Practical support for brain health, built for real life
ABOUT US
OUR PURPOSE
Where we stand
Creative Excellence
To provide help and hope to older adults through evidence‑based brain and body health programs delivered via community partnerships, education, and support—empowering people with the knowledge and tools for healthy aging.
A Future With Less Dementia
Having the largest number of older Iowans with the knowledge and support they need to lower their risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.
OUR VALUES
What Drives Us
Help
We show up with real programs, real support, and real follow through—not resources that point you somewhere else direct help that makes a difference.
Hope
Dementia is not inevitable. Research shows that daily habits make a real difference, and we exist to help you act on that.
Education
We translate complex research into clear, practical information. You deserve to understand what the science says and exactly what to do with it.
Community
Change is easier together. We work through small groups and local partnerships because support is part of what makes habits stick.
Credibility
Everything we do is grounded in evidence. No overpromising just honest, research-backed guidance you can trust.
The people behind the work
Brain Help & Hope is led by people with deep experience in public health,medicine, and community-based care.
Patricia Quinlisk
Co-Founder, Medical Director
Dr. Patricia Quinlisk spent over 20 years as Iowa’s State Epidemiologist and Medical Director, leading statewide efforts to prevent disease and improve public health. Her career has focused on understanding how health risks develop over time and how people can take practical steps to reduce them. She has worked as a clinical microbiologist, served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal, and trained as a field epidemiologist through the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service.
In recent years, her work has focused on dementia prevention and behavior change. She helped develop the KEYS to Dementia Prevention program to
translate research into something people can actually use in their daily lives. Her approach is grounded in a simple idea: what we know from science only matters if people can apply it.
Mary Kelly
Co-Founder, Progam Director
Mary Kelly is a public health professional with experience in oral health, dementia education, and community-based prevention. She has been involved in the KEYS to Dementia Prevention program since its early development and has played a central role in shaping how it is delivered today. Her work focuses on making complex health information clear, practical, and usable. As a dental hygienist and certified dementia practitioner, she brings both clinical understanding and a strong focus on prevention.
Yogesh Shah, MD, MPH
Board of Directors, Member
Dr. Yogesh Shah is a geriatrician and Chief Medical Officer at Broadlawns Medical Center, where he leads clinical care and health system strategy. He is triple board certified in geriatrics, family medicine, and hospice and palliative care, and completed his geriatric fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. His work focuses on aging, dementia care, and early detection. He has also led the development of palliative care services and community health initiatives in Iowa. He brings both clinical expertise and a public health perspective to dementia prevention, with a focus on what can be done earlier and more effectively.
Caleb Hegna
Board President
Senior Director of Development DesMoines Art Center