Conference Speakers

Presentation: I Still Think About Them: Emotional Connection and Professionalism in End-of-Life Nursing Care

Amy Berkley, Ph.D., RN, MSN, is an assistant professor at the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at St. Louis University. She earned an MSN in Nursing Administration and a Ph.D. in Nursing at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing in 2019. Then, she completed a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center School of Nursing in Kansas City. 

Dr. Berkley’s research is focused on the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and the effects of sleep disturbance on physical and cognitive functioning. Her goal is to develop interventions that support older adults in their current living situation, to avoid or delay progressive decline and institutionalization, and to improve standards of care and quality of life in institutional living facilities. 

Presentation: The Impact of Trauma on Older Adults

Dr. Julie J. Gary was born in Hannibal, MO, where she grew up through elementary school on a local livestock farm. She later graduated from Pontiac Township High School in Pontiac, IL, where she was valedictorian of her high school class and an all-state athlete in basketball and volleyball.

Dr. Gary is currently the inaugural Behavioral Health Bureau Chief for the City of St. Louis Department of Health in St. Louis, Missouri, addressing substance use and mental health challenges in the local community. Dr. Gary holds a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine from the University of Notre Dame where she was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Award. She also holds a Master’s in Public Health in Environmental and Occupational Health and Epidemiology and a Doctorate in Philosophy with an emphasis on Public Health Studies/Epidemiology from Saint Louis University School of Public Health where she was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit and the Delta Omega Public Health Honor Societies.

During her time at Notre Dame, Dr. Gary enrolled in the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). She served 13 years on active duty in the United States Army’s air defense artillery branch where she was deployed for 2 years to 8 countries in the Middle East, serving as battery commander of a PATRIOT Missile unit. She finished her military service working at the St. Louis John Cochran VA hospital studying liver disease, in particular following Vietnam veterans who suffered from Hepatitis. She received awards including the Distinguished Military Graduate and Iron Soldier at both her Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, and 3 Army Commendation Medals.

Following her military service, Dr. Gary has spent 20 years in public health positions in the St. Louis area including 7 years with the Veterans Health Administration and 13 years as a professor at Washington University where she currently teaches Introduction to Public Health. In 2012, she was awarded Saint Louis University’s Mary Gumble Levy Award for her commitment to service, research, and teaching dedicated to the health of the St. Louis community. During the pandemic, Dr. Gary served as the Health and Wellness Coordinator and led the COVID response for Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis.

In her previous role as Epidemiologist, Behavioral Health and Health Equity, Dr. Gary wrote the city’s first behavioral health report focused on the opioid epidemic and authored the city’s first comprehensive health equity plan.

She heads Quality Improvement Project on Internal Communication, the Strategic Planning Committee on Health Equity, and is the Co-Chair for the Intersection of Health and Economic Mobility Action Team for the City’s Community Health Improvement Plan. She serves on the Missouri Health Disparities Council and the St. Louis Equity Community Engagement Council. She was recently awarded Equitable Trust for Healthy Societies funding from the Centre for Public Impact & the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to join 12 other cities from across the world in equity work for the City of St. Louis. In her Bureau’s overlap with the City of St. Louis Criminal Justice System, Dr. Gary serves on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Alternatives to Incarceration Committee and the Office of Violence Prevention’s Crisis Response Leadership Team. In September of 2023, on International Overdose Awareness Day, she and her team were awarded the “Making A World of Difference” award by Better Family Life, which recognizes organizations working to reduce substance use in the City of St. Louis. She serves on the board of Circle of Care and Ethnic Communities Opioids Response Network.

She has lived in Collinsville, IL, for the last 22 years. In her free time, Dr. Gary loves watching and coaching sports, cooking, road trips, playing guitar, live music, reading, serving her church and her community, and anything in the great outdoors. She is a widow to the late Dr. Louis A. Gary (2020) and has 3 biracial children: 2 sons Isaiah, 27, and Elijah, 22, a student at the University of Kentucky; and Jordan, an 18-year-old daughter, who plays soccer and studies at Saint Louis University.

Presentation: Lessons Learned from Catastrophic Closures

Chien Y. Hung, MSW, MA-G, RYT, serves as the Program Director of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at VOYCE. Chien holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Washington University Brown School of Social Work (2005), as well as a Master’s Degree in Gerontology from Lindenwood University (2015). Originally from Taiwan, upon graduation from Washington University, Chien started working at Community Alternatives as an AIDS Waiver Case Manager. In 2007, Chien was recruited by Doorways (Interfaith Residence) as a clinical social worker. From 2007 to 2016, Chien worked with Doorways’ residents who lived with critical medical conditions, mental disorders, substance usage issues, and homelessness. Chien has extensive experience in Psychotherapy, case management, community outreach, housing, and long-term care. In his spare time, Chien is a Registered Yoga Teacher who teaches at various yoga studios.

Presentation: Preserving Residents’ Rights During Discharges

Jen Joy, MSW, is the Regional Ombudsman Coordinator for South County and Jefferson County.  Jen earned a Master of Social Work degree from Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Missouri State University.  Jen has many years of experience working with families in various social service settings, including schools, hospitals, community mental health agencies, and nonprofit organizations.  Jen brings her varied experience and education to VOYCE and her compassion to help those underserved in the St. Louis area. 

Presentation: Preserving Residents’ Rights During Discharges

Katie Morrison, MSG, is the Regional Ombudsman Coordinator for North St. Louis County. Katie earned a Master of Science in Gerontology from the University of Missouri- St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies from Southeast Missouri State University.  Katie discovered her passion for working with seniors when she worked in food services at a Long-Term Care Facility during high school. Katie worked at a Long-Term Care Community as an Activity Coordinator and was promoted to Activity Director quickly.  Katie also held a position at the St. Louis Jewish Community Center as a Senior Programs Coordinator, in which she ran a home delivery meal program for homebound seniors and dining services/senior programming at Covenant Place.  In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, watching television/movies, attending concerts, playing with her cat, Casper, reading, cooking, and traveling.   

Presentation: Preserving Residents’ Rights During Discharges

Kayla Peniston serves as the Regional Ombudsman Coordinator for West St. Louis and Franklin Counties. Kayla earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science with a minor in psychology and a Master of Social Work from Missouri Baptist University. As an undergrad, Kayla completed a summer research internship at the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at the Washington University Institute for Public Health. As an intern, Kayla researched topics related to aging and Alzheimer’s disease and networked with community stakeholders. While in graduate school, Kayla completed her practicum at VOYCE and enjoyed giving a voice to residents in long-term care. Kayla has always appreciated working with vulnerable populations and is eager to continue empowering and advocating for residents in long-term care.  

Presentation: Preserving Residents’ Rights During Discharges

Lisa Smith has been with VOYCE since December 2017. She is an experienced Ombudsman with a demonstrated history of successfully working with long-term care residents and their communities.

Trained to use empathy, critical thinking, and mediation to advocate for vulnerable populations across St. Louis. Lisa is a strong healthcare services professional with a Master of Health Administration focused in Health/Health Care Administration/Management from Saint Louis University.

She has been the Lead Ombudsman for her team since March 2021.