Past Speaker

Diane Viera, DrPH

Seminar Title: Elder Abuse

Presentation Date: 5/22/2026

Presentation Time: 11:00 AM

Seminar Details: Diane E. Newman, DrPH, CHES, is a senior public health leader with over 20 years of experience in designing and evaluating community health, workforce development, and health education initiatives. Currently serving as both a Grant Administrator and the Director of the Neighborhood Wellness Center at Azusa Pacific University, she has led the development of more than 60 grant-funded projects totaling over $100 million. Her expertise lies in translating research into impactful programming, evidenced by her creation of the Street Medicine & Homeless Healthcare Certificate Program and her work on culturally responsive curricula for violence prevention. A graduate of Claremont Graduate University with a Doctorate in Public Health, Dr. Newman is a Certified Health Education Specialist who maintains active leadership roles in organizations such as the American Public Health Association and the Academy on Violence and Abuse.

Speaker Bio: Kristin Rigsbee is the Education and Outreach Specialist for the County of San Diego Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. She received her B.S in Psychology from Appalachian State University in Boone North Carolina. She has worked for the past 25 years in the long-term care facilities in San Diego County. She has worked for 20 years as a case manager/social worker in several skilled nursing facilities. She has also worked for 5 years as the Memory Care Director in assisted living. She has held her RCFE Administrators License while working in assisted living. Prior to coming to the Ombudsman Program, she worked as a care coordinator for an Elder Law Attorney. In 2014 she came to the Ombudsman Program in the position as the North Coastal Regional Coordinator. 6 months later she was moved to her current position in Outreach and Education. In 2017 she received the “Tools of the Trade” award from the California Long Term Care Ombudsman Association for innovation and excellence in training. She continues to recruit all volunteers as well as provide the state certification training for new Ombudsman, and all community and facility training regarding elder issues and mandated reporting.

Seminar Objectives:

• Participants will be able to define elder abuse as intentional or negligent acts within a relationship of trust and differentiate between its various forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, financial, neglect, and abandonment.
• Participants will analyze the epidemiology of elder abuse, recognizing that while approximately 1 in 6 older adults experience abuse globally, only an estimated 4% to 5% of cases are actually reported.
• Participants will identify key risk factors that contribute to elder abuse, such as social isolation, cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia), caregiver burnout, and financial dependency.
• Participants will learn to detect physical and behavioral indicators of abuse, including injuries inconsistent with explanations, frequent ER visits, sudden changes in legal or financial documents, and unmet basic needs.
• Participants will outline the responsibilities of healthcare providers, which include routine screening, thorough documentation, and adherence to state-specific mandatory reporting laws.
• Participants will be able to apply trauma-informed care principles—such as ensuring safety, empowering autonomy, and avoiding re-traumatization—while utilizing prevention strategies like caregiver support programs and multidisciplinary intervention teams.

Past Speaker

Tami Borneman, MSN

Seminar Title: Caring for Patients & Caregivers Facing Uncertainty

Presentation Date: 5/29/2026

Presentation Time: 11:00 AM

Seminar Details: This presentation provides a comprehensive exploration of the psychological and spiritual challenges faced by patients with life-limiting illnesses and their family caregivers. The presentation aims to help nurses understand how uncertainty often manifests as “denial,” emphasizing that denial and hope can coexist as valid coping mechanisms rather than just obstacles to care. By integrating research findings on spirituality and quality of life, the material highlights the critical importance of holistic assessment and spiritual well-being in mitigating distress. Ultimately, it offers practical nursing interventions—such as active listening, emotional presence, and self-awareness—to help healthcare professionals more effectively support those navigating the “blindsiding” reality of a catastrophic diagnosis.

Speaker Bio: Tami has a broad background in palliative care, quality of life (QOL), symptom management, spirituality, and end of life, both in the hospital setting and in the home environment over the past 32 years working for Dr. Betty Ferrell at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, CA. She was the Project Director for several NCI funded R01 studies as well as for a P01 study. All of their research involved addressing QOL and Tami has extensive experience in providing interventional education to patients with advanced cancer, their caregivers, and nurses. She also worked for two years at the Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center as a research specialist/palliative care nurse educator in the palliative care program. While there, Tami served as Chair of the palliative care team for the DC Cancer Coalition. She has presented both nationally and internationally and has authored/coauthored over 60 peer reviewed publications as well as several chapters and monographs. Tami served as editor for the Core Curriculum for the Hospice and Palliative Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse and Study Guide and most recently, as editor of the APRN-NA Scope and Standards (2026). In 2009 Tami was inducted as a Fellow of Palliative Care Nursing. She is also a reviewer for several peer reviewed journals for oncology, palliative care, hospice, and supportive care. Tami is now retired as of August 2025 and has her own business, Clinical Research & Editing Consultation helping others with their career goals.

Seminar Objectives:

• Identify and describe the primary challenges and concerns that patients and family caregivers face when navigating medical uncertainty.
• Describe the specific issues nurses encounter when working with patients or caregivers who are assessed as being in “denial” while facing uncertainty.
• Discuss the ways in which denial and hope can coexist within a patient’s or caregiver’s experience.
• Explain the importance of assessing patient and family spirituality as a critical component for addressing uncertainty and providing holistic care.
• Discuss key findings from various research studies and qualitative literature regarding the pervasive nature of uncertainty in palliative care.
• Identify practical ways nurses can increase their own comfort levels and improve their interactions with patients and family caregivers who are experiencing uncertainty and “denial”.

Past Speaker

J. Howard Shane, M.D., CMD

Seminar Title: Acute Level Care at Home

Presentation Date: 5/15/2025

Presentation Time: 04:00 PM

Seminar Details:

Speaker Bio: Dr. J. Howard Shane, MD, CMD is a board-certified internist with over 20 years of experience in acute and post-acute care. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch and has held leadership roles across multiple healthcare settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and hospice programs. He holds certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine and AMDA—The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. His clinical expertise includes managing complex chronic conditions such as heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes.