Mark Lachs, M.D., MPH, is the Irene and Roy Psaty Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, Chief of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, and the Director of Geriatrics for the NewYork-Presbyterian Health Care System.  Both a practicing geriatrician and a physician scientist, Dr. Lachs has devoted his career to protecting the rights and dignity of older adults with a special focus on victims of elder abuse.  IDA was developed by faculty members in his program based on years of experience with elder abuse cases after recognizing that adult protective workers can and should have a greater role in the assessment of decision making capacity in older adults.

Bess White, M.P.H., M.S., Special Projects Administrator, has led the development of elder abuse programs, including the Interview for Decisional Abilities (IDA) online course, in Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. Previously, she was a Principal Gifts Officer for Weill Cornell Medicine where she raised funds for a variety of initiatives throughout the medical college. She is Executive Director of Elderabuse.org, the only national charity focused specifically on supporting elder abuse programs. She holds a Masters Degree in Public Health at Columbia University, with a focus on healthy aging.

Daneisha Wright, MSW, serves as the Interview for Decisional Abilities (IDA) Course Administrator and Program Administrator for Weill Cornell Medicine—Geriatrics and Palliative Care, where she is dedicated to ensuring that participants are enrolled and meaningfully engaged in the IDA course. Daneisha brings a wealth of experience from her six years with the Department of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, which laid a strong foundation for her current position. She recently earned her master’s in social work with a concentration in mental health and disabilities from Columbia University, all while completing her clinical practicum at New York University’s Student Health Center. There, she provided psychotherapy to young adult and adult first-generation college students from various backgrounds. Daneisha is passionate about supporting individuals on their unique journeys and is actively pursuing her LMSW certification.