Webinar IV

The Elderly — Our Future: Alternative Examples for Eldercare

A webinar series sponsored by the Community of Sant’Egidio, Catholic Charities USA and the Catholic Health Association of the United States
May 26
Noon to 1 p.m. ET

Each of these sessions have complimentary registration for CHA members, CCUSA and Sant’Egidio affiliates as well as all those who work or minister to seniors.

This webinar will share current models for supporting older people and their families (diocesan, parishes, Catholic Charities, health care (include PACE), Sant’Egidio CAPABLE that others can replicate or re-purpose. Time will be provided for questions and small group discussion. Please note: we are looking for volunteers to present models/innovations/ideas for serving older persons.

Presenters

Sr. Doris Gottemoeller, RSM, Ph.D.
Chairperson
Bon Secours Mercy Ministries

Sr. Doris Gottemoeller is a member of the Bon Secours Mercy Health board and chair of Bon Secours Mercy Ministries. In her 61 years of religious life, she has served universities, health systems, seminaries and high schools.

With Mercy Health, Sr. Doris spearheaded the creation of the hospital system that has evolved into one of the largest in the nation. She championed the merger of 12 hospitals and 30 other facilities in three states, working for two years to demonstrate to leaders the value of expanding the ministry’s footprint. In 1986, her efforts paid off with the formation of Cincinnati’s Mercy Health, one of the first multi-state hospital systems.

Sr. Doris was the first president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the Provincial of the Sisters of Mercy of the Cincinnati Province, and president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. She also served as a delegate to the International Union of Superiors General and an auditor at the Synod on Consecrated Life.

Previously, Sr. Doris served as senior vice president for mission and values integration at Catholic Health Partners (2000-2013). In 2015 she served as president of the Mercy Education Collaborative of Cincinnati, overseeing two high schools sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. A member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, she has served in congregational leadership and on numerous health care, higher education, high school, seminary and social service boards. She chaired the boards of the Catholic Health Association and of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System.

As a Sister of Mercy, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Edgecliff College as well as a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame. Additionally, she has received a master’s and doctorate in theology from Fordham University.

Chris Lowney (Moderator)
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
CommonSpirit Health

Chris Lowney vice chairs the board of CommonSpirit Health, America's largest nonprofit health system with $29 Billion in revenues and more than 150,000 employees. He is a one-time Jesuit seminarian and later served as a managing director of J.P. Morgan & Co on three continents. He is a popular keynote speaker who has lectured in more than two-dozen countries, on leadership, business ethics, decision-making and other topics.

He is the author of six books and has co-authored two more. The bestselling Heroic Leadership has been translated into eleven languages and was named to the recommended reading list of the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. His A Vanished World relates fascinating stories of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in medieval Spain: Chris was featured in the PBS-aired documentary, "Cities of Light," which echoed many of that book's key themes. His other works include Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads, which has been called, "a book for the ages." He won a 2018 Catholic Press Association award for Everyone Leads: How to Revitalize the Catholic Church. His latest work is Make Today Matter: 10 Habits for a Better Life (and World), which won a 2018 Independent Press Award as a "Distinguished Favorite." The book also won a Gold Medal in the 2019 Illumination Awards.

Chris Lowney vice chairs the board of CommonSpirit Health, America's largest nonprofit health system with $29 Billion in revenues and more than 150,000 employees. He is a one-time Jesuit seminarian and later served as a managing director of J.P. Morgan & Co on three continents. He is a popular keynote speaker who has lectured in more than two-dozen countries, on leadership, business ethics, decision-making and other topics.

He is the author of six books and has co-authored two more. The bestselling Heroic Leadership has been translated into eleven languages and was named to the recommended reading list of the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. His A Vanished World relates fascinating stories of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in medieval Spain: Chris was featured in the PBS-aired documentary, "Cities of Light," which echoed many of that book's key themes. His other works include Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads, which has been called, "a book for the ages." He won a 2018 Catholic Press Association award for Everyone Leads: How to Revitalize the Catholic Church. His latest work is Make Today Matter: 10 Habits for a Better Life (and World), which won a 2018 Independent Press Award as a "Distinguished Favorite." The book also won a Gold Medal in the 2019 Illumination Awards.

Mr. Lowney regularly contributes to Forbes.com on leadership and leadership strategy (his columns can be found here); and he contributes to Aleteia.org on spirituality and leadership (find his Aleteia pieces here).

His efforts in philanthropy and social entrepreneurship have included helping to launch an innovative collaboration to offer online university education in refugee camps in Africa and elsewhere; he also co-founded Contemplative Leaders in Action, an emerging leader formation program now active in a half-dozen cities; and he founded Pilgrimage for Our Children's Future, which supports education and healthcare projects among severely impoverished, marginalized communities: to learn more, visit www.pocf.org. Chris also serves on the board of Commonweal Magazine.

He is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University, where he also received his M.A. He is holder of seven honorary Doctoral degrees; was raised in Queens, New York; hates the Yankees; and roots for the Mets without feeling shame.

Linda Chadderdon
Program Manager
Home Visitation (Genesee County) and Friendly Phones programs (Orleans County)
Catholic Charities of Buffalo, New York

Linda Chadderdon is the program manager for the Home Visitation (Genesee County) and Friendly Phones Programs (Orleans County) of Catholic Charities of Buffalo, New York. The goal of these privately funded grants is to decrease the detrimental physical, mental and behavioral effects of isolation by providing a sense of social connection to seniors 60+ who reside independently in the perspective County. These social visits are provided free of charge and are not faith-based.

Ms. Chadderdon holds a bachelor of social work from the State University of New York at Buffalo and brings with her over 25 years of social work experience, focused in advocacy and addressing health concerns. She is dedicated to promoting programs that benefit seniors, especially those that enhance their quality of life in their community of choice.

Susan Chill
Executive Director
St. Alexius Outreach Ministries

Susan W. Chill is founder and executive director of St. Alexius Outreach Ministries, Chattanooga, Tenn. Together with the Alexian Brothers, she seeks to show Chattanooga's elders that they are cared for and valued.

With a lifetime of interest in social services, Ms. Chill's passion for serving older adults developed at the early age of 17 while working for the Alexian Brothers at the Inn on Signal Mountain. It was an Alexian Brother who first recognized her passion and encouraged her to pursue social work.

After obtaining her degree, she gained experience as a medical social worker with Hospice of Chattanooga, providing case management for patients and their families in both the home and acute care setting. After serving with Hospice of Chattanooga for five years, Ms. Chill returned to work for the Brothers as the director of social services at the Alexian Village Health and Rehabilitation Center on Signal Mountain.

In 2014, she began working to identify unmet needs in the Chattanooga community and it did not take long to recognize that many older adults were quietly struggling with isolation and loneliness which was slowly eroding their quality of life. With the permission and support of the Alexian Brothers, St. Alexius Outreach Ministries, Inc. was founded in 2017 and started its first program, Hospitality at Home, using a "boots on the ground" model of care.

Hospitality at Home is a presence-based ministry sustained by committed and caring volunteers offering friendship and supportive services to assist in the alleviation of isolation and loneliness of seniors age 70 and older.

Ms. Chill holds a bachelor of social work with a focus in gerontology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Paola Piscitelli
President
Community of Sant’Egidio USA

Paola Piscitelli is the president of the Community of Sant'Egidio USA, the American branch of the larger worldwide movement founded in Rome in 1968.

A public lay association recognized by the Holy See, the Community of Sant'Egidio is a movement with 70,000 members present in more than 60 countries in all continents. New communities and groups of friends of Sant'Egidio sharing a life of prayer, friendship and service to the poor are growing in the United States. The charism of the Community can be synthetized by the words of Pope Francis in his visit to the community in Rome: Prayer, Peace and the Poor.

Ms. Piscitelli joined the Community of Sant'Egidio while she was attending high school in Rome. She has been a member since then and became president of its American branch in 1993. In her role, she coordinates the service programs and the growth of the Community in the United States through seminars, retreats, presentations and lectures. As all the members of Sant'Egidio, her commitment with the community is totally volunteer.

Since 1986 she has been active part of participated at several interreligious meetings in Europe and Middle East. Since 2002 she has organized a yearly Vigil of Prayer for Peace in New York in concordance with other world initiatives of the Community.

She was born in Rome, Italy where she lived till 1993. She now lives in New York City with her husband and her two children.

Sheryl Trask, MSW, LCSW
Social Service Manager
Cardinal Ritter Senior Services
St. Louis

Sheryl Trask is the social services manager at Cardinal Ritter Senior Services, St. Louis, a position she has held since 2018. She previously worked for Cardinal Ritter Senior Services as a case manager for 12 years, left to work for the St. Louis County Older Resident Program, and then returned to CRSS as the manager.

Ms. Trask has over 30 years' experience providing services to older adults and eight-plus years managing staff.

She holds a master's degree in social work from Kansas University, with a clinical practice concentration and emphasis in gerontology. She is also a licensed clinical social worker.

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Webinar IV

The Elderly — Our Future: Alternative Examples for Eldercare

Presenters

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