Our Alumni, Our Pride
Gerontology Alumni Update
MSG 2008
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Marjorie Amstuz
Graduation date: May 2008.
I am catching up with things with Troy and his father, making arrangements for cataract surgery and thinking of starting on a Doctorate degree at Fuller Seminary next January, (depending on the tuition cost). I passed up the one that was starting at Crystal Cathedral this semester because it meets only 4 times in 2 years and the rest is reading and reports. As you know, I prefer classes and interaction of students.( plus I am not ready to do a lot of reading until my eyes are better).
I have been going to LA every week for a few days all summer either for Dr or dental appointments.
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Erika Downs
Graduation date: August 2008
Current Position: I took a position with the Living Opportunities Management Company. I am working as a Resident Service Coordinator at Wycliffe Plaza senior housing facility in Santa Ana. I assist over 200 residents and help them live independently.
- Diana Jacoby
Graduation date: August 2008
Current Position: Waiting to be updated
- Yuk Lin (Yolina )Tsoi-Yeung
Graduation date: August 2008
Current position and agency/organization/business you work with: Social work Assistant at Well and Fit ADHC
Brief description of your assignment:--Assists participants and families with accessing community resources by providing appropriate referral--Assists SW in fulfilling care plan treatment recommendations--Leads group activity and support groups
Today, I just got the message that Dept of Aging has approved my company's flexibility request for me to perform the duty of MSW at Well and Fit. So I guess it will be my future position.
MSG 2007
- Katie (Roski) Kasprzyk (recently married)
Graduation date: May 2007
Current Position: Group Benefits Coordinator/Risk Management, Majestic Realty
Coordinate health benefits for the company and assist employees with medical related issues.
- Jenny Sunyoung Kim
Graduation date: May 2007
Current position: I opened up a non-medical home care business with my coworker who was also a case worker. It’s called BetterLiving, LLC. www.betterlivinghomecare.com
Also, I work at as a social worker for Home Healths. I work with different Home Healths as an independent contractor. For my social work job, I make home evaluation once they are assigned for Health. I provide the elder clients with community resources and counseling. For my business, I recruit caregivers, marketing my business to anyone who works with aging.
- Susie MacGregor
Graduation date: May 2007
Position: Transportation Supervisor/City of Newport Beach/OASIS Senior Center.
Manage the para-transit program for senior residents, supervise full and part time employees, interact on a daily basis with seniors and give information and referrals as necessary, conduct case management for frail program participants, give community presentations on issues related to the challenges of aging and transportation and explain available solutions.
- Karen Wong
Graduation date: January 2007
current position/job responsibility: Sharing my passion for gerontology with students who may never have heard of the discipline. I have enjoyed my experience in the program and have been reluctant to leave! I am fortunate to still be a part of the program through education. I am able to reach out to new students and help them to see the benefits of the field and bring awareness to community resources. I have taught: Introduction to Gerontology, Research Methods, and Sociology of Aging. My special interests include aging with vision loss, intergenerational relationships and education. I am thoroughly enjoying life in the gerontology field. :)
MSG 2006
- Tomoko Arishima
Graduation date: December 2006
Current Position: Waiting to be updated
- Stephanie Farley
Graduation date: May 2006
Current Position: Working for Community SeniorServ, where I used to be the home services manager, but now I am working 30 hours / week in the accounting department...saving my brain power for when I get home.
- Lisa Roth
Graduation date: May 2006
Position: Director of Independent Living Power and Geriatric Health Management and Monitoring at SCAN Health Plan
Scan Health Plan is a "Medicare Advantage" HMO, serving the needs of nearly 105,000 people within seven Southern California counties. The goal of the organization is to continue to find innovative ways to enhance seniors' ability to manage their health and to continue to control where and how they live. Since its inception, SCAN has provided the care needed to keep more than 25,000 seniors out of nursing homes. Today, SCAN is thriving and is one of the fastest growing health plans in the markets it serves. Founded in 1977, SCAN is a not-for- profit organization with headquarters in Long Beach, California.
I am the Director of our home and community-based services department called Independent Living Power and also our ambulatory case management program called Geriatric Health Management and Monitoring.
- Barbara J. Whitlatch
Graduation date: Summer 2006
Position: Manager, Advanced Care Planning/Palliative Care Collaborative (ACPC)
Brief Description: Currently, I have the privilege of managing a UniHealth grant that will integrate a Palliative Care program within the institution, which will address patient centered continuity of care across the health care continuum. The second component of the grant is to engage the community in making decisions regarding Advanced Directives.
Institution: Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, Mission Hills, CA
MSG 2005
- Theresa (Thanh-Huong) Khong
Graduation date: May 2005
- Marcia Williams
Graduation date: May 2005
Current position and agency/organization/business you work with: Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Director with the Council on Aging-Orange County
The mission of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is to advocate for dignity, quality of life, and quality of care for all residents in long-term care facilities. The primary function of the position is to provide leadership and direction to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in Orange County. The responsibilities include supervision of staff and volunteers and management of the budgeting process. It also includes overseeing the development and implementation of training, assuring the accuracy and distribution of required reports and representing the program with other agencies.
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MSG 2004
- Patty Connelly
Graduation date: May 2004.
Current Position is that of an instructor with the Older Adult Programs in North Orange County Community District as well as Rancho Santiago Community College District. I teach Books, senior topics, etc. I teach at nine locations in Orange County and love it.
- Katherine (OBrien) Herreid
Graduation date: May 2004
Current Position: Manager of Comfort Keepers - provide in-home non-medical care for older adults.
My assignment: Manage the operations of the company, conduct in-home assessments for all potential clients, conduct client follow-up visits/re-assessments, screen and hire all caregivers, represent our company at health fairs and other community events.
- Jacqueline Lauder
Graduation date: May 2004
Program Director Health Insurance Counseling
Council on Aging Orange County
I oversee all HICAP related activities, including providing counseling to Medicare beneficiaries, managing administrative program functions, supervising staff and volunteer counselors. I coordinate educational and outreach efforts for the agency. In addition, I write grants and help ensure continued program funding for the Agency. I also work on development of the agency through business/strategic planning that include for profit business plan opportunities.
- Cheryl Meronk
Graduation date: : Jan. 2004
Current position and agency/organization/business you work with: CEO, Council on Aging - Orange County
The Council on Aging–Orange County is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation, charged with serving older and dependent adults and their families throughout Orange County. The Council on Aging advocates for the health, well-being, and legal rights of adults needing or receiving services. Cheryl Meronk has been with the Council on Aging since 2002. For five years she served as Program Director of the HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program), and was appointed CEO in July of 2007. In addition to serving as the Council’s Chief Executive, she is currently chair of the CalOptima Member Advisory Committee.
MSG 2003
- Kim E Bailey
Graduation date: 2003
Position/Business: Corporate Gerontologist, The Hartford Insurance Company
Job Description: Provides strategic leadership for an advanced mature market knowledge certificate program across multiple Hartford offices countrywide.
- Echo Chang
Graduation date: December 2003
Current position: Associate Coordinator, Gerontology Academic Program, Cal State University, Fullerton.
After getting my MSG from CSUF, I went to USC to pursue a doctoral degree in Gerontology, and received my Ph.D. in May 2008. I have been teaching in CSUF Gero Program and Dept. of Sociology part-time since Jan. 2005. I am very excited to assume the newly created position of Associate Coordinator of CSUF Gero Program, starting August 2008. My primary responsibility including teaching, student advising, representing the Program in the community, developing projects collaborated among employers, the Program, and Gero students, also contributing to university projects related to study of aging.
- Emmy Lin
Graduation date: December 2003
Current Position:
Following my graduation from CSUF, I worked as a Program Coordinator with the Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center (AASCSC) in Santa Ana and coordinated various health and educational programs for Chinese senior citizens in Orange County to enhance their well-being and quality of life. While with AASCSC, I also assisted in numerous grant projects to establish funding for the agency in order to carry out the necessary services for older adults in the Asian American community.
By networking with fellow alumni from the Gerontology program, I landed my next job at South Bay Senior Services (SBSS) in Torrance and worked as a Care Manager to assist frail older adult clients in maintaining their independence at home. My work at SBSS entailed assessing elders’ needs, creating care plans, providing resources to clients and their family or caregivers, supporting older adults through periods of transition, and monitoring services for appropriateness and safety over time.
I am currently a student in the MSW program at USC and am advancing my education in the field of social services. I plan to select mental health as my concentration of interest and continue to have the passion to work with older adult population in the near future.
MSG 2002
- Christina Lynn (Dauterive) Marquez
Graduation date: August 2002
Current position and agency/organization/business you work with: Marine Corps Community Services, Marine Tactical Command Squadron 18, Okinawa Japan; Family Readiness Officer. It is my duty to ensure that families are prepared for the challenges that living the military life creates, so marines are better prepared in life and on the battle field. My husband is in the United States Marines and we are currently stationed in Okinawa Japan until July 2010.
Before arriving on Okinawa, I completed an Administrator in Training program at Alamitos West Healthcare Center a 193 skilled nursing facility under the direction of Jospeh Munoz. I plan to take my Administration test next summer and run a SNF building upon our return to the states in 2010. I also hold an RCFE license from the California Department of Social Services.
Brief description of your assignment: During my AIT program at Alamitos West, we opened an inpatient Hospice program with the help of Companion Hospice. The first of its kind in the Orange County area. I completed 1000 training hours and received my certificate of completion from the California Department of Health. Prior to my AIt program, I had worked in the field of Skilled Nursing for the past five years as a Social Services Director.
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