Robert Schwartz, MD
Professor of Medicine

Dr. Schwartz is a Goodstein Professor of Medicine, Division Head of Geriatric Medicine, and Director of the Center on Aging. He is also the Medical Director of the Senior’s Clinic at the University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center. His current research is on elderly cognition, nutrition, exercise, including the relationship between metabolic abnormalities in obesity and aging. He is the Principal Investigator of the program project funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), "Testosterone Supplementation and Exercise in Elderly men," and the center grant, “Hartford/Jahnigen Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine." He serves as reviewer and consultant for the NIH. Dr. Schwartz is one of the key people responsible for the development of the Center on Aging Cognitive Aging Research Program as well as the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognition Center (ADCC).

Bennett Parnes, MD
Assistant Professor

Bennett Parnes, MD: Dr. Parnes, a graduate of Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago,is a Co-Investigator on the Pioglitazone Effects on Older Adults with MCI and Metabolic Syndrome. Since 2000, Bennett has worked in the Seniors Clinic at the University of Colorado. Bennett became Colorado Research Network (CareNet) Assistant Director in 2002. In July 2004, he became the Director of CareNet, a practice-based research network associated within the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado. Bennett’s research interest is in improving diabetes care and cognitive decline in primary care settings. Because of his focus on diabetes and his geriatric clinical work, he has also become interested in the connection between cognition and insulin resistance.

Victoria Pelak, MD
Assistant Professor

Dr. Pelak's research interest is in cortical visual processing. She is studying the effects of aging and dementia on visual processing. Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have significant disability when the cortical visual system is impaired early in the course of the disease. However, cortical visual function is inadequately assessed in patients with AD using current clinical assessment scales. Dr. Pelak is exploring new methods of diagnosing and tracking visual problems in early AD.
Please click on this link to access Dr. Pelak's Faculty Page.

Bethany Kelsey, MS
Research Assistant

Bethany joined the IMAGE Group in March 2006. Before joining IMAGE, she worked as an exercise specialist in Tucson, AZ developing exercise programs for special populations. Bethany earned her Master’s of Science degree in Health Promotion from the University of Connecticut in 2004. Her thesis examined the effects of obesity on muscle size and strength gains in response to a resistance training program. Her undergraduate work was done at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN where she earned her B.S. in Kinesiology in 2001. Bethany is currently working as a research assistant on the T.E.A.M. study.

Research Collaborators:

Linda Mitchell, MSW
Collaborator

Linda Mitchell is president & CEO of the Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter where she has held key leadership positions for 17 years. Linda is responsible for the general management of the chapter and for ensuring that its mission and goals are achieved and its policies are implemented. Linda is credited with helping to grow the chapter from a single Denver office to a statewide network of regional offices able to offer support services to people in every county in Colorado. Compared to a Denver staff of eight people in 1994, the Chapter now boasts 37 staff members and over 700 volunteers statewide. She serves as the primary spokesperson for the Association and liaison with the national office, other chapters and other community organizations.