Two leadership positions in the communications area have been filled at the headquarters of Life Care Centers of America, Cleveland, Tenn.

Leigh Atherton has been appointed senior vice president for corporate and community relations, and Rob Pauza has assumed the role of vice president of The Media Center. The promotions were announced by Beecher Hunter, president.

“Atherton and Pauza are seasoned professionals who will strengthen our communications capabilities and support for our facilities, both internally and with the public,” Hunter said.

Atherton steps into a leadership role in corporate and community relations held by Hunter before he became president. She will have the responsibility of overseeing both The Media Center and public relations. She joined Life Care’s public relations department in March 2008. She was named director of the department in
2012.

Pauza came to Life Care in 1997 as an intern in the graphic services department and was hired as a full-time graphic designer in 1999. He was promoted to director of graphic services in August 2005.

WindChime of Marin, an Integral Senior Living (ISL) community in Kentfield, Calif., has named Julie Smolenski Vibrant Life director.

Smolenski brings eight years of experience working in memory care and skilled nursing facilities and a passion for establishing and nurturing relationships with residents and their families to WindChime. Her interest in working in memory care began as a teenager, when she became the caretaker of her grandmother, who had dementia. She enjoys honoring her grandmother’s memory by ensuring that her residents live their best lives.

At WindChime of Marin, Smolenski helps to ensure that residents are well cared for and living engaged active lives through ISL’s signature program, Vibrant Life.

“Julie’s depth of experience and passion for her work will make a positive impact on the level of care we provide at WindChime,” said Brittany Karlinski, LVN, executive director at WindChime of Marin.

National Physiatry, Miami Beach, Fla., provides physicians who are specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation—physiatrists—to skilled nursing facilities and other rehab locations. Cheryl Slavinsky has joined National Physiatry as vice president, working directly with Chief Executive Officer Glen Rundell, who has a decade of experience in providing physiatry services.

Rundell and Slavinsky work together to educate skilled nursing and other rehab facilities about National Physiatry’s services—most, if not all, at no cost to the facilities, including telehealth and marketing. Rundell matches physiatrists to the specific personality of each skilled nursing or rehab facility and its care team. Because of circumstances caused by the pandemic, many physiatrists currently are available for work, which has not always been the case.

Working with agencies or independently, Slavinsky has consulted with senior living organizations for more than 20 years. She previously served as senior public relations strategist for Varsity, a senior living marketing and sales consulting agency focused on occupancy for retirement communities, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and more. As Rite Aid’s director of public relations, she managed national media relations and crisis communications. She also has more than a dozen years’ agency leadership experience managing client public relations accounts.

Waltonwood Cary Parkway, Cary, N.C., has named Martha Bader marketing manager. Bader brings more than four years of senior living experience to her new position. With a deep understanding of the senior industry, Bader will play a strategic role within Waltonwood Cary Parkway.  Her goal is to meet and exceed company expectations and ensure the needs of each resident and individual in the community are met. With a sincere passion for serving seniors, Bader is excited to learn the ins and outs of the full continuum of care Waltonwood Cary Parkway provides.
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