Community Advisory Board Members

  • Mark Kunik is Director of the VA South Central Mental Illness, Research, and Clinical Center, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. He is the Chief of the Behavioral Health and Implementation Program at the Houston VA Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety. His academic and clinical work has focused on the evaluation and treatment of older adults with cognitive, behavioral, and mood disturbances; aiming to improve the quality of life of older adults and their caregivers.

    Before practicing medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and the Houston VA Hospital, he completed BA in Psychology at the University of Texas, MD and psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine, geriatric psychiatry fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, and Masters in Public Health at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston.

    He is widely published, loves to mentor does his best to balance work and leisure. He is married to Mardi and has two boys, Illan and Max. Mark loves to attend live music concerts, garden, cook, exercise, and fish.

  • José Sanmartín is a former dementia caregiver and active supporter of those navigating the complexities of neurodegenerative disease. His caregiving journey began over a decade ago when his wife, Connie, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, later complicated by Lewy Body Dementia. For more than seven years, José provided consistent, hands-on care until her passing in 2023.


    Throughout his caregiving experience, José emphasized the importance of building community and learning from others. He regularly participated in caregiver support groups, where practical advice and shared experiences helped him manage the evolving challenges of long-term care.

    As a former dementia caregiver, Jose cofacilitated a GriefShare support group in Minnesota, supporting others as they navigated their grief. Today, he continues his advocacy and support efforts as an active member of both the Former Dementia Caregiver Re-Entry Group and the Supporting Dementia Caregivers After Death Community Advisory Board, where he provides guidance informed by his personal caregiving experience and an understanding of the realities caregivers face. Most recently, Jose launched a new support group specifically for former long-term caregivers, offering a space to connect, reflect, and adjust to life after caregiving.

    Through his continued involvement, Jose helps create spaces for meaningful connection, learning, and support among current and former caregivers.

  • Carol Shapiro is an advocate and former dementia caregiver with decades of personal experience supporting family members living with Alzheimer’s disease. She cared for her husband, Alan, who had young-onset Alzheimer’s for 18 years until his passing in 2016. In addition to caring for Alan, Carol also supported both of her parents through their Alzheimer’s diagnoses, providing compassionate care until their passing just weeks apart. These experiences have shaped her deep understanding of the dementia caregiving journey and the emotional complexities that come with it.

    Carol has channeled her experience into extensive volunteer and advocacy work. She has served as an Alzheimer’s Ambassador to U.S. Senators Franken and Smith, met with MN senators and representatives at 12 national Alzheimer’s forums in Washington, D.C., and contributed to state-wide initiatives such as Act on Alzheimer’s and Prepare Minnesota for Alzheimer’s 2020. She is a former member of the Minnesota Palliative Care Advisory Council and currently serves on the Supporting Dementia Caregivers After Death Community Advisory Board, where she offers insight on caregiver needs both during and after the caregiving role ends.

    Today, Carol continues to support others through education, peer connection, and advocacy. Her passion for community-building is reflected in the close-knit support network she maintains with fellow former dementia caregivers and the lasting relationships she has built with care professionals. She remains committed to helping others navigate life during and after dementia caregiving.

  • Cindy N. Kaigama is a thought leader who is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all people and partners to reduce disparities for people who have experienced systemic generational marginalization. She currently serves as Director of Community Health at Children’s Minnesota. She was senior leader at Minnesota Community Care as Health Equity Design Partner. She was the regional Health Systems Director for the Alzheimer’s Association of MN- ND chapter. She executed systems and policy change for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin. She is a social entrepreneur and founder of SheBloomedCakes! and Healing Virtue, LLC; a social enterprise focused on improving health outcomes and reducing chronic disease.

    She was the Multicultural Initiatives Director at the American Heart Association for the state of Minnesota where she partnered with people and organizations to provide effective strategies that increased heart and brain health outcomes of statistically marginalized communities. Cindy brings over 20 years of experience as a solutions-driven leader, educator and health and human services professional. She is an experienced diabetes prevention lifestyle coach with the YMCA, and Live Empowered Instructor for the American Diabetes Association. Cindy is a champion of health equity and executes policy and system change to offer everyone a fair chance to attain their highest level of health.

    She also is an advocate for equitable education and motivated to develop culturally competent leaders in early childhood to higher education learning environments. Cindy serves on the Arizona State University, Supporting Dementia Caregivers After Death Community Advisory Board, African Immigrant Memory Loss Advisory Board, community advisory member for the University of Minnesota’s 10K Family Research Study, Move and Thrive community advisory board member and previous committee member for Minnesota Department of Human Services Integrated Care for High-Risk Pregnancies (ICHRP) Initiative. Cindy has served on several district committees in the Eden Prairie School district. She volunteered on the Hopkins Public School District Early Childhood Parent Advisory Committee from 2015-2018 focused on diversity and inclusion strategies for parents and students. She was the Regional Health Equity Coordinator for the Department of Health and Humans Services Minority Health division, 2017.

    Cindy was awarded Community Engagement recipient for the Women’s Health Leadership Trust in 2021 and Wellness Advocate winner of the Minnesota Business Magazine in 2017. She led as volunteer Diversity Chair for the Board of American College of Healthcare Executives, Minnesota Chapter, 2016-2017. She served as Adjunct professor at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, Graduate School of Health and Human Services, 2012-2015.

    She completed her first Master of Art in Human Development at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and one year of coursework for a Master of Health and Human Services Administration at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies at Western Michigan University. Cindy is member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Iota Zeta Zeta Minneapolis chapter and a member of the Women’s Health Leadership Trust.

  • James Janifer is a dedicated advocate and former dementia caregiver who brings deep compassion and lived experience to his work supporting dementia caregivers. His caregiving journey began while assisting his mother in caring for his father, who was living with Alzheimer’s disease. After retiring to provide full-time support, James stepped into a greater caregiving role following his mother’s passing in 2019. His father remained in his care until he passed away in 2022.

    James first connected with the dementia caregiving community through a local support group in Maryland, where he gained practical knowledge and emotional support. Over time, he became an active and enduring member, especially valuing sessions focused on grief. His continued involvement has allowed him to support both longtime members and newcomers navigating the challenges of caregiving and loss.

    James also contributes to the Supporting Dementia Caregivers After Death Community Advisory Board, having joined after participating in a research study with Dr. Baker. He is committed to sharing his story and advocating for improved resources and support systems for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

  • Jeanne Bain is the director of Be Love Navigation, an organization that supports people in the difficult work and living and dying. She facilitates difficult conversations with families and communities around end-of-life, dementia, and, nervous system stress. She hopes that some day talking about death can be as easy for people as talking about the weather.

  • Tim Wandzel is a retired Minnesotan and former dementia caregiver who cared for his wife, LuAnn, through a long journey with Lewy Body Dementia. Diagnosed in 2011, LuAnn’s condition gradually progressed until her passing in 2019. Tim provided care both at home and later remained a dedicated presence in her long-term care facility. Throughout this journey, he navigated complex emotional and medical challenges. These experiences profoundly shaped his understanding of the realities caregivers face.

    Following his wife’s death, Tim connected with others transitioning into life after caregiving through the Former Dementia Caregiver Re-Entry Group and the Alzheimer’s Association Moving Forward-Life After Caregiving Group. He currently serves as a member of the Supporting Dementia Caregivers After Death Community Advisory Board, contributing insights gained from his caregiving and post-caregiving experiences. His journey has deepened his commitment to advocacy aimed at improving resources and policies to better support dementia caregivers’ ability to move forward after caregiving duties are over.

Emeritus Members

  • Helping others especially those in the aging process has been a passion of my life journey. I retired in 2013 from almost 30 years in the beer business working for Coors and MillerCoors. My focus areas in business were always around business processes and human performance. In the first year of retirement, I completed a one-year Gerontology Certificate program through the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. I have devoted the last decade of my life as my Mother's primary caregiver. She has Alzheimer's and resides in a Memory Care facility in South Texas and has been under hospice care for the past since 2021. I am also legal guardian for my 64-year-old developmentally disabled and blind Brother. He resides in an intermediary care facility and was introduced into hospice care in January 2023 due to a terminal liver cancer diagnosis. I have been blessed to care for these two "loves of my life" and am grateful for the grace each day to be grateful they are both still with us.

    Becoming part of the CAB has opened my eyes to a whole new world, one that I have embraced with enthusiasm, compassion, care, and kindness. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work together with a wonderful team of members.

  • Nina Shepherd has held leadership roles in public relations, marketing, and communications at the University of Minnesota since 1987. Additionally, she served in media relations and editorial positions with General Mills, Inc., Weber Shandwick, Corporate Report Minnesota, and Twin Cities Magazine. She considers her biggest achievement to be the daughter of a loving family with a strong network of friends—beginning with her father, Preston, who passed away from complications related to dementia in 2019, and her mother Carrol, who currently suffers from the disease.

  • Jenna Pogorels is the Associate Director of Community Services in Northern MN for the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota chapter based out of Duluth, MN. Jenna received her Master in Social Work from the University of Washington, Tacoma, and is licensed as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with the Minnesota Board of Social Work. Jenna has over ten years of experience working with families in various settings, including hospital/clinic and community organization settings. Jenna has worked with the Alzheimer’s Association since 2013 and has been focused in the areas of dementia program services, including the management of the support group and early stage programming, as well as the development of relationships and community partnerships in greater Minnesota through education and outreach.

  • Dr. Luis D. Medina is a licensed clinical psychologist and cultural neuropsychologist. He received his B.A. in psychology from Yale University and Ph.D. in clinical psychology/neuropsychology from the San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. Dr. Medina completed his clinical internship at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center (geropsychology track) followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in adult clinical neuropsychology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His research examines the cultural neuroscience of cognitive aging, particularly in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), as well as the clinical assessment and diagnosis of ADRD in historically underrepresented populations. For more information about his research, please visit the CARMA Lab website.

  • Richard, also known as Ahndegmakadewizi (Black Crow) is Ojibwe from Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (Zhaagaswajimekaag), and a member of the Bear Clan, Pillager Band.

    He is a Saint Paul Seminary graduate who has attended the University of Minnesota with a major in Directed Studies, with an emphasis on community corrections. He has over thirty-four years of experience as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). He is also credentialed with Minnesota Blue Cross, Minnesota Health Care Plans, Medica, and Hennepin County Chemical Health Programs.

    He is retired as the Chairman of the Minnesota American Indian Advisory Committee (MAIC) an advisory board that operates under the Department of Health and Human Services; This includes retirement from the Minnesota Association of Recovery Resources in Chemical Health as a Board of Governors (MARRCH). He currently serves as a Commissioner of the Minnesota State Urban Indian Affairs Commission.

    Richard is also a joint member of a Minnesota Limited License Company (LLC) along with associate Rona Mlnarik. They operate a private consultant company that provides culturally specific trainings and spiritual guidance within Minnesota.

    He has thirty-four years of working in Substance Use Disorders and has experience in residential care and Intensive Outpatient programs. He is not currently working in this field yet maintains his License as a therapist. He is the author of The Way of Our People: Weekly Inspiration for American Indians in Recovery from Alcoholism.