Stephanie Houston, MBA, senior outreach specialist, Department of Medicine and Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute (WAI), has been selected for the 2017 Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter Network Professional Award. 

The honor recognizes an individual who brings to her/his employment a dedication that serves as a model to others in the field. 

Ms. Houston serves at the Milwaukee Regional Office of the WAI, leading the service and comprehensive care components of the institute by providing short-term case management assistance to cognitively impaired and medically underserved African American older adults in Milwaukee County. 

Since joining WAI in 2009, Ms. Houston has been a resource and a service link for minority elders and their families who need proper assessment and diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. In addition, she is a member of the healthcare team at Milwaukee Health Services’ Dementia Diagnostic Clinic.

Ms. Houston routinely conducts interviews and shares information about community resources with with patients, families and caregivers within the clinic. She manages caseloads and provides social work interventions to assure that clients' health, psychosocial, and socioeconomic needs are addressed. Ms. Houston leads a newly-developed lifestyle intervention program that focuses on community members at risk for dementia, and assists in leading the efforts of the PALS (Physical Activity for Life for Seniors) project in Milwaukee for African American seniors.

Going above and beyond, Stephanie has done emergency home visits and connects individuals and family caregivers to community resources for socialization and support.

She is also actively involved in research recruitment and retention of minority participants in Alzheimer’s disease research studies at UW.  

Additionally, Ms. Houston leads the Amazing Grace Chorus, comprised of people with dementia and their caregivers, which aims to improve the quality of life for choir members through socialization, music, education, and service.  

Resources: 

• "Amazing Grace: Singing in chorus helps Alzheimer’s patients," UW News, May 15, 2015