David B. Reuben, MD - Program Director
Dr. Reuben is Director, Multicampus Program in Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology and Chief, Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Health Sciences. He is the Archstone Foundation Chair and Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Director of the UCLA Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center and the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care program.
He sustains professional interests in clinical care, education, research and administrative aspects of geriatrics, maintaining a clinical primary care practice of frail older persons and attending on inpatient and geriatric psychiatry units at UCLA.His bibliography includes more than 190 peer-reviewed publications in medical journals, 33 books and numerous chapters. He is lead author of the widely distributed book, Geriatrics at Your Fingertips.
Dr. Reuben is a past President of the American Geriatrics Society and the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs. He served for 11 years on the Geriatrics Test Writing Committee for the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and for 8 years on the ABIM's Board of Directors, including as Chair from 2010-2011.
Zaldy S. Tan, MD - Lead Physician
Dr. Zaldy S. Tan is the Lead Physician of the UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program and Associate Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles. He is the Director and Principal Investigator for the UCLA California Geriatric Education Center.
Dr. Tan is a clinician, researcher and educator. He maintains clinical practices on memory disorders evaluation and primary care, and attends on the inpatient and geriatric psychiatry units at UCLA. He performs dementia researcher at the Framingham Heart Study and the UCLA Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research. His studies on brain aging and memory have been published in major medical journals and featured in the New York Times, Time, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and other national publications. Prior to coming to UCLA, Dr. Tan was on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, where he was director of the physical diagnosis course and for medical education at the Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Aging and the VA Boston Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center.
As the Medical Director of UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Care, Dr. Tan supports the program’s dementia care specialists as they put together comprehensive, effective and timely care plans and work with referring physicians to help patients, families, and caregivers attain their treatment and personal goals.
Leslie C. Evertson, GNP - Dementia Care Specialist
Leslie Evertson graduated from California State University Sonoma with a B.S. Degree in Nursing, Certificate in Gerontology and a Minor in Biology in 1998. She worked as a Registered Nurse in a variety of specialties, including Bone Marrow Transplant, Medical/Surgical Oncology and Intensive Care. She graduated from University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences in December of 2005 with a Master of Science in Nursing as an Adult/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialist. She has worked as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with Valley Geriatric Medical Group in Sherman Oaks, the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, West Los Angeles Nursing Home Care Unit, and the California State Veterans Home -West Los Angeles in the RCFE. At present she has a position in UCLA Geriatrics as the Lead Dementia Care Specialists/Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program. Leslie is married and has two children and currently resides in Simi Valley, California.
Michelle Panlilio, GNP - Dementia Care Specialist
Michelle Panlilio graduated from Mount St. Mary’s College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in 2001. While working as a Registered Nurse at UCLA Medical Hospital, she attended school at UCLA and finished with her Master’s Degree in Nursing as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner in 2005. Since graduation, Michelle has had experience in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Dermatology, and clinical research trials about Alzheimer’s Disease. She currently holds a position at UCLA in the Department of Geriatrics as a Nurse Practitioner and Care Specialist. Michelle is married to her high school sweetheart Paolo, and they have two daughters Isabella and Noa. They currently reside in Woodland Hills, CA.
Ynez Tongson - Dementia Care Assistant
Ynez Tongson is a Dementia Care Assistant with UCLA's Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program. Ynez received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with an emphasis on community psychology from CSU Long Beach. She has over 7 years of experience working with at-risk/high-risk populations at the prevention and intervention stages, and has been certified in group facilitation and crisis management. Her passions include the improvement of quality of life and advocating for culturally competent care. Ynez likes cute things and food, separately, and oftentimes, together.
Marlene Lozano - Dementia Care Assistant
Marlene Lozano joined UCLA four years ago with the goal to provide the best customer service, support, and care to each person that she meet. Her compassionate and caring personality, contribute to her ability in making a difference in those lives that she touches. As in her previous role as a Physician Support Representative and her long medical involvement with patient care, Marlene finds it truly rewarding that she is able to play an integral role in providing comfort and security at times when patients and families are most vulnerable. As a Dementia Care Assistant, Marlene is delighted to continue her career path and provide all the care and resources within her reach for a better quality of life of all patients.
Andrea Centeno - Dementia Care Assistant
Andrea Centeno has always been passionate about working with older adults. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Gerontology from Mount St. Mary's University and is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Health Policy and Management. Andrea has experience working with various service populations, ranging from older adults to active duty military personnel. Her main goal is to improve quality of care for patients and to provide assistance anywhere she can. In her free time, Andrea enjoys hiking, playing with her dogs, and trying new restaurants.
