The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai launched the Barbara and Maurice Deane Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) in 2021 to provide a single portal of entry to care for patients with dementia and their caregivers. The initiative is driven by cross-collaboration among three departments: the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine; the Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology; and the Department of Psychiatry.
“This cross-collaboration is unique in my experience, in that all three departments have full contribution,” said Audrey K. Chun, MD, Director of the Deane HBI, Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, and Vice Chair, Outpatient Clinical Services of the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine.
“We’ve always had excellence in geriatrics, neurology, and psychiatry, but each was pursuing its own agenda within the space of cognitive disease,” Dr. Chun added. “The Deane HBI provides a structure organizationally for us to work together toward a common goal. The issues that come up with an aging population require the expertise of all three disciplines.”
The three co-medical directors, including Dr. Chun, lead the operations, organization, and planning together. Georges Naasan, MD, is Co-Medical Director of the Deane HBI, Associate Professor of Neurology, Medical Director of the Division of Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry, and Vice Chair of Ambulatory Operations for the Department of Neurology. Rajvee Vora, MD, is Co-Medical Director of the Deane HBI, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs for the Department of Psychiatry.
The Deane HBI’s innovative approach is designed to bring together clinicians, nurses, social services, patients, caregivers, and community resources to support the care of those living with cognitive and behavioral disorders, as well as encouraging the preservation of healthy brain function.
“A big advantage of this approach is it improves care coordination,” Dr. Chun said. Instead of the patient and family having to navigate referrals and scheduling on their own, a triage nurse assesses the best team member for the initial evaluation, and the scheduling team can book appointments with whichever specialty is needed as the care plan is developed.
The Deane family had previously established themselves as significant supporters of Mount Sinai, but they looked at the Deane HBI as a place to honor the memory of Maurice Deane and for their legacy to live on, according to Dr. Chun. They recognize the positive impact of cross-collaboration among disciplines and the value of a seamless, coordinated approach for both patients and their caregivers.
“The Deane Healthy Brain Initiative intends to be at the forefront of care for patients living with dementia, their families, and caregivers.”
- Audrey K. Chun, MD
Research is also key to the HBI’s efforts, in addition to care coordination. “People with cognitive impairment will have the opportunity to participate in or to hear about research trials across all the departments, the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and The Friedman Brain Institute,” Dr. Chun said.
Support for caregivers and understanding their needs is also an important part of the Deane HBI mission. The initiative is forming a caregivers’ advisory board to give representation and insight into serving their needs and the needs of the communities surrounding Mount Sinai.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million people in the United States are living with dementia, with an estimated 11 million caregivers. These numbers are expected to double by 2050 as the population ages.
“The Deane HBI intends to be at the forefront of care for patients living with dementia, their families, and caregivers,” said Dr. Chun.