Gulf South Brain Health Network

Brain Education and Cognitive Optimization Network

Brain Health Leader & Speaker Directory

Explore the BEACON network of clinicians, researchers, and educators shaping the future of brain health. Each profile links to a full biography, along with related sessions, presentation materials, and recorded talks from the conference experience.

Our regional network of brain health leaders.

Gulf South Brain Health Network

Speaker location Regional connection
All active speakers 21 profiles
Speaker Profile

Blair Hennessey MCD, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist • Ochsner Children's Health Center - Metairie

Neuroplasticity, Rehabilitation

Metairie, LA

Blair Hennessey is a speech-language pathologist with over a decade of experience in neurological rehabilitation. Her work focuses on restoring communication, cognition, and swallowing function through evidence-based, ne…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Daniel A. Cohen MD. MMSc.

Behavioral Neurologist/ Sleep Specialist

Norfolk, VA

Dr. Daniel A. Cohen, M.D., M.M.Sc., is a neurologist with subspecialty board certifications in both Behavioral (Cognitive) Neurology and Sleep Medicine. He serves as the Clinical Chief of Neurology for Sentara Medical Gr…

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

David Houghton MD, MPH

Chair, Department of Neurology; Movement Disorders Specialist • Ochsner Health

Movement Disorders, Telemedicine, Neurodegeneration

New Orleans, LA

Dr. David J. Houghton, MD, MPH, is a board-certified neurologist specializing in movement disorders at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and a Mast…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Emily Toups, CCC-SLP, CBIS

Speech Language Pathologist • Ochsner Health

Metairie, LA

Emily Toups, CCC-SLP, CBIS, is a Certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist affiliated with Ochsner Health in New Orleans, Louisiana. She co-presented on "Communication Support and Speech…

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

Evan Nelson DO

Neurology Trainee / Incoming Fellow • Ochsner Health

Neurodegeneration, Movement Disorders

New Orleans, LA

Dr. Evan Nelson is a neurologist with focused training in movement disorders and neurodegenerative disease. His clinical trajectory centers on understanding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and applying this knowledge…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Geoffrey Roniger

Health, Wellness and Fitness Professional • Yoga Unbound

New Orleans, LA

Geoffrey Roniger is a seasoned yoga instructor based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the founder of Yoga Unbound. His teaching approach emphasizes sound biomechanical alignment principles, intuitive movement, and the use …

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

James Fraser Rini MD, MPH

Cognitive Behavioral Neurologist; Section Head Neurocognitive Program • Ochsner Health / Mind the Gulf

Brain Health, Nutrition, Systems Neurology

New Orleans, LA

Dr. James Fraser Rini, MD, MPH, is a board-certified behavioral neurologist and Assistant Professor at the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute in New Orleans. He is also the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Mind the Gu…

2 sessions · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

John Sawyer PhD.

Neuropsychologist

New Orleans, LA

Dr. John Sawyer is a neuropsychologist at Ochsner Health where he assess patients with a wide variety of cognitive/behavioral problems. He works with attorneys and courts providing consultation and expertise related to n…

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

Joseph Tarsia MD

Vascular Neurologist • Ochsner Neuroscience Institute

Vascular Neurology, CAA

New Orleans, LA

Dr. Joseph Tarsia is a vascular neurologist at the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute specializing in cerebral small vessel disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). He leads a multidisciplinary CAA clinic and serves as…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Lauren Davis MD.

Pulmonologist/Sleep Specialist

Covington, LA

Dr. Lauren L. Davis, MD, is a board-certified sleep medicine specialist and pulmonologist with over 35 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School in 1988 a…

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

Levi Hill PharmD

Clinical Pharmacist, Neurocognitive Program • Ochsner Health

Pharmacotherapy, Dementia Treatment

New Orleans, LA

Levi Hill is a clinical pharmacist within the Neurocognitive Program at Ochsner Health, focusing on pharmacologic management of neurodegenerative disease. His work centers on translating emerging therapies into real-worl…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Lorenzo Pasquini PhD

Affective Neuroscientist • UCSF

Neuroimaging, Psychedelics

San Francisco, CA

Dr. Lorenzo Pasquini is an affective neuroscientist at UCSF whose research focuses on the neural systems underlying emotional well-being in older adults. Using advanced multimodal neuroimaging, he studies how brain netwo…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Mary Lombardino MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS

Speech-Language Pathologist; Program Director • PMIC Outpatient Clinic

Cognitive Rehabilitation, Brain Injury, Dementia Care

Baton Rouge, LA

Mary Lombardino is a speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of experience in adult neurorehabilitation. She specializes in cognitive-communication disorders related to neurodegenerative disease and brain injury, …

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Meredith Sharpe, MA, MT-BC

Music Therapist • Sharpe Notes Music Therapy, LLC

Metairie, LA

Meredith Sharpe is a Neurologic Music Therapist with Sharpe Notes Music Therapy, LLC. She is providing both individual and group sessions at our Northshore Clinic. Meredith has been a music therapist for 6 years. In 2…

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

Molly Kimball RD, CSSD

Director of Lifestyle Nutrition • Ochsner Health / Eat Fit

Nutrition, Lifestyle Medicine

Harahan, LA

Molly Kimball is a registered dietitian and Director of Lifestyle Nutrition at Ochsner Health, where she leads initiatives focused on accessible, evidence-based nutrition. She is the founder of Eat Fit, a nonprofit progr…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Nancy Insidioso LCSW.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

New Orleans, LA

Nancy Insidioso, MSW, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, providing care at the Jefferson Highway location after earning her Master of Social Work from Tulane University.

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

Peter Wais PhD

Neuroscientist

San Francisco, CA

Dr. Peter E. Wais is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where he is affiliated with the Neuroscape center. His research focuses on the cognitive neuroscience of dec…

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

Robin Bone MD

OB/GYN; Founder • Signature Health

Hormonal Health, Menopause

Metairie, LA

Dr. Robin Bone is a board-certified OB/GYN and founder of Signature Health, a concierge women's wellness practice focused on personalized, preventive, and integrative care. With over two decades of clinical experience, h…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

Speaker Profile

Skylar Dillon LCSW.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker • New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute

New Orleans, LA

Skylar Dillon is the social work team leader of the Neurocognitive Program at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

Tommy Vo NA.

Neurocognitive Associate • Ochsner Health

New Orleans, LA

Tommy Vo is the neuropsychometrist team leader of the Neurocognitive Program at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.

0 sessions

Speaker Profile

Wenke Feng PhD

Professor • Tulane University

Microbiome, Gut-Brain Axis

New Orleans, LA

Dr. Wenke Feng is a professor at Tulane University School of Medicine whose research explores the role of the gut microbiome in systemic and neurological disease. His work spans gutliver and gutbrain interactions, with p…

1 session · Latest BEACON 2026

No matching speakers were found. Try searching by name, specialty, organization, city, or role.