Dr. Cheryl Woodson
Like other women, Dr. Woodson juggles several roles and tries to drop only the rubber balls. She is wife, mother, doctor, businesswoman, educator, author, professional and motivational speaker as well as an experienced family caregiver who navigated her mother’s ten-year journey with Alzheimer’s disease.
She has also earned a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo.
Dr. Woodson is an entertaining, informative and inspiring speaker whom the New York Times called “a frank and funny woman.” She speaks to family caregivers, professionals in eldercare and other health care services, clergy, community and business groups, helping help them “Surf the Silver Tsunami”TM and serve the needs of America’s growing senior population.
After completing an undergraduate degree at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and a medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Woodson served her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at UCLA followed and led an academic career at Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago and at Northwestern University Medical School where she guided ¼ of the medical class through a 2- year study of dementia, community health and how to make careers in medicine compatible with life.
To cut her commute and spend more time with her children, in 1996, Dr. Woodson moved to a local community hospital to develop an interdisciplinary assessment program for frail older adults. In 2001, she broadened this service into a wellness center to help all adults AGE EXCELLENTLY!TM Woodson Center is also dedicated helping overwhelmed caregivers face the challenge of eldercare. In addition to primary care adult medicine and geriatrics consultation, Woodson Center works to promote healthy hearts, weight loss and fitness, stress management, behavioral health, managing menopause and the other miracles of maturity. She also offers a community education program, “Sterling Silver,” TM a series of information and support seminars for people who’ve been blessed to be on the planet more than 40 years.
Dedication to clinical excellence earned Dr. Woodson fellowship in both the American College of Physicians and the American Geriatrics Society. Because of her service in adult health, women’s health and eldercare advocacy, Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. appointed her to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging and she has been honored with several community service awards. An American Medical Association training film and the August 2009 profile in the Aetna African-American History Calendar on Health Literacy showcased Dr. Woodson’s commitment to effective patient-doctor communication.
Dr. Woodson has published several textbook chapters, academic articles and less formal pieces in national magazines and newspapers. She also writes fiction about mid-life women who struggle to regroup after life lifts the veil of caregiving. A non-fiction title, TO SURVIVE CAREGIVING: A Daughter’s Experience, A Doctor’s Advice offers her insights from almost 30 years of professional experience and 10 years as a caregiver for her mom who died of Alzheimer’s disease. This practical resource shoots from the hip and from the heart to help caregivers and the professionals who counsel them. The book guides families to give excellent eldercare while protecting their own physical, financial, emotional and spiritual health. TO SURVIVE CAREGIVING is also available in a 5-CD audio set (read by the author).
As a tireless advocate for older adults and their families, Dr. Woodson provides primary and consultative health care services. She also teaches, writes, consults, gives workshops and keynote presentations locally and around the country. |
