Providers
Dr. Charles Edwards II, MD
Founding Physician
Dr. Charles H. Edwards II, MD
Founding Physician
Deeply affected by caring for his parents, both of whom suffered from dementia, Dr. Edwards established the Memory & Movement Center in 2013.
After 30 years as a cardiovascular surgeon, he received training in dementia care from Johns Hopkins Medical Institute. He is quick to share that none of this could have happened without the help and inspiration of his wife, Mary. Early on, she answered the phone, heard patients’ stories and knew the work that lay ahead.
A Charlotte native, Dr. Edwards graduated from University of Virginia and UNC School of Medicine. He did his residency in surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He and Mary have three children, Virginia, Charles III and Leslie, and eight grandchildren. Away from work, he loves to paint, fish and play golf.
Dr. Sanjay S. Iyer, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Sanjay Iyer, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Iyer is a fellowship-trained Movement Disorders Neurologist who specializes in the care of people with Parkinson’s Disease, tremors, dystonia, tics, and other movement related problems. He completed all his medical training at the Medical College of Georgia. Before joining Memory & Movement Charlotte, he spent more than a decade at Carolinas Healthcare System/Atrium Health, where he served as Department Chair of Neurology and Director of the Movement Disorders Center.
Dr. Iyer has always believed that a multi-disciplinary team approach provides the best care for patients and their care partners. As Medical Director of MMC, he encourages strong collaboration among our physicians, APP’s, nurses, social worker, and the in-house Powerback Rehab team that includes PT, OT, and Speech Therapy. He is a big proponent of exercise, patient empowerment and the power of positive thinking. When not at work, Dr. Iyer enjoys spending time with his family, cheering on his favorite sports teams and visiting Hilton Head Island as often as possible.
Dr. Aristides Chaconas, MD
Neurologist
Dr. Aristides Chaconas, MD
Neurologist
Dr. Chaconas has practiced neurology in Charlotte for 25 years, devoting himself to getting to know his patients and families as he helps them navigate a diagnosis of dementia. Memory & Movement Charlotte offered him the opportunity to practice a highly personal style of what he calls bedside medicine.
A native of Baltimore, he graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore, then completed medical school and neurology residency at Georgetown University School of Medicine. He and his wife, Christina, a radiologist, have two children, Elizabeth and Peter. Dr. Chaconas is an avid marksman and scuba diver.
Heather Braucher, NP
Nurse Practitioner
Heather Braucher
Nurse Practitioner
Through her personal experience caring for a family member with dementia, as well as her professional experience working with patients living with chronic and life-limiting illnesses, Heather has developed a passion for individuals living with memory and movement disorders. She joined Memory and Movement Charlotte after being drawn to the practice’s philosophy of time-and-attention. She is committed to improving the quality of life of our patients and families by providing support, education and expert symptom management.
A native of Ohio, Heather earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She also earned a master’s degree from The Ohio State University School of Nursing. She is certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and has specialized training as an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. She has experience in Mental Health, Oncology and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Jessie Colavita Hoskins, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Jessie Colavita Hoskins, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Jessie was drawn to MMC's time and attention model and the opportunity to focus on both patients and caregivers after seeing first-hand the way fear and stress surrounding memory loss impacts families.
A native Charlottean, Jessie has a BA in English from Boston College, a Masters of Medical Science from Wake Forest, and spent years practicing internal medicine. She brings additional training and certifications from Duke as an integrative health coach, and uses this expertise to further support patients and caregivers as they navigate the stress of new diagnoses.
When not at work, she enjoys reading, baking, gardening and spending time with her husband, 3 children and dog, Dorie.
Johnnie Waataja, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Johnnie Waataja, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Johnnie brings 17 years of experience in various subspecialties of Neurology. She is a strong proponent of education for patients and families, both to understand disease processes and lessen anxiety surrounding a diagnosis. MMC’s multidisciplinary approach to care – and time to get to know each family - drew her to the practice.
Johnnie was raised in the Triad area of North Carolina and graduated from Guilford College and Wake Forest, where she discovered her passion for Neurology. She and her husband have two children, Alli and Cooper, and two fur babies, Lincoln and Riley. She enjoys gardening, hiking, the outdoors, and is learning to play pickleball.
Robyn Wolkofsky, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Robyn Wolkofsky, PA-C
Physician Assistant
Seeing the need to treat dementia differently – caring for the entire family, breaking down the walls of fear and misunderstanding that surround the disease – inspired Robyn to join the team. So did losing her grandmother to dementia.
A native of Cranford, N.J., she graduated from Penn State University and worked as a registered dietitian before earning a Master of Science degree from the Physician Assistant program at Duke University School of Medicine. She and her husband, Evan, have three children, Brooke, Ryan and Jessica. Cooking, watching her children’s ballgames and game night with friends reenergize her for work. .
Clinical Team
Connor Barrett
Registered Nurse
Connor Barrett
Registered Nurse
New to the Charlotte area and a Houston, Texas native, Connor recently graduated from Clemson University with a BS in Nursing. He was drawn to MMC because of the unique and unconventional model of time and attention. This is what he deeply believes healthcare should be - the ability to care for patients and their families every step of the way.
Away from work, Connor enjoys sports, staying active, and spending time with his family and friends.
Katie Cooper, MSW
Family Education and Support Coordinator
Katie Cooper, MSW
Family Education and Support Coordinator
Katie recently completed her Master's in Social Work from NC State University. She joined Memory & Movement Charlotte in August 2021 as a Program Coordinator, focused primarily on Caregiver Resources. Katie works closely with our Advanced Practice Providers, Robyn and Heather, supporting our Care Plan appointments and coordinating our growing Caregiver Support groups.
Additionally, Katie is a facilitator for UNC Charlotte's Caregiver TLC research study, developed in collaboration with Stanford University.
For more information on the TLC program, email Katie at kcooper@mmclt.org.
Lisa Grodi
Registered Nurse
Lisa Grodi
Registered Nurse
An Ohio native, Lisa earned her RN certification From Mercy College of NW Ohio and is a registered Certified Care Manager.
Previously, Lisa worked at Atrium Health as a cardiac nurse and served as the Health and Wellness Manager at The Ivey prior to joining Hospice as a case manager.
Lisa and her husband Lance have 3 children, Vincent, Marissa and Cameron. In her spare time Lisa loves to bike ride, enjoy the beach and spend time with her family.
Heidy Noble, RMA
Clinical Administrator
Heidy Noble
Clinical Administrator
Originally from Tampa, FL, Heidy has always had a passion for helping others. She began her medical career as a Certified Nursing Assistant working with seniors and disabled children. Soon after, she earned her Registered Medical Assistant license to provide clinical and administrative support to physicians.
She learned about Memory and Movement Charlotte from a colleague who worked with Dr. Iyer, and she was drawn to the practice by the time and attention model.
Heidy works closely with Dr. Iyer's team supporting both patients and caregivers, and she helps facilitate the new patient onboarding process.
In her spare time, Heidy enjoys the outdoors and spends quality time with her family and friends.
Kristen Phillips
Registered Nurse
Kristen Phillips
Registered Nurse
Kristen embraces the opportunity to help seniors navigate their health challenges with wisdom and grace.
She joined Memory & Movement Charlotte after 16 years at Carolinas Healthcare System/Atrium, where she worked as a clinical supervisor and in medical surgery, pre-op and other areas. Having a grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer’s deepens her motivation to help others.
A Charlotte native, she earned her RN certification from Central Piedmont Community College. Away from work, she loves spending time with her children, Taylor and Conner.
Christina Ryskiewich
Registered Nurse
Christina Ryskiewich
Registered Nurse
A commitment to the "time and attention" model of medical care drew Christina to Memory & Movement Charlotte. This approach allows Christine to offer unrushed help to patients and families in managing medication and taking care of each other in this phase of life.
An Indianapolis native, she graduated with a BS in nursing from Ball State University and previously worked at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and in pediatrics at Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center. She has also volunteered at the homeless shelter medical clinic in Charlotte.
She and her husband Paul have two sons, Daniel and Alexander. She enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling and cooking.
Shelly Sedory
Registered Nurse
Shelly Sedory
Registered Nurse
The opportunity to truly get to know and care for her patients and their families brought Shelly to Memory & Movement Charlotte. “It’s an amazing place to serve,” she says.
A Pittsburgh native, she earned a BS in Nursing and Master of Education in Health Education from Penn State University. She previously worked as a critical care nurse and critical care educator.
She and her husband Rich have two children, Sam and Holly. Away from work, she loves taking great adventures with her family and cheering on her hometown Pittsburgh Steelers.
Debbie Wolfson
Registered Nurse
Debbie Wolfson
Registered Nurse
Having experienced her mother’s struggle with dementia, Debbie appreciates the compassion needed to help patients and families. That’s what drew her to Memory & Movement Charlotte.
She earned a BS in Elementary Education from Slippery Rock University and an RN degree from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in her native Pittsburgh. She has previous experience as a nurse in Cardiac Care ICU.
Debbie and her husband Ken have two children, twins Maya and Nicholas, and another set of twins – pooches Oscar and Ali. She does pilates for fitness and loves those Pittsburgh Steelers.
Administrative Team
Janet LeClair
Executive Director
Janet LeClair
Executive Director
Her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and a 7-year journey as her primary caregiver led Janet from a successful banking and business career to the not-for-profit world of dementia care. After serving on the board of The Ivey and then as COO for over 6 years, Janet assumed the Executive Director role at Memory & Movement Charlotte in October 2020. A mission to support caregivers and help families combat the impact of memory and movement disorders coupled with a profound respect for Dr. Edwards made this a natural transition and an opportunity to continue to support the greater Charlotte community.
A native of New Jersey, Janet earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Marketing from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Janet spent over 20 years with Wachovia in senior Human Resources and operations roles and served as President of a small Charlotte based HR outsourcing company prior to joining The Ivey.
Janet is a Certified Care Manager and certified in the BCAT (a cognitive screen and assessment tool) program.
Janet and her husband John have four children and one grandchild. She's has served on numerous local boards and currently serves on the Mint Museum of Art collections board and the Magnolia Memory Care, Inc. board in Fort Mill, SC.
Nicolette Albano
Patient Experience Coordinator
Nicolette Albano
Patient Experience Coordinator
Nicolette graduated from UNC Charlotte in the spring of 2022 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a double minor in sociology and gerontology. She was drawn to MMC by the compassionate nature of the staff and the time and attention model. She is the oldest of 4 sisters and was a member of her college dance team. When she isn’t working or dancing, Nicolette loves to travel, cook, and try new foods.
Melanie Baron
Community Engagement, Marketing and Development Director
Melanie Baron
Community Engagement, Marketing and Development Director
Since 1991, Melanie has been telling stories through words, pictures and 3-dimensional environments in museums, libraries and places for informal learning. She moved to Charlotte in 2005 to be part of the team that opened ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, and comes to MMC from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation, where she handled marketing and communications for the fundraising arm of the public library.
Together with her mother and sister, Melanie was a caregiver for her father during his journey with Alzheimer’s disease and saw firsthand the need for comprehensive education and support for both patients and caregivers. It is her privilege to share the impact of MMC’s time and attention approach, and to play even a tiny role in making this type of care possible.
A native of Rhode Island, Melanie holds a BA from Tufts University, and a MEd from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. She and her husband have a teenage daughter who keeps them both driving in circles in their spare time.
Katie Benton
Patient Experience Coordinator
Katie Benton
Patient Experience Coordinator
Katie graduated from Western Carolina University with a B.S. in Recreational Therapy and a minor in Psychology. She's worked in a variety of therapy programs and has always loved working with older adults. She's particularly passionate about MMC's work as her grandfather has been diagnosed with dementia so she understands the struggles that come with this diagnosis for both patients and families. When she isn't working, Katie loves to spend time outdoors, travel and paint.
Dede Heath
Accounting & Business Administrator
Dede Heath
Accounting and Business Administrator
Dede loves helping people and letting them know that Memory and Movement Charlotte is here to help.
An Air Force “brat” who grew up all over, she graduated from Virginia Tech with a BA in Communications and Spanish.
She and her husband Shawn have three sons, Luke, Dean and Pete. She enjoys spending as much time as she can with her family, which includes taking Finn the family dog on walks.
Frances Skenteris
Patient Services Specialist
Frances Skenteris
Patient Services Specialist
Frances recently received her Bachelor’s in Health Systems Management with a double minor in Gerontology and Public Health. She is passionate about MMC because of the emphasis on both patients and their families. Frances greets and welcomes patients and families, making them feel welcome and comfortable. During her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Meagan Smith
Patient Experience Coordinator
Meagan Smith
Patient Experience Coordinator
Meagan was raised by her grandparents and has always enjoyed working with older adults. She is a Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Technician and Phlebotomist. She’s passionate about MMC because of the focus on both patients and their families, the team’s enthusiasm and drive to help others. During her free time, Meagan enjoys road trips and spending time with her grandparents.
Jessica Wendel
Medical Coding Specialist
Jessica Wendel
Medical Coding Specialist
Jessica is a California native with more than ten years’ experience in billing, coding, accounts receivable and hospital administration. She’s always had a passion for helping others and the field of medicine.
She was drawn to the sincerity and sensitivity of Memory & Movement Charlotte’s focus on the family, and she understands the understands from personal experience the challenges of caregiving. She’s proud to work for an organization that empowers caregivers throughout the journey.
In her spare time, Jessica enjoys yoga, the arts and playing with her puppy Kevin.