ZZZ - GMG - VEGAS INC 2011-2014

H elping to grow the number of Alzheimer's clinical trials from about five just a few years ago to more than 30 today is a big achievement for Dr. Kate Zhong. But the senior director of clinical research at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health has plenty more on her plate for 2014. Prevention efforts will be the big push this year. Two new prevention-focused clinical trials will start, one the largest of its kind with 6,000 participants. The same diet and exercise decisions that benefi t the body are also great for the mind as well. Diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol make up more than 55 percent of Alzheimer's risk factors, explains Zhong. "We're really moving the fi eld into more prevention and lifestyle change rather than just treating the disease itself," she added. There will be plenty of community outreach for the Ruvo Center this year. One program titled "Food For Thought" will not only teach Southern Nevadans how to make brain-smart diet decisions, but also give tips on how to fi nd the best ingredients in traditional grocery stores. "Get Moving. Stay Sharp" is another community program emphasizing the role of physical activity in brain health, and "Walk with the Docs" is a planned monthly effort where doctors will engage with community members while going on neighborhood walks. Quarterly memory screenings will continue after the successful rollout of Memory Screening Day this past November. Nevada recently ranked 21 st on the American Brain Index, an annual ranking done by the National Center for Creative Aging . The ranking evaluates diet, physical health, mental health and social wellbeing, among other factors, in a state. While the ranking is in the top half of the U.S., Zhong thinks it can still climb. She is initiating the Silver State's participation in the "Beautiful Minds: Finding Your Lifelong Potential" program, also sponsored by the NCCA. Her hope is to fi nd a Silver State "poster-child" for the NCCA to profi le in future Beautiful Minds photo essays. "I really want to thrust Las Vegas into center stage as a demonstration community engaged in overall brain health initiatives," she said. "My intention for 2014 is to make a difference for our state." — By Brian Sodoma DR. KATE ZHONG Senior Director of Clinical Research and Development Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health S ince her arrival as department chair, Dr. Elissa Palmer, FAAFP, has been a leader in community health service and medical education. Under her leadership, the department of family and community medicine has expanded to fi ll gaps in available health care in Nevada and in training physicians and other health care professionals to improve the health of underserved Nevadans. It is a mission she plans to continue this year. "I think in 2014 we have a really special opportunity to really pull together in Southern Nevada and create some great leadership, to try to really enhance medical education within Southern Nevada. There has been such talk about a school of medicine, and that is certainly something that is defi nitely needed in our location; there is no doubt about that. One of the major things I'd like to see is that we provide quality healthcare in an environment that allows our medical students to come to medical school for all four years in southern Nevada." Over the next 12 months, Palmer plans to introduce a statewide Department of Defense Team STEPPPS program as part of the new Care Team OB patient safety initiative. In addition, she will introduce Basic Life Support in Obstetrics for EMTs, nurses and medical students, as well as a rural track family medicine residency training program to help meet the health care needs of rural Nevadans. Expanding the reach of their patient safety and maternity care project is key. "We'll be adding four more hospitals to the one we're currently working with. We have been successful in getting federal grants to be able to improve the healthcare of southern Nevada, and by defi nition all of Nevada through our department here in Las Vegas." Major challenges during 2014 will, she believes, come from a combination of the economy and "some of the past history of the politics related to Southern Nevada versus Northern Nevada. I moved here eight years ago and feel that I have done the best I can to try and take care of the people of the state of Nevada. Regardless of which educational system I report through, nothing will change the outreach that we are trying to do for the intellectually disabled, for the rural locations, for patient safety and maternity care. — By Howard Riell DR. ELISSA PALMER Professor & Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine University of Nevada School of Medicine, Family Medicine Center " D onna Alderson is on the ground fl oor of the economic diversifi cation conversation. The long-time local industrial real estate pro and CBRE vice president has more than her share of meetings with corporate representatives considering moving to Las Vegas, and it's her job to try to fi nd the right real estate space for them. Per use her resume and you'll find Alderson has represented some big names like Prologis, Stockbridge Capital, as well as pension funds and large development c o m p a n i e s . S h e ' s b e e n i n t h e m a l e - dominated field since the late 1980s and, even with the tough times, couldn't see herself doing anything else. "After college I decided I'd give this about fi ve years of my life and see how it goes," she said. "I went to school for a marketing degree and didn't really have any intention of going into real estate." The challenge for Alderson these days is fi nding large – several hundred square foot – spaces for larger operators eyeing Las Vegas. It seems the roughly 10.5 percent vacancy rate in the industrial market is really a collection of small pieces. Alderson's big conversation with companies this year will be about buying heavily discounted land and partnering with qualifi ed contractors to build in the near future. "We're trying to convince people to be bullish, secure land and be ready," she said. "But it's not easy. Some people are still bruised from the last fi ve years." Wi t h s e v e r a l q u a r t e r s o f p o s i t i v e absorption under its belt, the local market is creating a track record needed for lenders, developers and companies to take Las Vegas seriously again. "We're creating that stor y of positive absorption for five to six quarters. That's what it takes for someone to say 'this is real,' " she explained. Alderson was a top producer for CBRE Las Vegas in 2012 and 2013. 2014 is off to a tremendous start as she is currently marketing 13 properties totaling more than 4.8 million square feet with a collective value topping $92 million. "We want to see our community do well and get these users and these jobs here. That's a big part of what we do," she added. — By Brian Sodoma DONNA ALDERSON Senior Vice President CBRE WOMEN TO WATCH 2014 8A _WomenToWatch_020314.indd 8 1/30/14 2:18 PM

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