Aging Gracefully: Empowering Individuals Across the Lifespan
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: In-person at Southern Regional AHEC
1601 Owen Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304, 3rd Floor Auditorium
Target Audience
This program is designed for healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, social workers, and allied health providers, as well as community partners, direct care staff, and family caregivers who support aging individuals and are interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills in dementia care, whole-person wellness, workforce development, digital navigation, and intergenerational communication.
Program Description
Aging Gracefully: Empowering Individuals Across the Lifespan is a multidisciplinary conference designed to equip healthcare professionals, community partners, caregivers, and individuals interested in working with older adults with the knowledge and tools needed to support individuals across the aging continuum. This conference serves as both an educational and networking opportunity for anyone currently working or interested in working with older adults. This engaging, in-person event will address key topics impacting older adults and those who care for them, including the identification and management of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, the connection between oral health and whole-person wellness, strategies for workforce development and digital navigation, and approaches to bridging generational gaps in care and communication. Through expert-led sessions and collaborative dialogue, participants will gain practical insights to enhance care delivery, strengthen support systems, and promote healthier, more connected communities.
Registration Fee
There is no fee for this program. Register early as space is limited.
Agenda
9 a.m. Welcome
Samantha Wullenwaber, Executive Director, Mid-Carolina Regional Council
9:30 a.m. Cognitive Clarity: Practical Approaches to Dementia Evaluation and Management in Busy Clinical Settings
Ana Felix, MD, FAAN
10:30 a.m. Break/Visit Exhibitors
10:45 a.m. Your Mouth, Your Health and Your Future!
Amruta Bahekar, DDS
11:45 a.m. Lunch Provided/Visit Exhibitors
12:30 p.m. Legacy in the Digital Age: They Gave Everything - Now Give Them Access
Xavier DeBrough, BA, CEO
1:30 p.m. Break
1:45 p.m. Intergenerational Communication & Collaboration in Aging Care
Melanie Bunn, GNP, MSN, RN
2:45 p.m. Closing Remarks/Adjourn
Speakers
Samantha Wullenwaber, Executive Director, Mid-Carolina Regional Council, serves as the Council’s Executive Director (June 2025). Wullenwaber began working for the Mid-Carolina Regional Council in 2021. In her role with Mid-Carolina, she assists member governments in Harnett, Cumberland, and Sampson counties with any needs they may have. Prior to working for the Council, Wullenwaber worked as a Planning Technician and Director in the City of Dunn before being promoted to the Planning & Inspections Director. While in Dunn, Wullenwaber additionally served as the Executive Director of the Dunn Community Development Corporation. She worked as the Planning Director for the Town of Clayton before being named the Interim Town Manager for the Town of Spring Lake. Wullenwaber received her undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and her Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She is also a certified planner through the American Planning Association, AICP, and a Certified Zoning Official, CZO.
Amruta Bahekar, DDS, is a dentist originally from India who combined her passion for art and healthcare to build a successful career in dentistry. After earning her dental degree and advanced training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in India, she moved to the United States in 2016 and completed the International Dental Program at Virginia Commonwealth University, earning her DDS degree in 2019. She practices general dentistry with a focus on surgical and esthetic procedures, including implants, and is also a certified Invisalign provider. She is known for her compassionate patient care and commitment to creating positive dental experiences. Beyond dentistry, Dr. Bahekar is actively involved in local and global community service, participating in outreach programs and providing dental education and care to underserved populations. She is passionate about improving access to oral health and mentoring youth. She and her husband, Pavan Patel, live in Fayetteville and are committed to serving their community. In her free time, she enjoys painting, yoga, learning piano, traveling and Indian dance.
Melanie Bunn, GNP, MSN, RN, is a nurse, teacher, trainer, speaker, coach, consultant, researcher, mom, daughter and sister. She combines these roles with a love of travel and a fear of boredom to create a way of supporting herself and her family while improving the lives of people with dementia and their care partners. She is associated with Dementia Alliance of North Carolina, Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, Bunn Consulting, and Duke University School of Nursing. She recently completed an assignment as the Visiting Nurse Scholar for the Duke Health System.
Melanie received her undergraduate degree in nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill (1983), her Master’s Degree from Clemson University (1987) and a Post-Master’s Gerontological Nurse Practitioner Certificate from Duke University (1991). She is a skilled and experienced advanced practice nurse and nurse educator, conducting over 200 presentations and trainings annually to health professionals, community organizations, first responders, families and others. She volunteered as an Alzheimer’s Support Group Facilitator for over 25 years.
Xavier DeBrough, BA, CEO, is the Founder and CEO of DeBrough & Co., a workforce development and organizational consulting firm. A U.S. Army veteran, former Drill Sergeant, and Fayetteville 40 Under 40 honoree, Xavier brings a systems-thinking approach to workforce development, training, and organizational performance. Xavier has served as a trainer and facilitator for companies and organizations across multiple industries, helping teams build the structure, skills, and strategy needed to perform at their highest level. Through DeBrough & Co., Xavier works with clients to find what’s broken, build what fits, and move. Because the only solutions worth building are the ones that actually stick. People. Business. Growth. Excellence.
Ana C. G. Felix, MD, FAAN is a General and Vascular Neurologist and clinician-educator at the UNC School of Medicine with a joint appointment in Internal Medicine. Dr. Felix has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for older adults through evidence-based neurological care, research on stroke systems and disparities, and leadership in initiatives addressing the needs of aging populations. Her scholarly work includes contributions to Reichel’s Care of the Elderly: Clinical Aspects of Aging and research on stroke rehabilitation and patient-centered care. A nationally recognized educator, Dr. Felix has held multiple leadership roles in undergraduate and graduate medical education at UNC, including directing neuroscience curricula, clerkships, and innovative telemedicine programs. She is deeply committed to interprofessional education, workforce development, and lifelong learning, and has contributed extensively to statewide continuing medical education and Project ECHO programs focused on dementia care and complex chronic conditions. Dr. Felix’s work bridges clinical care and education to empower clinicians, patients, and communities across the lifespan, with a sustained commitment to improving neurological health and reducing disparities for older adults in North Carolina and beyond.
Objectives
- Identify common signs, symptoms, and challenges associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease to support early recognition and appropriate care strategies.
- Explain the relationship between oral health and overall health, and its impact on quality of life across the lifespan.
- Discuss strategies to enhance workforce development and improve digital navigation skills among providers, caregivers, and aging populations.
- Apply effective communication techniques to bridge generational gaps and improve interactions between caregivers, patients, and interdisciplinary teams.
- Integrate a whole-person approach to care that supports the physical, emotional, and social well-being of aging individuals.
Credit
Contact Hours: 4.0
Substitutes/Refunds/Transfers
• Cancellations must be in writing (email or mail).
• Registrants cancelling between two weeks and five full business days prior to the first day of the event are refunded at 70% of the registration fee subject to a minimum $25 cancellation fee.
• No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received less than five full business days prior to the event.
• No refunds or credit will be given for no-shows.
• No vouchers will be issued in lieu of a refund.
• Transfers/substitute(s) welcome (notify in advance of the program).
Attendance at this activity grants permission for Southern Regional AHEC to use any photographs, audio, video, or other images from this activity for promotional or educational purposes. Please notify an AHEC staff member if you have concerns.
ADA Services
Americans with Disabilities Act Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the ADA coordinator at least five days prior to the event at (910) 678-7305 or mariah.williams@sr-ahec.org.
Contact Us
Denise Melton, Administrator of CPD, Behavioral Health and CME / (910) 678-7201 / denise.melton@sr-ahec.org
Jasmine Harris, Director of CPD, Behavioral Health / (910) 678-7218 / jasmine.harris@sr-ahec.org
Mariah Williams, Project Specialist / (910) 678-7305 / mariah.williams@sr-ahec.org