Skip to site content
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Program

Clinical Dementia Training Series

woman sitting at a cubicle

IHS is offering online training led by experts in aging and dementia. These recorded webinar sessions can help teams learn how to better screen for dementia, find early signs, diagnose, treat, and support ongoing care for American Indian and Alaska Native people. This training series helps health care professionals in IHS, tribal, and urban clinics learn how to identify memory and thinking problems and make a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. It also covers treatment and ongoing care in ways that respect cultural practices and values.

These courses are designed for the following health care disciplines:

  • Primary Care Providers
  • Pharmacy Professionals
  • Nursing
  • Community Health Representatives (CHRs)
  • Behavioral Health Professionals
  • Dentists

Primary Care Providers

Recording Presenter Date (ET)
Primary Care Providers Core Session 1: Detect, Evaluate, and Diagnose Cognitive Symptoms Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Jaqueline Raetz, MD, University of Washington April 9, 2026
Primary Care Providers Core Session 2: Discuss a Diagnosis and Set a Plan Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Jaqueline Raetz, MD, University of Washington April 23, 2026
Primary Care Providers Core Session 3: Managing Dementia as it Progresses Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Jaqueline Raetz, MD, University of Washington
or
Barak Gaster, MD, University of Washington 		April 30, 2026
Common Session: Brief Review of Advances in Medication and Research Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, MD, University of Washington March 30, 2026
Common Session: Communication and Behavioral Approaches Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Washington State University April 22, 2026
Common Session: Cultural Care Training Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Gary Ferguson, ND (Unangax)
Interim Health Director Tulalip Tribes
Mighel Flores, Jr. (Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation)
Substance Abuse Counselor Tucson, Arizona
Amber Hoon, LPN (First Nations)
Tribal Dementia Program Director Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center 		May 8, 2026

Nursing

Recording Presenter Date (ET)
Nurses Core Session 1: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Overview Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Mary Koithan, PhD, RN, CNS-BC, FAAN, University of Washington April 13, 2026
Nurses Core Session 2: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Screening and Diagnosis Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Josh Hamilton, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAANP, Washington State University April 20, 2026
Nurses Core Session 3: Symptom Management Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Mary Koithan, PhD, RN, CNS-BC, FAAN, University of Washington April 27, 2026
Nurses Core Session 4: Principles of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Care Management Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Washington State University
or
Mary Koithan, PhD, RN, CNS-BC, FAAN, University of Washington 		May 4, 2026
Nurses Core Session 5: Care Preventing Late-Stage Adverse Outcomes in People Living with Dementia Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Washington State University May 11, 2026
Common Session: Brief Review of Advances in Medication and Research Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, MD, University of Washington March 30, 2026
Common Session: Communication and Behavioral Approaches Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Washington State University April 22, 2026
Common Session: Cultural Care Training Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Gary Ferguson, ND (Unangax)
Interim Health Director Tulalip Tribes
Mighel Flores, Jr. (Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation)
Substance Abuse Counselor Tucson, Arizona
Amber Hoon, LPN (First Nations)
Tribal Dementia Program Director Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center 		May 8, 2026

Community Health Representatives

Recording Presenter Date (ET)
Community Health Representatives Core Session 1: Introduction to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Alisha Parks Shell, CMA, THW, MBA, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde April 13 , 2026
Community Health Representatives Core Session 2: Person-Centered Care Strategies  Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Alisha Parks Shell, CMA, THW, MBA, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde April 14, 2026
Community Health Representatives Core Session 3: Family and Care Giver Support Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Alisha Parks Shell, CMA, THW, MBA, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde April 20, 2026
Common Session: Communication and Behavioral Approaches Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Washington State University April 22, 2026
Common Session: Cultural Care Training Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Gary Ferguson, ND (Unangax)
Interim Health Director Tulalip Tribes
Mighel Flores, Jr. (Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation)
Substance Abuse Counselor Tucson, Arizona
Amber Hoon, LPN (First Nations)
Tribal Dementia Program Director Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center 		May 8, 2026

Pharmacy Professionals

Recording Presenter Date (ET)
Pharmacy Professionals: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: An Overview for Pharmacists Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Ed Stein, PharmD, MPH, DipACLM, Consulting Pharmacist Modern Health Goals
LT MaryJo Zunic, PharmD, MHA, Quality Assurance Specialist, Pueblo of Jemez 		April 28, 2026
Common Session: Brief Review of Advances in Medication and Research Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, MD, University of Washington March 30, 2026
Common Session: Communication and Behavioral Approaches Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Washington State University April 22, 2026
Common Session: Cultural Care Training Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Gary Ferguson, ND (Unangax)
Interim Health Director Tulalip Tribes
Mighel Flores, Jr. (Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation)
Substance Abuse Counselor Tucson, Arizona
Amber Hoon, LPN (First Nations)
Tribal Dementia Program Director Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center 		May 8, 2026

Behavioral Health Professionals

Recording Presenter Date (ET)
Behavioral Health Specialists: Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Overview for Behavioral Health Specialists Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Michelle Kahn-John, PhD, PMHNP, FAAN (Diné), Johns Hopkins, School of Nursing April 23, 2026
Common Session: Brief Review of Advances in Medication and Research Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, MD, University of Washington March 30, 2026
Common Session: Communication and Behavioral Approaches Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Washington State University April 22, 2026
Common Session: Cultural Care Training Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Gary Ferguson, ND (Unangax)
Interim Health Director Tulalip Tribes
Mighel Flores, Jr. (Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation)
Substance Abuse Counselor Tucson, Arizona
Amber Hoon, LPN (First Nations)
Tribal Dementia Program Director Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center 		May 8, 2026

Dental Professionals

Recording Presenter Date (ET)
Dental Professionals: Oral Health and Dementia: An Overview for Dentists Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Terry Batliner, DDS, MBA (Cherokee Oklahoma), former IHS dentist and Director Pine Ridge Service Unit April 29, 2026
Common Session: Brief Review of Advances in Medication and Research Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Kimiko Domoto-Reilly, MD, University of Washington March 30, 2026
Common Session: Communication and Behavioral Approaches Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Washington State University April 22, 2026
Common Session: Cultural Care Training Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Gary Ferguson, ND (Unangax)
Interim Health Director Tulalip Tribes
Mighel Flores, Jr. (Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation)
Substance Abuse Counselor Tucson, Arizona
Amber Hoon, LPN (First Nations)
Tribal Dementia Program Director Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center 		May 8, 2026