Board
Leslie Gilman, President
Leslie has started up and managed multiple adult day programs in the SE and NE Pennsylvania areas as well as in DE and MD. She has over 30 years of health care management experience including hospital, long term care, consulting, and for the past 20 years, exclusively adult day. She has served as a PADSA Board member in the past as well as on various civic and community association boards and currently serves on the Long Term Care Advisory Committee of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. Leslie earned both her BS in Psychology and her MBA in Health Administration from Temple University and she also holds a PA Nursing Home Administrator license. Leslie currently resides with her family in Montgomery County, just outside Philadelphia.
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Tracie Tokar, Immediate Past President
Tracie has worked the field for 23 years, starting as an activity assistant in a long-term care facility and spending the last 15 years in Adult Day Services Management. She has served on the PADSA Board as the Western Regional Representative, Western VP, and President. Her long term care experience includes working as an Activities Coordinator prior to working with Adult Day Programs. She has a BS in Therapeutic Recreation from Slippery Rock University.
tokart@verizon.net | Primetime ADC
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Vlada Rubarkh, RN, BSN, Eastern Vice President
Vlada Rubarkh is the Program Director and Owner of Northeast Adult Day Care, which has been successfully serving seniors since 1999. Vlada’s background as both clinician and business leader has enabled her to support the senior community of Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Vlada is a pioneer in the delivery of state-of-the-art adult day services targeted to diverse ethnic populations. She strives to provide her clients with a warm, home-like atmosphere which enables her clients to receive benefits well beyond their medical needs. Vlada holds a BSN degree from Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing. She has over 20 years of experience in acute and community-based long-term care settings and geriatrics. Vlada’s diverse expertise spans across general management, administration, staffing, sales and operations as well as nursing, dietary, educational, therapeutic needs and social programming.
vlada_rubarkh@yahoo.com | Northeast Adult Day Care Inc.
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Western Vice President, Vacant
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Hiren Patel, Treasurer
Hiren Patel owns and oversees the operation of Shanti Gardens Adult Day Care. Shanti Gardens ADC has provided adult day services to the aging population in lower Bucks County for over 5 years. Hiren has been involved in the adult day services industry since 2009 and continues to stay active in the industry. Hiren is committed to helping Seniors age with dignity. In addition to handling all of technology and financial management at Shanti Gardens ADC, Hiren assists the Program Director with Quality Assurance, internal audits, and with writing policies and procedures. He actively works with his Activities coordinators to plan meaningful activities that will benefit participants. Hiren has a Bachelors Degree in Finance from Baruch College in New York and has worked in Information Technology sector for over 18 years, designing and managing enterprise class systems for financial and technology companies. Hiren is married and has three children. When not working, Hiren enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with his eight-‐year old son and five year old twin daughters.
hiren@shantigardens.com | Shanti Gardens Adult Day Care
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Nicole Pruitt, Secretary
Nicole Pruitt is the Director of the Inglis Innovation Center, located in Philadelphia. The Innovation Center is the home of many community facing programs for people with disabilities, and the location of the Inglis Day Program. Nicole has been with the Inglis organization for 15 years, the last 8 of which have been with the Inglis Day Program. At Inglis, Nicole is responsible for the oversight of all operations of Innovation Center, with direct oversight of the Day Program as well as Inglis’s Employment Services Program. Inglis Day Program serves a young population of adults with disabilities. Nicole has led the Inglis Day Program through many physical and programmatic changes; including increasing census and establishing a recreational program that attracts consumers across many generations and with many different abilities. Nicole is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, and a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. She obtained her AAS from Harcum College, and BS in Business Administration from Holy Family University.
nicole.pruitt@inglis.org | Inglis Day Program
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Melissa Brandt, Central Region Representative
Melissa is the Manager of the Adult Day Services at Messiah Lifeways, which is a CCRC located in Central Pennsylvania. She has been in her current role for 4 years. She has spent the last 15 years working with older adults in skilled nursing, assisted living/personal care and adult day. She specializes in care of dementia clients. At Messiah Lifeways, Melissa has the responsibility of the daily oversight of the Adult Day Services program. Messiah Lifeways Adult Day Services, serves older adults, most of which have a diagnosis of dementia/Alzheimer’s. Melissa is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. She also is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a Certified Dementia Care Specialist. She obtained her AAS in Occupational Therapy from Central Penn College and BS in Recreation Management from Lock Haven University.
mbrandt@messiahlifeways.org | Messiah Lifeways Adult Day Services
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Lana Pozdnyakov, MBA/HCA, Southeast Regional Representative
Lana Pozdnyakov is a program administrator of the Abramson Senior Care Bundle Services Program, which offers a number of programs to support seniors’ physical health, emotional well-being and socio-economic needs. These programs include: Care Management, Medical Adult Day services, In-home Personal Care, Nurse Practitioner House Calls, and Psychology Services. Lana is responsible for the oversight of operations at the Abramson Medical Adult Day that serves as a hub for the bundled services program. Abramson Medical Adult Day has been providing seniors with medical services, social, recreational, and nutritional support. The center offers a safe enriching environment for older adults as well as promotes wellness and independence through care, services and engagement that reduces the risk of hospitalization and institutionalization. Lana is licensed Personal Care Administrator, BS in Therapeutic Recreation from Temple University and Masters in Business Administration and Health Management from LaSalle University.
lpozdnyakov@abramsonseniorcare.org | Abramson Senior Care Medical Adult Day Services
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Kelly Rupp, Northwest Regional Representative
Kelly Rupp is the Director of Valley Care Adult Day Care, located in Ambridge. Kelly has been a registered nurse for 10 years. Prior to her current position, she has worked in pediatrics, cardio-pulmonary, GI and as a Faith Community Nurse on staff at Ingomar United Methodist Church. At Valley Care, Kelly is responsible for the oversight of all operations of the Adult Day Program, including community outreach and marketing. Kelly’s position is responsible for increasing census and expanding the referral base for adult day care. Kelly is a Support Group Facilitator and Faith Outreach Representative for the Greater Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Association. Kelly is mom a 9 year-old daughter, Josie, and their dog, Scout. She obtained her ADN in Nursing from the Community College of Beaver County and BS in Business Administration from The University of Pittsburgh.
Kelly.rupp@lutheranseniorlife.org | Valley Care Adult Day Services