Debbie Allen is one of the primary part-time faculty for the Emergency Medical Science program at Johnson County Community College, teaching EMS 121, Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, and its CPR counterpart in Continuing Education. Ms. Allen has been a part of the JCCC EMS program for over 30 years as a lab technician and professor.
Ms. Allen is a 1983 graduate of the JCCC Emergency Medical Technician program and has worked in the field for the Mission Fire Department. She is also certified as an OSHA Safety and Health Specialist.
Brandy Archie, OTD, OTR/L, CLIPP, CLVT, received her doctorate in occupational therapy from Creighton University. She is certified in both Living in Place and Low Vision Therapy. Dr. Archie has over 12 years of experience in home health and elder focused practice settings. She is currently the founding director of AccessAble Living, a company whose mission is to connect people with the resources and equipment necessary to keep elders living safely in their homes.
Regina Bailey is a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus. She received her Bachelor's in Respiratory Care from Independence University, Summa Cum Laude. She has also completed the AARC's Smoking cessation guide for Health Professionals.
Sam Boyajian earned a degree in pharmacy from the University of Kansas over 30 years ago and operated his own community pharmacy for over 20 years. He has been active, both at the state and local level in promoting vaccinations to the public by serving on many boards and lobbying, both in Topeka and Washington, advocating for immunization promotion and legislation. He has also assisted as a faculty member for the KU School of Pharmacy in training for pharmacists' certification in immunizations.
Jeff David, CPCU, LUTCF has been an insurance professional since 1987 and has operated his own agency since 1993. As a broker, Jeff is an authorized agent for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Golden Rule, Humana, Aetna, Coventry and United Health Care. Jeff shares his knowledge throughout the area by offering Community Education Classes about the Affordable Care Act and Medicare Insurances at UMKC, Johnson County Community College, eight local school districts and several healthcare centers.
Heather Epps, Pharm.D. has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist, with a background in pharmacy benefit management, retail pharmacy, and medication cost management. Dr. Epps utilizes these experiences to educate both the general public and healthcare professionals on pharmacy benefit optimization, and health literacy.
Janalea Hoffman is a music therapist and entrepreneur. She is the president of Rhythmic Medicine, a training and consulting firm that offers seminars on music, imagery and creativity throughout the United States.
Saeed Jalilpoor has more than 30 years of experience in Health care leadership in hospitals, including Neonatal Intensive Care, Trauma and Neonate Transport programs. Saeed has served as Director of Respiratory, Neurology Departments and Sleep Disorder Center at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Pam Johnson is a retired Pediatrician who was diagnosed with a degenerative neuromuscular disease in 2000. Her struggles led to dietary changes that brought her out of a wheelchair and gave her back her life. She teaches from her medical background and personal passion for health and wellness.
Sally King, LCSW has worked in the field of community and emergency mental health with adults and seniors since 2001. Sally is now in private practice and is a frequent presenter on topics related to aging and mental health issues.
Sandra Lane, Ph.D., D.C. received her Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College, a Doctoral degree in Health Education with a concentration in Sports Medicine at Columbia Pacific University in California and is certified by the National Athletic Trainer's Assoc. in Texas and the Sports Massage Training Institute in California. Dr. Lane has been the co-owner of New England Chiropractic here in Kansas City for the past 12 years.
Jim LeCluyse is a licensed clinical social worker in both Kansas and Missouri, as well as a Master Addiction Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor. He has worked in the substance abuse and mental health fields since 1998. In his private practice his focus is on helping clients who struggle with chronic anxiety, depression or substance abuse using Mindfulness-based interventions (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy).
Janet Lockridge has a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration and Certification in Community Health Executive Fellowship from the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is a seasoned healthcare facilities operations manager.
Sharon Lowenstein Poisner, J.D., Ph.D. is a mediator, mentor and motivator who provides easy and practical suggestions guaranteed to stimulate new thinking and encourage new habits. She provides insight and up-to-date research on pertinent topics on aging with humor and wisdom.
Therese McKechnie, LSCSW is currently in private practice, specializing in grief and loss, addictions and co-dependency, family life stresses and transitions, care giving for aging relatives and personal growth. She is a frequent workshop and seminar presenter. Therese teaches Grief and Loss in the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas.
Rachelle Morgan, MA, MT-BC has been a board-certified music therapist since 2004 and is the founder of Soundscaping Source, which serves older adults throughout the Kansas City area. Rachelle is on faculty at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, is a frequent presenter at music therapy conferences, and is in demand as a speaker, consultant, and staff trainer on topics related to music and eldercare.
Amy Nichols, DPT specializes in neurological conditions, treatment and education at Olathe Medical Center. Outside of Olathe Medical, she stays connected and current through actively teaching, including courses for both the KPTA and Johnson County Community College, focused on MS, Stroke, TBI, exercise and concussion. She was named the KUMC PT clinical instructor of the year in 2017 and is a clinical instructor each semester for KU’s 2nd year DPT students. Amy serves on the KPTA research committee, the Olathe Medical Center library committee and the JCCC continuing education advisory board. She has presented findings from her own research on MS and exercise. Amy holds a Biology degree from Pittsburg State University (2004) and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Kansas (2007).
Novella Perrin, Ph.D. is retired professor of sociology, assistant provost for research and dean of the graduate school at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo. She is the past president of the Missouri Board of Nursing Home Administrators. She is a popular workshop presenter and the author of numerous professional articles and books covering a wide range of topics. Funny, articulate and passionate about issues relating to aging, she brings wit and wisdom to her presentations.
Clara Sainte, LCSW, LSCSW is the Program Director with Gilda's Club Kansas City (GCKC). Clara previously worked for NorthCare Hospice as a social worker and bereavement specialist.
Currently, Clara is a board member of Mental Health America of the Heartland, as well as a member of Kansas Cancer Partnership and Missouri Cancer Consortium. She is a trained Grief Recovery Specialist and Open to Options Specialist. She is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State and UMKC for her Master’s in Social Work.
Joyce Schmitz has worked in cardiology for over 20 years. She holds a Master’s Degree from Kansas State University in Exercise Physiology. She is certified as an Inclusive Personnel Trainer and an Exercise Test Technologist from the American College of Sports Medicine. Joyce has been an instructor at JCCC since 2008.
Penny Shaffer, RN, MA has specialized in the care of geriatric mental health for over 25 years. She has served as Program Director for Health and Human Services at JCCC and is a local and national speaker in topics on dementia, depression, aging successfully and grief and loss issues related to the aging process. She continues to speak and consult in the community.
Jeanette Shumaker earned her bachelor's degree in Bogota, Colombia and has taught Spanish and cross-cultural skills for over 15 years. She is a certified Command Spanish instructor and brings insight and enthusiasm to all her classes.
Jyoti (Jo) Valluri, RN, BSN, MS. Ed is an adjunct clinical instructor at JCCC's Health Occupation program. She is pursuing her doctoral studies in nursing, with focus on meditation as a self-care concept for nurses experiencing chronic stress, and, on effective teaching strategies to instill confidence in Practical Nursing students. She holds several certifications in holistic nursing and is a certified meditation teacher passionate about teaching this tool it to all who seek it.
Katie Vena has her dual master's degree in school and professional counseling. She is also a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist. She has experience working with children and teenagers in a variety of settings including home based therapies with autism, residential substance abuse and social emotional wellness in elementary and middle schools.
John C. Wade, Ph.D. is a professor of psychology and the program director of the clinical psychology program at Emporia State University. He is co-author of Strength-Based Supervision: Applying Positive Psychology to Clinical Training and Supervision, and Positive Psychology on the College Campus.
Candace Webb-Cohen, LSW, MBA, LAC, LACHA received a master’s degree in social work from Washburn University and a master’s degree in business administration from Baker College in Flint, Michigan. She has been a Social Service Director and Administrator in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.
Judy Zinn, ACSW is founder of the Plaza Performance Group, a training and consulting firm in Overland Park. In addition to teaching workshops and seminars throughout the nation, she is a frequent presenter at JCCC. She is the author of several self-paced CE courses. Zinn brings humor and creativity along with solid information to all her training sessions.
Scholarships and other funding options are available for some Continuing Education courses.