Susan welcomes Nancy Feingold, someone with over 40 years experience working in the fields of special education, behavioral disabilities and psychotherapy. She established mental health services in a traditional medical setting (the Quisling Clinic in 1976 and had a full-time practice until its close in 1996). She joined a psychotherapy group, Counseling and Psychotherapy Services, where she worked until she retired in 2008. She spends much of her time with her husband, children and grandchildren, enjoying the process of living.

Susan welcomes Dr. Art Walaszek, a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Walaszek is Vice Chair for Education and Faculty Development in the Department of Psychiatry. He is past president of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT), and currently serves on the Psychiatry Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). His research focuses on public health approaches to improving the care of people with dementia. Dr. Walaszek works with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where he is Co-Leader of the Outreach, Recruitment and Education Core, and with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, where he leads the Public Health Pillar. Dr. Walaszek provides care to older adults with depression, anxiety, dementia and other mental health conditions, and teaches others to do the same.

Susan welcomes Dr. Cynthia Carlsson, the Director & Geriatrician at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. She treats veterans with dementia and memory issues and is the Clinical Core leader and a co-leader for the Biomarker Core in the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. She also serves as director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute.

Susan welcomes Gina Green-Harris, the beloved Director of the Milwaukee Chapter of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute. Gina is a powerhouse of energy and optimism! You won’t want to miss this chance to experience Gina’s magic!

Since 1988, Matt Lepay has been the radio voice for the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team, and since 1994, the voice of the Wisconsin Badgers football team. Legions of sports fans have relied on his knowledge of the game, his energy, and clarity of vision for accurate representation of what was happening on the field or the court.

From Rose Bowls to Final Fours, the Ohio native has called it all for Wisconsin Athletics, but a call of a different type back in 2017 had the biggest impact on Matt.

While preparing for a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Yankees, he received the call that his mother had passed away after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

“When I got the call she had passed, I was with the Brewers on a trip to New York,” Lepay says. “I’m sitting in the booth at Yankee Stadium. I wasn’t shocked by the news but it still hit like a ton of bricks.”

A disease that has affected so many Americans took its toll on Matt’s family as well, most notably his father. “Devastating. Absolutely devastating. There’s that old line you know, ‘Can you die of a broken heart? I believe you can, and I believe he did,” he said.

Matt’s father died three months before his mom passed away.

“That was his life partner and his life partner was dying. That was just something he could never overcome.”

Almost three years later Matt is now using his voice to help prevent other families from going through the same suffering by promoting UW Health’s research toward a solution for the disease as the voice of memoriesmatteruw.org.

Whether being the voice of UW’s Alzheimer’s Disease research center, or being a part of the frontlines of research, Matt perfectly put the end goal for all those involved in this mission.

“Buzzer beaters are great. Last second touchdowns, walk off homeruns. This would top all of that. I’ll say when, not if. When they can come up with an answer [to Alzheimer’s disease] that will be the greatest victory of all.”

This is a quick introduction to Compassion Chats with Author Susan A. Marshall. This is a podcast dedicated to bringing resources to caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's disease and dementia and welcoming all who are tasked with caring for loved ones with prolonged diseases. Hear from a variety of guests that include health care professionals, experts, celebrities and people who have valuable lessons to share after experiencing this with their own family members. Thanks for listening!