Dr. Donna de Levante Raphael is a gerontologist, social and behavioral public health scientist, whose work focuses on dementia, brain health, caregiving, and health equity across the lifespan. She is the director of research at the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) in NYC. Her scholarship and applied research address early detection of cognitive impairment, neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, caregiver health outcomes, and systems-level preparedness for an aging population, with an emphasis on underserved communities. Her work bridges research, policy, and practice, translating scientific evidence into real world interventions for families, healthcare systems, workplaces, and communities. Dr. de Levante Raphael received her PhD in gerontology, and global public health and has held senior leadership, research, and program development roles within national nonprofit and community-based organizations dedicated to Alzheimer’s disease and brain health. She is well-published in peer-reviewed scientific and public health journals and is an invited speaker at professional, academic, and community conferences. Dr. de Levante Raphael serves on editorial boards and contributes to scholarly peer review in aging- and dementia-related fields. She is deeply committed to advocacy, community outreach and education, for people living with dementia and their caregivers, and she is dedicated to advancing equitable, compassionate, science-driven approaches to brain health and aging.
Dr. Lora Kasselman obtained her PhD in Psychology at the City University of New York, Graduate Center, in New York in 2006. In 2015, she began working at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island as an associate research scientist and in 2019 became an assistant professor of foundations of medicine at the NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. She obtained her MPH in biostatistics and epidemiology from the City University of New York, Graduate School of Public Health in 2020. Dr. Kasselman's research focuses on gut microbiome/probiotics and cognition in health and disease. She is now Research Biostatistician at the Research Institute, Hackensack Meridian Health, and continues to publish with Dr. Reiss and Dr. Rauchman.
Luke Betlow is a freshman at Duke University with plans to pursue a double major in Neuroscience and Economics. His academic interests lie at the intersection of neurodegenerative disease, health systems, and economic decision-making, with a particular focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Luke previously served as a Summer Research Intern with the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, where he conducted investigative work examining the biopsychosocial impact of dementia on spousal caregivers. His research experience also includes work in neuroscience and neuroethics through programming at Georgetown University, where he contributed to scholarship on terminal lucidity and late-stage dementia phenomena. In addition to his research background, Luke has held leadership and governance roles in healthcare philanthropy. He served as a Junior Board Member at Overlook Medical Center where he supported institutional fundraising and community health initiatives, contributing to efforts that raised significant funding for critical care and cardiology services. He has also volunteered for advocacy on national legislation supporting federal Alzheimer’s-related health policies through the Alzheimer's Association. Luke intends to continue integrating neuroscience, public policy, and economic analysis to better understand the societal and financial burden of neurodegenerative disease and to advance more effective care delivery and therapeutic innovation.
Joshua De Leon, M.D., is a board-certified cardiologist and a physician/scientist with 20 years of involvement in academic cardiology and extensive experience in clinical research. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Long Island School of Medicine. After completing a fellowship in clinical and molecular cardiology at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he went on to clinical work treating patients with all aspects of cardiovascular disease, focusing on treatment of acute coronary syndromes. With a background in molecular genetics, his research efforts are directed toward understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying atherogenesis. He has participated as a site investigator for multiple clinical trials addressing acute coronary syndromes. His research includes extensive collaboration with Dr. Allison Reiss. They have worked together on cardiovascular issues in obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and lupus over the past several years. Their work has been highly productive and led to multiple publications. Dr. De Leon has a broad background in lipid and cholesterol metabolism that he is applying in our studies of Alzheimer’s disease. He is a Fellow of the American Federation for Medical Research (FAFMR) and Associate Editor of the Journal of Investigative Medicine.
Allison B. Reiss, M.D., is an American Board of Internal Medicine certified internal medicine physician and molecular biologist who studies the causes and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive impairment. Her research is directed toward finding effective therapies for these disease states. She received her M.D. from SUNY Downstate and completed her Internal Medicine Residency at UMDNJ Rutgers. She is Head of the Inflammation Laboratory and Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. She has authored numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals on Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury and cognitive health. Dr. Reiss is a member of the Medical, Scientific & Memory Screening Advisory Board of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. She has chaired symposia at national and international conferences. Dr. Reiss is Section Editor-in-Chief of Neurology for the journal Medicina and Specialty Chief Editor of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias for the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Investigative Medicine and Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine. She has appeared on TV, podcasts and radio as a recognized expert in her field. She has a passion for community outreach and is dedicated to improving healthcare, especially for older populations.
