outpatient Nutrition, among others.He is currently semi-retired,
now having the role of Organizational Educator at Stanford Tri-Valley. This reflects his passion for education, which has included starting the student program at Stanford Tri-Valley Physical Medicine, being an instructor at Samuel Merritt University Physical Therapy program, and participating in various educational presentations within the community. Joe is also a member of the Pleasanton Human Services Commission and the California Physical Therapy Quality Practice Committee.
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Barbara
Strouzas
Barbara Strouzas has been a Marriage and Family Therapist in the Tri-Valley for over 20 years. Her experience includes working with families on a wide range of issues, including support, communication and caring for loved ones as they move through life. Barbara taught graduate level courses in the Counseling Psychology program at Holy Names University for over 20 years. Currently, she is teaching in the Graduate Counseling Psychology programs at St. Mary’s College in Moraga and Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
“I am honored to be a part of Sage and to contribute to the work they do in guiding so many of us going through this ever-changing need for our loved ones.”
(925) 960-0910
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Stacy
Brix
Stacy Brix is a health teacher at Monte Vista High School in Danville. She has a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics. Stacy became interested in dementia care after watching her grandmother's struggle with Alzheimer's disease for many years. In her free time, Stacy can be found outside either jogging, walking or hiking. A loyal Bay Area sports fan, Stacy enjoys going to live sporting and music events.
Stacy is excited to be a part of the Sage team.
Julie
Fiedler
Julie Fiedler, Attorney at Law, is the Managing Partner of Horizon Elder Law & Estate Planning in San Ramon. Julie is also a Registered Nurse and has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and senior services. She is a Certified Elder Law Attorney, and is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to help individuals in all matters involving VA benefits. Julie served two terms on the Board of Directors for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and is the past president of its Northern California Chapter. Julie is also an active member of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR), ElderCounsel, and a past president of the Adult Day Services Network of Contra Costa County.
Christine
Sevier
Christine Sevier, the Founder and CEO of Creating New Hope Senior Living Advisors, is dedicated to assisting families in finding suitable care options for their elderly loved ones. As a Senior Living Advisor, she specializes in providing seniors with thorough referrals to assisted living facilities, memory care centers, and residential care homes. With her educational background in psychology from JFK University and her State of California RCFE Administrator license, she possesses the expertise needed to offer the essential support. The establishment of Creating New Hope Senior Living Advisors was motivated by her personal experience of caring for her grandmother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and required a conservator.