Angel C. Duncan

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Angel C. Duncan, PhD, MFT, ATR has an extensive background in counseling psychology in marriage and family therapy, art therapy and clinical research in Alzheimer's disease. Her doctorate is in Psychology (specialization in Gerontology), graduating with distinction. She was twice recognized by the National Society and Academic Leadership and Success honors society at NorthCentral/JFK University. Angel specializes in adult and geriatric cognitive, memory and psychiatric disorders.  As a native Texan, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a focus in advertising/communications from Texas Lutheran University.  She was a four-year theatrical scholar and acting President of the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society.  She worked as the President Assistant for the Texas Photographic Society and taught general education for children with learning disabilities and on the autism spectrum in San Antonio and Austin. 

 

In Northern California, Angel received a dual Masters of Arts degree from Notre Dame de Namur University.  She was one out of two graduate student recipients to receive the President’s Scholarship Award.  Her practicum and thesis research was conducted at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University in oncology medical procedural anxiety, and at the Children’s Health Council at Stanford.  She later served as the Programs Director and Supervisor for the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California- Northern Nevada chapter with research collaborations and support programs at the Stanford VA.  Concurrently, Angel was the rehabilitation mental health therapist for the adult inpatient and outpatient departments at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute at the University of California- San Francisco (UCSF).  At the UCSF Memory and Aging Center she supported research trials and started support programs for persons living with frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTD/Picks Disease) and co-facilitated the FTD caregiver support group.  Angel was appointed to the San Francisco and San Mateo County Departments on Aging Adults and Adults with Disabilities committees, implementing community outreach resources for under-served populations, and held a CA state advocate position for dementia healthcare policies in Sacramento. 

 

In New Jersey and New York City, Angel was the Programs and Marketing Director for Senior Helpers and held a private practice where she developed, trained and facilitated mental health and wellness programs for people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early stage dementia.  In New York City she was instrumental in securing large grants for the homeless and seniors living in isolation.  Angel has supported and secured large grants for diverse agencies including the Alzheimer’s Association and state federal funding under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  In New Haven, CT Angel was the Program Director of the Psychology Department’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program at Albertus Magnus College and served as an Assistant Professor.  At the Yale University Art Gallery, Angel founded, co-developed and co-facilitates the Arts in Mind program for persons living with young- onset Alzheimer’s disease and early stage dementia.  In Fort Myers, FL Angel was the Research Associate and Director of Education for seven  years at the Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest Florida, founded by the late neuropsychiatrist and Principal Investigator, Fred Schaerf, MD, PhD.  In addition, she provided psychiatric education, counseling and support for the Neuropsychiatric Associates of Southwest Florida.  Angel is a considered a Key Opinion Leader in the biotech industry advising on rater assessments and applications, patient education and recruitment marketing campaigns.

 

Currently, Angel is the Education & Clinical Trials Program Manager- US Clinical Operations at Life Molecular Imaging, a global pharmaceutical company based in Berlin that specializes in amyloid/tau biomarker PET imaging in neurological and cardiac disease. She was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Tampa and guest teaches at various universities and medical teaching hospitals across the country.  She has trained and implemented a multitude of mental health and wellness programs in diverse communities for those living with cognitive, developmental and neurological disorders.  She resides on the Board of Directors for the Cognitive Dynamics Foundation, and for the Alzheimer's Education Resource Services (AERS).  In addition, she holds council on the Medical Advisory Board for Lorenzo’s House, a nonprofit supporting persons living with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease.  Angel served as a Journal Peer Reviewer and resided on the Research Committee for the American Art Therapy Association, and as a Journal Peer Reviewer for Frontiers in Psychology and the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (JAD).

 

Angel has been featured in diverse media, including: The Los Angeles Times, The Star Ledger, CBS, ABC News, NPR, Neurology Now (Brain & Life), YouTube, iHeartRadio, HuffPost, among others.  She is a widely published author, some of her contributions include: The Journal of Neurology and Neurological Disorders, The Handbook of Geriatric Neurology, Practical Neurology, Surgical Medicine Open Access Journal, Creative Arts-Based Group Therapy with Adolescents, Art Therapy and Healthcare, Art, Angst and Trauma and The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.  She was a contributing writer for The Huffington Post and Linkedin, blogging on mental health, dementia care and lifestyles.  Angel is an internationally recognized speaker and consultant who works with leading organizations in brain health and aging in place initiatives.