Brain Health Center Professional Team
CPMC is proud to have some of the San Francisco Bay Area's best memory loss and dementia specialists working at the Brain Health Center. Our Brain Health Center medical providers, multidisciplinary staff and Care Navigation Team take pride in working with patients creating a plan that is customized to each individual's needs, helping them to maintain independence and quality of life.
Choosing the best comprehensive care is the first critical step towards addressing cognitive changes, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. It is often overwhelming to navigate the system of resources, treatments and supportive community services required to support and care for yourself or someone you love with memory deficits. The Brain Health Center team consists of a neurologist, nurse practitioner, social worker, family care specialist, case management assistant, neuropsychologist, dietitian and pharmacist who are available to help support you and your family every step of the way.
Director, Brain Health Center
Catherine Madison, MD
Dr. Madison completed her medical school training at St. Louis University in Missouri and her neurology residency at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington D.C. Dr. Madison is board-certified in neurology and has been practicing at California Pacific since 2001. Read more about Dr. Catherine Madison.
Family Nurse Practitioner
Susan Sullivan, RN FNP-C
Susan Sullivan RN, FNP-C has been an RN since 1981 and received her Master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from UCSF in 1992. She developed her expertise with the aging population through her work in an internal medicine practice for over 20 years.
Ms. Sullivan is trained in diagnosing, treating and educating patients and their families about dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. Her compassionate approach and connection with people make her a provider patients love to see.
Neuropsychologist
Louisa Parks, Psy. D
Dr. Parks is a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist in California and New York. She completed her postdoctoral residency in neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology at UC Davis Medical Center and her internship at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco.
Dr. Parks is also recognized as a specialist in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder by the SFPD, San Jose Police Department, San Francisco Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the Oakland Police Department.
Social Worker, Psychotherapist
Nalani Griffin Dunn, LCSW
Nalani, a native Californian, received her undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology at San Francisco State University and her Master’s in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley. In addition to her LCSW, she is an experienced psychotherapist specializing in family and couples counseling, as well as individual counseling.
Ms. Dunn has worked in a variety of medical settings for the last 18 years including hospitals, homecare and hospice. One of her specialties is working with clients diagnosed with memory problems, their families and caregivers. “Memory problems affect the whole family. Relationships change because roles change which can be sad and a difficult adjustment for the patient, spouse and children. My focus in working with families is on identifying strengths and assisting in increasing coping skills for both the patient and family. We do this through education, identifying practical solutions together, providing emotional support and appropriate referral to community supports.”
Assistant Case Manager
Ymke Dioquino, MS, MFTI
Ymke received her Master’s degree in Clinical and Health Psychology from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After raising her three children, she joined CPMC in 2010 and found a passion for supporting families and loved ones dealing with the changes that come with cognitive changes. She offers case management, support and counseling, and facilitates support groups at the Brain Health Center. Ymke is currently a registered Marriage and Family Therapy intern, working toward obtaining a state license as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Family Care Specialist
Laura Anderson, MA, CMC
Laura is the Brain Health Center’s Family Care Specialist through the Alzheimer's Association. She joins our team as a certified care manager with over 10 years experience working with the geriatric population and their families. A psychology and sociology double major; Laura completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon and received her master’s degree in education, with an emphasis in counseling, from San Francisco State University. Laura has extensive experience working collaboratively with medical professionals to determine the needs and appropriate levels of care for short- and long-term care patients, providing individual care assessments for families, and responding to crisis situations. Prior to joining our team, Laura was the director of client services for a Bay Area home care agency where she developed the care management program and helped oversee all operations.
Consultant Pharmacist
Richard Ron Finley, B.S.Pharm, R.Ph, CGP
Mr Finley recently joined CPMC as a consultant pharmacist to the Brain Health Center team. He continues as a Lecturer (Emeritus) in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco and continues to teach pharmacy students per his appointment as a clinical professor. His clinical practice includes eighteen years in the UCSF Memory and Aging Center-Alzheimer’s Research Center, UCSF Department of Neurology.
He also serves as a Consultant Pharmacist to several community health care organizations. Mr Finley is a frequent lecturer on health care issues related to older adults, on a local and national level. On two separate occasions he was a visiting professor in Japan.
His areas of interest and expertise include geriatric pharmacy practice, geriatric psychotherapeutics and geriatric neurological issues related to memory.
Dietician
Nancy Bennett, MS, RD, CDE
Ms. Bennett is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and the principle of Enlightening Choices. Her company provides nutrition consultations for a number of health care agencies, medical clinics, private physicians, corporations, and individuals within the San Francisco Bay Area. Additionally, she develops and implements nutrition programs for medical continuing education, community groups and corporations.
Ms. Bennett earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in nutrition from University of California at Berkeley in 1976, her Masters in nutritional science from the University of Bridgeport in 1992 and her certificate of diabetes education in 2000.
Administrative Supervisor
Melissa Desuasido
Ms. Desuasido, Administrative Supervisor, brings over ten years of outpatient clinic experience. She started her career in health care as Unit Secretary at a Dialysis Clinic in Daly City in 2001. After several years she joined the Department of Neurosurgery at UCSF as the Front Desk Coordinator in April 2003, where soon after she was promoted to be the Front Supervisor for the Spine Center. In this roll she helped open their new clinic, setting up protocols and procedures within the department while supporting the clinical coordination of the providers. It did not take long before Melissa became the Practice Manager for the Neuro-Spine Center at UCSF in 2008. In this roll she managed 13 staff and eight providers.
Patient Services Representative
Emily Mitchell
Ms. Mitchell completed her Bachelors of Science in Business Management in 2009. She began her career in healthcare at Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa. Ms. Mitchell has experience in emergency, surgery and radiology admissions. She will be the first friendly face you will see when you walk into our office.
Medical Assistant
Jennifer Eckowitz
Ms. Eckowitz, a Certified Medical Assistant, began her career in the medical field five years ago and has had the pleasure of being part of the Sutter Health team since 2009. She worked as a medical assistant in both urgent and primary care, as well as OB/GYN.
Ms. Eckowitz is excited to meet her new patients and will take excellent care of them.
Cognitive changes or decline can happen to anyone at any age and we can help you.
