Essentials of Caregiving – Dementia and Sleep

Dr. Vaou  joined UT Health in San Antonio. She serves as the Division Chief of the Movement Disorder Center which is now a designated Parkinson Foundation Comprehensive Care Center. Dr. Vaou is also the Vice Chair of Faculty Development and Wellness of the department of Neurology at UT Health San Antonio. Prior to that, she served as the Director of the Movement Disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Center at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston, MA. Her expertise is treating patients with Parkinson’s Disease, Atypical Parkinson’s, Essential tremor and other movement disorders. She is also a Board-Certified Sleep specialist and treats sleep disorders in patients with movement disorders. Dr. Vaou’s passion is  Deep Brain Stimulation and Sleep Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease and is skilled in Botox injections. In addition to treating patients with movement disorders and Parkinson’s Disease, Dr. Vaou is the Vice Chair of Faculty Development at UT Health in San Antonio.
Dr. Vaou participates in clinical research evaluating novel pharmacological agents and patient education in Parkinson’s Disease. She is very involved in raising awareness of early PD and DBS treatment and PD in Women. She is also very passionate about genetic testing in people with Parkinson’s Disease with a particular focus in the Hispanic population.

Melissa Flores is a Licensed Professional Counselor at UT Health San Antonio’s Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Trinity University and a master’s in counseling from UTSA.
She joined the UT Health team in 2015 and currently provides clinical counseling for individuals and families who are affected by a neurodegenerative diagnosis, including dementia. She helps individuals navigate emotional challenges and difficult transitions related to new diagnosis, anxiety, depression, grief and loss. She also has received training and offers targeted counseling therapy for individuals struggling with insomnia. She focuses on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help navigate and improve thoughts and behaviors of those she works with. Melissa also serves as the Community Programs Coordinator for the Biggs Institute, working with local organizations in San Antonio to create opportunities to provide socially engaging activities for those living with dementia and their families. She is focused on helping families navigate and cope appropriately when living with dementia and making San Antonio a more inclusive place for all individuals affected by a neurodegenerative disease.