Active Aging: 2025

August 19, 2025

Active Aging: Wellness
The four dynamic talks given by Sonoma Valley Hospital community health experts provide insights on the importance of overall wellness through the lens of Active Aging.

Register at Active Aging: Wellness. Early RSVP is encouraged for all talks as seating is limited.

Master of Ceremony:  Dawn Kuwahara, RN, Chief Ancillary Officer for Sonoma Valley Hospital will welcome guests and introduce each speaker. Dawn is a native to Sonoma Valley and her executive leadership and nursing career spans more than 25 years serving our community.  

SEPTEMBER 5:
GRIEF & LOSS with The Community Mental Health Hub at Hanna
Kristie Walthard is an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. She specializes in Health Psychology and has experience in grief counseling, domestic violence support, and school-based programs serving individuals, couples, and families of all ages. She received advanced training in trauma studies from the Trauma Research Foundation. Kristie’s expertise includes working with trauma, grief, chronic illness, disability, addiction, and codependency. Her approach is trauma-informed, incorporating attachment theory and client-centered practices to create a safe, supportive environment for clients.

SEPTEMBER 12:
AGE FRIENDLY HEALTH SYSTEM: WHAT MATTERS with Rebecca Spear, Sonoma Valley Hospital Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
Rebecca Spear DNP, ARNP, AGNP-C, GS-C is a dedicated healthcare professional with an over 20-year career focused on serving older adults. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Seattle University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Arizona. Her research in delirium prevention in post-acute care, which earned the prestigious Mary Opal Wolanin Outstanding Dissertation for Excellence in Nursing with Vulnerable Populations, was published in the Nurse Practitioner journal in October 2024. Becky holds national certifications as an Adult-Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and a Gerontology Specialist. She currently serves as the Geriatric Nurse Practitioner for Sonoma Valley Hospital, where she leads initiatives aimed at enhancing care for older adults, helping the hospital achieve recognition as an Age-Friendly Health System committed to care excellence. Additionally, Becky works as a geriatric primary care provider with a specialty in dementia care at Sonoma Valley Specialists Family Practice. Beyond her professional roles, Becky is actively involved in Sonoma Valley youth sports and is a grant reader for the Alpha Phi Foundation. She can also be found chasing her husband’s hot air balloons on the weekend.

SEPTEMBER 19:
SLEEP & WEIGHT MANAGEMENT with Dr. Rafael Sepulveda of Sleep Fit Medical – Sleep & Weight Management Center
Dr. Rafael Sepulveda is the founder and medical director of Sleep Fit Medical – Sleep & Weight Management Center in Sonoma, California. He completed his sleep medicine training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Sleep Medicine, and Obesity Medicine.  

Dedicated to advancing accessibility to care, Dr. Sepulveda serves on the AASM Obesity Management Task Force and AASM Foundation Community Sleep Health Grant Review Committee. He has also been a guest on multiple educational platforms such as the AASM “Talking Sleep” podcast, educational symposiums and other webcasts. Previously, he served on the AASM Public Awareness Committee from 2020–2023 and the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Outreach Committee in 2023-2024. His educational efforts focus on advocacy regarding the impact of sleep on metabolic health and the integration of obesity care into the clinical practice of sleep medicine.

SEPTEMBER 26:
WHOLE-PERSON WELLNESS: AGING WITH STRENGTH, GRACE & CONNECTION with Danielly Rocha-Lanter of Danielly’s Fitness
Danielly Rocha-Lanter is the founder of Danielly’s Fitness. Her integrated approach combines stress-reduction techniques, mindful nutrition, and accessible exercise plans that fit seamlessly into your demanding lifestyle. Feel energized, centered, and confident as you create sustainable health from the inside out. Danielly specializes in training people of all levels and inspires them to maximize their fitness, health, and well-being. Whether just a beginner or looking to master powerlifting, she can help you overcome those barriers and achieve your goals.

Email us at community@sonomavalleyhospital.org for more information.