Past Events

January 23, 2020, Annual Meeting and Networking Breakfast: “Wide World of Benefits”

This event explained the different types of benefits and supports available for individuals with disabilities and elders, both public and private, how to access them, and the eligibility requirements. Panelists for the event included Kathy Kelly, Student Benefits Counselor, MRC; Jeff Kielson, Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning at Advocates; Emily Starr, ESQ., Managing Partner at Starr Vander Linden LLP; Deborah Fins, LICSW CMC Director, at Jewish Healthcare Center.

September 26, 2019, Annual Guardianship Conference: “Trends in Guardianship”

This event covered a variety of topics including Grey Divorce, strengths, and limitations to guardianship, conflict resolution, medications, and guardianship - antipsychotics and beyond. It featured many distinguished panelists including, but not limited to Judge Randy Kaplan, Judge Janine Rivers, retired Judge Dorothy Gibson, Judge Kathleen Sandman, Dr. Mark N. Rudolph and the keynote speakers, David N. Sontag, Managing Counsel for Beth Israel Lahey Health and Leslie Joseph, Managing General Counsel for Beth Israel Lahey Health, who spoke about guardianship issues across a healthcare system.

July 17, 2019, MGA Summer Outing

This was a networking event held at Gather, 75 Northern Ave. Boston, MA 02210.

May 23, 2019, Rogers Monitor Training

This event featured three distinguished panelists: the Honorable Barbara M. Hyland, First Justice of the Hampden Probate and Family Court, Lisa M. Killips, MSN, CNP-BC, and Attorney Michelle Sikes. The panelists gave a brief history of how a Rogers Monitor came to be, what a Rogers Monitor does and how a Rogers Monitor performs his or her responsibilities each year.

January 17, 2019, Annual Meeting, “Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation”

This breakfast, networking, and informational event covered red flags you should be looking for, and the steps that you can take to help mitigate the risks of elder abuse and financial exploitation. Panelists for this event were Lisandra Wilmott, LPL Financial Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Compliance, Legal & Risk; Jim O'Sullivan, Esq., Partner at O'Sullivan & Connolly; and Stephan Spano, Esq., Partner at Spano and Dawicki.

November 2, 2018 Annual Conference “Evolving Issues in Practice”

This conference covered new and evolving issues affecting guardianship practice, including unsettled areas of guardianship law and practice; the intersection of mental health and criminal matters; evidentiary issues in guardianship cases; and the epidemic of sexual assault among persons with disabilities. It featured many distinguished panelists including, but not limited to the Honorable John D. Casey, Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court and keynote speaker Secretary Marylou Sudders, of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

September 27, & October 25, 2017 Annual Conference “Guardianship in Massachusetts an Ever Changing Landscape”

This conference focused on the Role of the Guardian - best practices and challenges in the field; the role of the guardian from research perspectives, individual autonomy in the many contexts of guardianship, substance abuse, and the courts, substance abuse, and the courts, and guardianship of minor in a mental health context. It featured many distinguished panelists including, but not limited to Judge Christopher of the Suffolk Probate and Family Court, Judge Brendemuehl of the Concord District Court, Judge Brian Dunn of the Suffolk Probate and Family Court and the keynote speaker, Brenan Abel of the Massachusetts Medical Society, who spoke about current developments of interest.

December 7, 2016 Annual meeting “Guardianship and Elders”

September 28, 2016 & October 26, 2016 Annual Conference “Breaking New Ground”