High Risk Populations and Disparities Core (HRPDC)

Benson, Clark – Profile
Full Name
Clark Benson, MPA
Credentials
MPA
Role

Core Navigator
High Risk Populations and Disparities Core (HRPDC)

Primary title
Researcher
Primary Institution
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Complete Titles

Researcher
BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine

Bio
Clark Benson, MPA is a researcher at the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine in Dr. Andrea Gilmore-Bykovskyi’s cognitive care lab. A Master of Public Affairs graduate, Clark’s research interests center on understanding the impact of public policy on cognitively vulnerable people in settings and contexts that frequently receive little attention. Clark has over six years of experience leading studies that engage directly with people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Epps, Fayron – Profile
Full Name
Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN
Credentials
PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN
Role

Executive Committee
High Risk Populations and Disparities Core (HRPDC)

Primary title
Professor, Karen & Ronald Herrmann Distinguished Chair in Caregiving Research
Primary Institution
University of Texas at San Antonio School of Nursing
Complete Titles

Professor, Karen & Ronald Herrmann Distinguished Chair in Caregiving Research

Bio
Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, is a nurse and researcher specializing in gerontology, dementia care, and health disparities. Her particular focus is on improving care for African Americans living with dementia. She is a professor and the Karen and Ronald Hermann Distinguished Chair in Caregiver Research at the University of Texas at San Antonio School of Nursing. Her work is centered around promoting awareness, education, and support for families affected by dementia, particularly within African American communities. Dr. Epps is recognized for her community-engaged research and her efforts to partner with faith communities to improve dementia care and resources. Her research focuses on exploring how faith-based organizations can serve as a support system for families and caregivers, and on developing culturally relevant resources to address health disparities in dementia care.
Gilmore Bykovskyi, Andrea – Profile
Full Name
Andrea Gilmore Bykovskyi, PhD, RN
Credentials
PhD, RN
Role

Core Leader
High Risk Populations and Disparities Core (HRPDC)

Primary title
Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Research
Primary Institution
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Complete Titles

Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Research
BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Bio
Andrea Gilmore-Bykovskyi, PhD, RN, is an associate professor in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, where she also serves as Vice Chair for Research and The John and Tashia Morgridge Chair of Emergency Medicine Research. Dr. Gilmore-Bykovskyi also serves as co-director of the Establishing Mechanisms of Benefit to Reinforce the Alzheimer’s Care Experience (EMBRACE) AD/ADRD Roybal Center and deputy director of the UW-Madison Center for Health Disparities Research (CHDR). Dr. Gilmore-Bykovskyi leads a funded program of research focused on improving care for people living with and impacted by dementia, including addressing the needs of professional and family caregivers.
Glover, Crystal M. – Profile
Full Name
Crystal M. Glover, PhD
Credentials
PhD
Role

Executive Committee
High Risk Populations and Disparities Core (HRPDC)

Primary title
Associate Professor of Neurology
Primary Institution
University of California, Irvine
Complete Titles

Associate Professor of Neurology; Leader of the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Core in the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the UCI Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND); Associate Co-Director of the Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention Unit in the Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium; Editor-in-Chief of Alzheimer's & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging.

Bio
Crystal Glover, PhD, is an applied social psychologist, mixed methodologist, and associate professor with tenure in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine. She has designed and built a program of research focused on addressing challenges related to brain health and facilitating optimal outcomes in aging. Her research program consists of two interconnected components that examine: 1) decision making associated with complex, nuanced, and sensitive topics in older age; and 2) protective and risk factors of brain health. Her research has led to the design, development, and implementation of engagement approaches, educational materials, and intervention strategies. Dr. Glover has widely published her peer-reviewed work in several high-impact scientific journals, including Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, CHEST, and Human Genetics. She continues to present her research at international and national scientific meetings and belongs to several intercontinental and domestic professional committees and groups. Overall, Dr. Glover dedicates her work to service and strategies for optimal aging for all - globally, nationally, and locally.
Samper-Ternent, Rafael – Profile
Full Name
Rafael Samper-Ternent, MD, PhD
Credentials
MD, PhD
Role

Executive Committee, High Risk Populations and Disparities Core (HRPDC)

Primary title
Associate Professor
Primary Institution
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health
Complete Titles

Associate Professor, Department of Management, Policy & Community Health

Bio
Rafael Samper-Ternent, MD, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Management, Policy & Community Health at UTHealth Houston. He received his medical degree in Bogota, Colombia in 2004, followed by his PhD in health services research from UTMB in 2012. Dr. Samper-Ternent then returned to clinical practice and completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in geriatrics, in 2016. He returned to UTMB in 2017 and developed a career as a clinician-scientist with the goal of producing evidence that informs interventions that improve well-being of Hispanic older adults and their caregivers. He joined UTHealth Houston in 2022 and his work is focused on adapting evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes of older Hispanics with multiple chronic conditions and dementia and their family caregivers. He also leads the cultural adaptation process of the Patient Priorities Care approach for older Hispanics.