Darby J Morhardt

Darby Morhardt, PhD, LCSW is Associate Professor in the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease and Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She directs the Mesulam Center’s Outreach, Recruitment and Education Core, the Miller Family Quality of Life Enrichment Programs, in addition to clinical social work services for the Northwestern Medicine Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic. The focus of Dr. Morhardt’s work has been on the impact of cognitive impairment on the individual, family and their social networks. Areas of clinical research include the experience of families living with dementia; the process of tailoring care to specific needs and symptoms; and the development and evaluation of quality-of-life enrichment programs, support groups and other therapeutic interventions. These interventions include the award-winning Buddy Program, a unique experience that pairs persons with dementia as mentors to first year medical students and is offered in other universities through the United States and Italy. Dr. Morhardt is responsible for organizing the Mesulam Center’s community engagement to increase dementia education, awareness, research participation and quality of life enhancing programs throughout Chicago especially in underrepresented groups. She is a leader in the Illinois Cognitive Resources Network, she has been involved in coordinating efforts of dementia friendly communities, particularly the collaborative initiative to position the Carter G Woodson library on Chicago’s far south side as the city’s first dementia friendly library. Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease | Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine | 300 E Superior, Tarry Building, 8-719 | Chicago, IL 60611 | 312-908-9432 | d-morhardt@northwestern.edu | www.brain.northwestern.edu