Concierge Health Care Managers

Sheila Kolt, LCSW, CMC

Co-Founder and Co-President

Sheila has been an aging life care professional for over 20 years with specializations in dementia, behavioral health, stroke, spinal cord injuries, oncology, Parkinson’s Disease and multiple sclerosis.

Prior to co-founding Concierge Health, Sheila worked as Director of Care and Relationship Management at Alliance Homecare. She originated and ran the care management department by managing the clinicians and bridging them to a large network of industry professionals. She oversaw and ensured excellence in delivery of quality clinical care. She worked as Director of Resident Services at Brookdale Senior Living, in which she managed care for almost 200 residents. Other employment experience includes Senior Geriatric Care Manager at SeniorBridge and social worker/discharge planner at a private psychiatric hospital, Holliswood Hospital. Additionally, Sheila built and managed all aspects of her part-time psychotherapy private practice.

Sheila has been a member of the Aging Life Care Professional Association since 2008 and served as Treasurer and currently serves as Vice President on the Board of the New York Chapter. She is the 2021 Aging Life Care Association Excellence award recipient for her dedication to the Association and profession through outreach, promotion and service.

Sheila has been a member of the Case Management Society of America since 2014 and served as Executive Director and currently serves as President on the Board of the New York Chapter.

Sheila is a member of The ORION Resource Group, an organization dedicated to ensuring that older adults thrive in the community.

Sheila graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Columbia University with a Master of Social Work.

Sheila is bilingual in Spanish.

Certifications:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): New York, Connecticut and New Jersey
Care Management Certified (CMC), the National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM)
Social Work Field Instructor Certified, Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI)

Dana Reisch, LMSW, CMC

Co-Founder and Co-President

Dana has been an aging life care professional for over 20 years with specializations in dementia, behavioral health, stroke, spinal cord injuries, oncology, Parkinson’s Disease and multiple sclerosis.

Prior to co-founding Concierge Health, Dana originated and ran the Care Management program for Caring People Incorporated. She was responsible for the oversight of patient, family and guardian care management services throughout the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau County, NY. She was also a member of a New York University Medical Center affiliated psychiatry practice, where she conducted psychotherapy, specializing in geriatric patients. Additionally, she has served as an Adjunct Professor at Hunter College’s Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging. Previous employment experience also includes Village Care of New York’s Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (VCRN) and New York-Presbyterian Medical Center’s inpatient geriatric psychiatry program.

Dana is The Director of Education, Outreach and Community Relations for the Aging Life Care Professional Association’s New York Chapter. Additionally, she serves on the organization’s national committee for Corporate Partnerships and Community Outreach. She is a member of both the Case Management Society of America and The ORION Resource Group, organizations dedicated to ensuring that older adults thrive in the community.

Dana received her Master of Social Work from The State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Certifications:

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): New York and Connecticut
Care Management Certified (CMC), the National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM)
Social Work Field Instructor Certified, Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI), Fordham University

Deirdre Buckman, LCSW

Senior Care Manager

Deirdre has worked as a Social Worker in New York City since 2012, providing direct services to older adults in both clinical and community-based settings. Deirdre previously worked for The Carter Burden Network’s Community Elder Mistreatment and Abuse Prevention Program (CEMAPP), where she provided extensive social support and facilitated legal advocacy on behalf of vulnerable, elder residents of Upper Manhattan who were experiencing elder abuse crises. Deirdre also provided focused clinical support to adults with severe, chronic mental health diagnoses as a member of the Woodhull Hospital ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) Team in North Brooklyn. While working with ACT, she collaborated with a multi-disciplinary clinical team to develop treatment plans that reflected client preferences, an often overlooked aspect of care that informs successful health outcomes. Deirdre has also worked for the Bronx VAMC (Veterans Affairs Medical Center), providing case management and social support to Veterans experiencing housing insecurity through the HUD VASH (Housing and Urban Development / Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) program.

Deirdre received her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Social Work degrees from Fordham College at Lincoln Center.

Certifications:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): New York

Andrea Restivo, LMSW, C-ASWCM

Care Manager

Andrea is a licensed seasoned clinician with expertise in psychosocial evaluations and therapeutic interventions. She works in both inpatient acute care and private sector settings.

Andrea completed her Master of Social Work degree from Case Western Reserve University with a summa cum laude distinction and having interned at The Cleveland Clinic.

She started her career at Lenox Hill Hospital and then VNS Health where she is on staff at NYU Langone Medical Center. She was previously the Associate Director of Intake at Alliance Homecare in New York City.

Andrea is experienced in behavioral health, dementia, neurology, hospice, oncology, and pediatrics.

In her spare time, she lectures, writes, and is a member of various non-profit and volunteer organizations.

Certifications:

Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): New York & Connecticut
Post Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Bryn Mawr College
Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager
Certified Dementia Practitioner

Karen Ronan, RN

Care Manager

Karen Ronan has been a nurse for 29 years, and she studied at Salve Regina University in Newport RI for her undergraduate and graduated with a BSN in 1994. She returned to NY and worked at New York University Medical Center for 24 years. Other areas of work included United Health Care and Mamaroneck School District. In addition, she attended the Pace University Family Nurse Practitioner Program in the early 2000s. She holds numerous certifications and awards throughout her career, Her Wound Certification is international, and she also holds a certification in geriatrics from the NYU School of Nursing.

Karen had first-hand experience with a family member becoming handicapped and needing care around the clock care when her own mother suffered a stroke in 2002, She personally took care of her and managed her care while raising three small children and was a Nurse Manager at NYUMC. Today she is working as a Geriatric Care manager ensuring the safety of elders and their support systems.

Michelle Galligan, LMSW

Care Manager

Michelle Galligan began her social work career in 1998 as a community-based Geriatric Care Manager in Los Angeles, California at the Westside Center for Independent Living. In 2000, she graduated from California State University, Long Beach, obtaining her Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Older Adults and Aging. That same year she moved to New York City and started employment at the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens (NYFSC) as their Home Sharing Coordinator; her role supported and advised seniors in maintaining their independence. Soon thereafter she transferred to the role of Director of NYFSC’s Transitional Housing Services, serving older adults and the elderly with medical needs. Most recently Michelle was the Director of the Community Elder Mistreatment and Prevention Program (CEMAPP) at Carter Burden Network, Inc., overseeing and providing case and crisis management as well as clinical support to vulnerable seniors residing in Manhattan.

Certifications:

Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW): New York
Social Work Field Instructor Certified, Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI), Hunter College
Post Graduate Certificate in Spirituality and Social Work, New York University

Jessie Shapiro, LMSW

Care Manager

Jessie is a licensed social worker in New York and New Jersey, proficient in working with adults and older adults specifically within community-based settings. Jessie graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Columbia School of School Work with an MSW focus in Advanced Clinical Practice as well as Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities. Jessie was a member of Columbia’s Evidence Based Practice Program for Severe Mental Health Disorders under the NY Office of Mental Health. At the University of Michigan, Jessie volunteered with the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline, Michigan, where Jessie visited criminal defendants adjudicated incompetent to stand trial or acquitted NGRI by the Michigan court system.

Since starting her social work career, Jessie has had experience in geriatrics working at Tompkins Park Senior Center in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, where Jessie offered on-site support to seniors. Jessie provided psychotherapy to seniors and families, developed treatment plans for clients with dementia and Alzheimer’s, assisted with government benefits, healthcare, and other case management services, and lead regular group therapies for community members. Jessie has also worked on an ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) team, a multi-disciplinary approach that provides community-based intensive outpatient care to adults with serious mental illness. Jessie’s experience in providing treatment to 68 clients at a time on the ACT team has offered her skillful insight into person-centered treatment planning and assessments, NYC’s housing systems, adult day programs, insurance, and the coordination of complex medical and psychiatric services.

Certifications:

Licensed Master Social Worker (New York & New Jersey)

Karen Katter, MPA, CSA

Care Manager

Karen is a health care and insurance professional with more than 25 years of experience in the fields of care management, in-home care and long-term care services. Her primary expertise is in coordinating and managing Medicare, managed care benefits and Medicaid.

At VNS Health, she developed several Medicare, commercial insurance policies, including Managed Medicare and Medicaid health plans and implemented strategies to provide care in the home. Karen then led a national network of in-home care managers at Humana Inc. enabling a significant number of chronically ill members to remain at home. As the Chief Operating Officer of eFamilyCare, a digital health start- up company, Karen helped to empower the family caregiver and transformed the way care is delivered and managed in the home. As a family caregiver herself, Karen knows that caregivers are often vital participants in making decisions that impact the client. She continues to develop innovative approaches to help people live their best lives possible and deliver quality care in the home and other settings.

She is a professional member of the Aging Life Care Association. Karen is also the co-lead for the Westchester division of AARP and is a member of Women Business Leaders in Health Care.

Karen graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and New York University with a Master of Public Administration concentrating in Health Policy and Management.

Certifications:

Certified Senior Adviser

Illese Forgang, LCSW, C-ASWCM

Care Manager

Illese is a licensed social worker in New York and Connecticut with over 35 years of experience pursuing her passion of enhancing the lives of older adults and supporting caregivers.

She has worked in various settings, including Mount Sinai Medical Center and The New Jewish Home, where she provided care management services to older adults and individuals with acute and chronic conditions. Her work included conducting assessments, developing treatment plans, coordinating care, and offering emotional support to older adults and their families during difficult transitions.

As Director of Partnership for Eldercare, a New York City Department of Aging program for employee caregivers of major corporations (American Express, Con Edison, AIG, and Phillip Morris), she supervised a team of social workers providing eldercare services to help employees achieve work/life balance.

Inspired by these experiences, Illese founded CaringConnections, a geriatric care management business in New York City and Westchester. After 25 years, CaringConnections merged with Solutions at Home, where she continued her work in care management.

Most recently, her interest in eldercare innovation and dedication to caregivers led her to become a Senior Care Adviser for eFamilyCare, a digital platform that equipped caregivers with resources to provide effective care while prioritizing their own health and well-being.

Illese is also a Certified Dementia Care Partner and specializes in supporting individuals with dementia and their families. She trains caregivers to understand and effectively manage challenging behaviors.

Certifications:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): Connecticut
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW): New York
Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager
Certified Dementia Partner
Advanced Care Planning Facilitator

Julia Hollander Campbell

Director of Marketing & Business Development

Julia has worked in the field of elder care and aging for nearly 15 years with a strong network and reputation among health, financial, and legal professionals. She has a track record of results-driving, effective leadership and a compassionate understanding of the trials and tribulations families navigating elder care face.

Prior to joining Concierge Health, Julia’s deep healthcare, business and financial experience includes serving as Vice President of Professional Relationships & Business Development with Alliance Homecare, Director of Professional Relations with SeniorBridge, and over 25 years as an owner of Corporate Security Resources, Inc., an investigative and security firm serving high net worth individuals and businesses. Previous to that, Julia enjoyed a career in financial services with BNY Mellon’s Private Banking Group, Irving Trust Company and KPMG.

Julia’s experience with chronic disease, caregiving and aging also includes over two decades as a member and mentor of Alzheimer’s caregiver and grief support groups. She is an active member of the Orion Resource Group, an organization dedicated to ensuring that older adults thrive in society, currently serves as a chapter lead for the Modern Elder Academy Metro NY Alumni Group and has participated in community service roles as a Governance Board Director of the Financial Women’s Association of New York.

Julia has been certified as a Fraud Examiner, attended Vassar College and is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.