Kristen Clifford is chief program officer at the Alzheimer's Association, overseeing the organization's efforts to ensure access to quality care and support at the national, state and local levels for the millions affected by Alzheimer's and other dementia.
Clifford leads Association care and support services provided to those affected by the disease, including the 24/7 Helpline (800.272.3900); long-term care initiatives focused on person-centered care delivery models; and growth strategies for reaching more individuals through quality improvement, education, and supportive programs and services. This includes intentional community outreach to those who are underserved but disproportionately impacted.
She directs the implementation of products to support the Association's evidence-based Dementia Care Practice Recommendations, the benchmark for quality person-centered care across the disease spectrum. These resources — including essentiALZ® — Alzheimer's Association training and certification, curriculum review and the Dementia Care Provider Roundtable — offer training, certification and networking to professional care providers.
In addition, Clifford oversees the Association's strategies to increase equitable access to early and accurate diagnosis, treatment, risk reduction, and quality care through health systems and health care payers nationwide.
Clifford manages the Association's efforts to position Alzheimer's and other dementia as a public health issue, driving programmatic risk reduction. As a Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Risk Reduction, the Association leads a national effort to develop and disseminate public health strategies and resources aimed at reducing risk of cognitive decline and dementia in all communities.
Clifford has 20 years of experience in patient advocacy, health care relationship management, medical education and research. She served as national vice president, Healthcare Access for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and executive director of Avid Education Partners, a medical education company.
Clifford holds a master's of business administration from Texas State University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida.