Led by founder Mike T. Zuendel, the Initiative to Change the “D-Word” unites a coalition of multidisciplinary stakeholders from patient advocacy, professional societies, industry, and policymakers to eliminate the words “dementia/demented” to reduce stigma and increase accuracy around cognitive impairment.
Our Team
Mike T. Zuendel
Mike T. Zuendel is a Des Moines, Iowa native who has found a passion in advocating for a better life and hope for those with Alzheimer’s disease. Mike graduated from the University of Iowa and completed post-doctorate training in pediatric dentistry at The Ohio State University.
With a family history of Alzheimer’s disease — and as a caretaker for his parents, who died from Alzheimer’s — Mike proactively sought out early detection, patient-centered treatment and positions of advocacy. In 2020, at the age of 66, Mike was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.
His story is one of practicality, courage, and the strength to see through a new era of treatment in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
He served on the National Early-Stage Advisors Group of the Alzheimer’s Association, selected for the Global Neuroscience Patient Council, Champion for the Voices of Alzheimer’s organization, and sits on the Alzheimer’s Patient Advisory Board of the Center for Study on Clinical Research Participation. Mike also serves on the Board of Directors of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute Foundation.
Mike is the Founder and CEO of Legacy Bridge Private Family Offices located in Des Moines, IA, New York, NY, and Telluride, CO.
Mike and his wife, Brooks, divide their time among Des Moines, IA, Telluride, CO, and Newport Beach, CA. They have five adult children and enjoy skiing, Baja off-road racing, paddle boarding, traveling, and finding gratitude in everyday life.
Interested in having Mike speak at your event?
If you'd like Mike to speak at an upcoming conference or event, please reach out to mike@changethedword.com for more information and availability.
Advisory Council
Eric Reiman, MD
Executive Director, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
Dr. Reiman is Executive Director of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Chief Executive Officer of Banner Research, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona, University Professor of Neuroscience at Arizona State University, Senior Scientist at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Director of the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, a leader of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative (API), co-founder of ALZPath, and Chairman of the Flinn Foundation Board of Directors. A psychiatrist and brain imaging researcher by background, his interests include brain imaging, blood-based biomarker, APOE and genomics research, the unusually early detection, tracking, and study of Alzheimer’s and related diseases, the accelerated evaluation of Alzheimer’s prevention therapies, and new models of research collaboration and clinical care. He is an author of >700 publications, a principal investigator of several large NIH grants, other grants, and contracts, a former member of NIA Council, and a recipient of the Potamkin Prize.
Phyllis Ferrell, DrPH, MBA
Advisor, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC)
Phyllis Ferrell is an innovator, investor, and incubator for longevity. She is passionate about brain health, and committed to creating a world that allows our global aging population and economies to thrive. After three decades as a life sciences executive at Eli Lilly & Company, Phyllis retired from the pharmaceutical business and is now working with for-profit and non-profit investors to transform health systems around the world. She loves tackling tough problems with great people and leads cross-functional teams with care and candor.
At Lilly, Phyllis held many leadership roles throughout the organization including in medical affairs, medical development, commercial capabilities, sales, marketing, recruiting, business development, strategy, transformation, and Six Sigma. In 2011, Phyllis took on the leadership role for the late-stage Alzheimer’s therapeutic and diagnosis assets in Lilly’s pipeline. Since that moment, she has been a relentless advocate for the patients living with the disease and those that love them.
In 2020, Phyllis was placed as an executive-on-loan to the World Economic Forum-commissioned Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC), where she has served as the visionary and leader of the Healthcare System Preparedness program. DAC is a global multi-stakeholder partnership of organizations aimed at mobilizing the world against Alzheimer’s disease, with the specific focus of ensuring that health systems are prepared to embrace innovation and better care for our global aging population.
Phyllis has a BA in Economics from DePauw University, an MBA from Stanford University, and a DrPH from Indiana University. Phyllis is a current member of the World Dementia Council, an advisory committee member of the Milken Institute Center for Future of Aging and the USC Clinical Trial Recruiting Laboratory, and will remain an advisor for the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative. Phyllis is also on the Boards of Directors for the DePauw School of Business and Leadership, the Stanford Business School Fund, Gates Ventures Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative, the Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Indianapolis 500 Festival. Phyllis is a founding member of Women Against Alzheimer’s and Women of Impact Boone County; co-chair of the Women’s Leadership Council and the alumna sponsor of the Women in Economics and Business Program at DePauw University. Phyllis is passionate about Alzheimer’s advocacy and brain health so that other boys don’t have to grow up without their grandfathers’ presence as her sons did.
Meryl Comer
Founding Board Member, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s
Meryl Comer is a Co-Founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer's; WomenAgainstAlzheimer's; UsAgainstAlzheimer's representative of the Global BBP BrainTrust; Vice Chairperson, WHAM (Women’s Health Access Matters).
For more than a decade (2007-2019), Meryl served as President and CEO of the Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer's Initiative, a catalyst funder targeting early diagnosis through spirited public engagement campaigns, early assessment technologies, support of the first “virtual registry”, and pre-clinical AD research to modify disease risk. She served on the NIH National Advisory Council on Aging (NACA) from Sept 2018-Jan 2022. In 2012, she led the formation of the 21st Century BrainTrust® (21CBT), a non-profit partnership to advance mobile health technologies and brain health. Comer was also Co-Principal Investigator for the PCORI Alzheimer's Patient/Caregiver Research Network in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, UCSF's Brain Health Registry, and UsAgainstAlzheimer's. In 2009, she served on the bi-partisan Alzheimer's Study Group, charged with presenting a National Strategic Plan to Congress. A former veteran broadcast journalist, 100% of Meryl Comer’s New York Times bestseller, “Slow Dancing with a Stranger” (HarperCollins), supports Alzheimer’s research.
Marvell Adams, Jr.
CEO, Caregiver Action Network
Marvell Adams Jr. is a highly skilled advocate, educator, and leader. He has a lifelong commitment to serving caregivers, marginalized communities, and older adults. He is the CEO of Caregiver Action Network.
Marvell has shown dedication to serving caregivers since high school. He became fascinated with Alzheimer’s disease while completing a biology report. He pursued his education at the College of Charleston, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Marvell later obtained a Master of Healthcare Administration specializing in Aging Services from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
Throughout his 20+ year career, Marvell has committed to serving caregivers and older adults. His experience includes diverse environments such as highly regulated residential care. He also focused on process improvement in primary, acute, and post-acute care within the $4 billion University of Rochester and URMC System. He also served as CEO of a large, highly diverse life plan community and corporate COO within the $400 million Kendal System; and has dozens of accreditation visits as a 13-year veteran surveyor for CARF International.
Marvell coaches and practices highly trained dementia skills. He has extensive experience understanding and teaching the perspectives and needs of persons living with dementia. Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility are central themes in all aspects of Marvell’s work. He dedicates himself to fostering equity in caregiving for all.
Marvell has dedicated his career to leading not-for-profit organizations. He serves on the boards of respected aging services entities like LeadingAge and Pioneer Network.
His commitment has earned him numerous awards and recognitions, including LeadingAge NY Administrator of the Year and Forty Under 40. Marvell also lectures to students and mentors early careerists in aging services.
Marvell has a very full and delightful family life in Baltimore, MD where he resides with his spouse and three children.
CEO, Cognito Therapeutics
Christian Howell
Christian Howell is a recognized healthcare leader possessing over 20 years of experience across startup and corporate landscapes, managing P&L from early stage to mature markets. Currently, Christian serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Cognito Therapeutics, a medical device startup pioneering the use of non-invasive neuromodulation to treat neurodegenerative diseases and improve cognitive performance.
Early in his career as an officer in the U.S. Navy, Christian developed a philosophy that would guide his future endeavors: his work had to make a positive social impact. This led him, over 20-years ago, to medical devices, where he has since navigated responsibilities in business development, commercial leadership, product management, market development, and strategy. At Cognito, Christian leads all aspects of the organization, including P&L management, strategic partnerships, and revenue generation. His leadership fosters a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement across Cognito and helps cultivate partnerships with key stakeholders and industry leaders.
Christian is continually looking around the corner and pushing the envelope with innovative, double bottom lined approaches to enhance commercial performance while delivering the greatest impact to patients. A serial intrapreneur, Christian introduced forward thinking commercial strategies to Medtronic’s care delivery, including a multi-sided platform approach to value-based healthcare and owned P&L responsibility for their Integrated Health Solutions program. Prior to joining Cognito, Christian led Emerging Channels at Aetion, successfully navigating entry into Medical Device, Diagnostics, Government, and Value Based verticals; including the establishment of a 5-year strategic partnership with NESTcc, and was a key contributor to a successful Series C fundraise.
Christian’s acumen in developing impactful relationships with providers, regulators, payers, and industry leaders has been instrumental in the success of the initiatives he leads, making him a sought-after speaker at top industry events and conferences including occasions at Harvard, MIT, Stanford, the G20, and more.
Dana Larson
Chief Marketing Officer, Stead Impact Ventures
Ms. Larson serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Stead Impact Ventures, an impact investing firm that invests in innovators tackling some of the world's most challenging health care issues. In this role, she serves as a fractional CMO to portfolio companies and assists nonprofit partners in maximizing fundraising potential and impact. Prior to joining Stead Impact Ventures, Ms. Larson served as Assistant Vice President at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement where she led marketing efforts for alumni programs and fundraising across the university's colleges, medical enterprise, and athletics. She spent much of her professional life working in San Francisco with technology companies to establish their reputations and attract funding and in New York City representing global arts and cultural organizations to attract visitors and sponsorships.
Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, Alliance for Aging Research
Adina Lasser
Adina Lasser serves as the Director of Public Policy and Government Relations at the Alliance for Aging Research, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the narrative to achieve healthy aging and equitable access to care. In this role, Lasser works to advance the Alliance’s policy and advocacy priorities. She conducts direct advocacy and strategic planning for engagement with Congressional offices, the White House, and federal agencies, including the FDA, CMS, and the NIH. With experience in health policy, health economics, and contract lobbying, she specializes in crafting reports, conducting independent policy research, and providing strategic guidance to navigate the intricacies of the healthcare policy landscape. Lasser has been published in Health Affairs and Medical Economics.
Prior to joining the Alliance, Lasser served as Advocacy Coordinator at the American Urological Association. Lasser holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the honors college at the University of South Carolina and a Certificate in Health Care Economics from Harvard.
