World-Class Leadership
Expert Faculty
Preventing Alzheimer’s Weekend Seminar
Meet our Expert Faculty
Jeremy Pruzin, MD
Board-Certified Neurologist
Dr. Jeremy Pruzin is a board-certified neurologist specializing in cognitive and behavioral neurology, with a primary focus on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. He serves as an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix, leads research efforts at the Banner Alzheimer's Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and is a key advisor and clinician at the specialized neurology telehealth service Synapticure.
Education & Training
Dr. Pruzin earned his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University. He completed his neurology residency at Rush University Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology at Harvard Medical School, with clinical training at Mass General Brigham.
Research & Clinical Focus
Patient Care & Accessibility
Academic Work & Public Engagement
Pierre Tariot, MD
Director, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
Dr. Pierre N. Tariot is a renowned Alzheimer’s disease researcher, clinician, and leader in dementia care innovation. He earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester and completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, becoming board-certified in Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Geriatric Psychiatry.
Groundbreaking Contributions
As the founding director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and co-director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative, he has led groundbreaking efforts to advance prevention strategies and experimental therapies for Alzheimer’s. Dr. Tariot has served as Principal Investigator in over 50 clinical trials and authored more than 400 scientific publications, contributing to the development and FDA approval of Alzheimer’s treatments.
A Legacy of Leadership
Academic Work
Inaugural Seminar
Meet the Expert Guest Speakers
Robert Alexander, MD
Psychiatrist and Neuroscientist
Dr. Robert Alexander is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist with decades of experience developing new treatments for brain disorders in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Physician, psychiatrist, and scientific leader dedicated to accelerating the development of therapies for brain disorders
- Chief Scientific Officer, Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
- Research Professor of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix
- Oversees prevention trials, aligns scientific goals with regulatory realities, and translates discoveries into strategies to delay or reduce dementia risk
Education & Training
Dr. Alexander earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago. He went on to complete an internship in Internal Medicine at New England Deaconess Hospital and a residency in Adult Psychiatry at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He later pursued advanced training as a neuropsychiatry fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health and completed a fellowship in Medical Genetics at Columbia University.
Nicholas Ashton, PhD
Internationally Recognized Researcher
Dr. Nicholas Ashton is an internationally recognized researcher whose work helped create the first blood tests for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Neuroscientist focused on early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
- Senior Director, Biomarker Program, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Arizona
- Associate Professor, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Leads laboratories pioneering biomarker discovery and testing
Education & Training
Dr. Nicholas Ashton earned his PhD from King’s College London in 2017. He then joined the group of Henrik Zetterberg at the University of Gothenburg, where he contributed to advances in blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. He holds appointments in neurochemistry and biomarker research at Banner Health (Banner Sun Health Research Institute) and the University of Gothenburg.
Alison Pietras, PA-C
Cognitive Neurology Clinician-Educator
Alison C. Pietras, PA-C, is a cognitive neurology clinician-educator with extensive experience in landmark Alzheimer’s trials and real-world clinical implementation.
Experience
- Current: Mount Sinai’s Dean Center for Wellness and Cognitive Health
- Prior: Brigham and Women’s Hospital; NYU Langone
- Site Principal Investigator: Phase 3 donanemab study
Clinical Trials
Education & Training
Alison C. Pietras earned her Bachelor of Arts from Smith College, followed by a postbaccalaureate premedical certificate at Bryn Mawr College. She then completed her Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) at Franklin Pierce University.