SIA Brain Awareness Foundation, Inc.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dr. Sylvan Dore'
Advisory Board Member
Dr. Dore’, an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Neurology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Director of the Research Programs in the Department of Anesthesiology. He is also a Member of the Center of Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease at the McKnight Brain Institute. Dr. Dore’ trained at the University of Montreal, and McGill University, and served at Johns Hopkins University for eleven years before joining the University of Florida Community.
As an Advisory Board Member of the Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation, Inc., Dr. Dore provides guidance and input that helps steer the organization to success by keeping the organization up to date on information from the medical and research communities and assisting in ensuring that information about the condition disseminated by the organization is accurate and appropriate.
Dr. Dore' is passionate about family, friends, travel, water, dogs, horses, architecture, design, modern dance, live performances, and, most importantly, research, health, and education.
Valerie Olude
Executive Assistant
Valerie, a wife, mother, very involved covenant member of her local church, community, and Human Resource Director for United Parcel Service better known as UPS is not new to the Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation. During the Foundation conception, Valerie was one of the first Advisory Board Members of Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation and remained active with the 5K Brain Walk and Sia Yorker Medical Science Scholarship Banquet, even after stepping down a few years ago due to her busy work schedule and family responsibilities.
Valerie is not only a team player, but she is a "GO GETTER"! Valerie's philosophy is either you give 100% or nothing at all. Her heart never left the foundation, and now that life has calmed down somewhat, Valerie is back in the Game! Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation Board Members welcome Valerie with open arms!
Tiffanie Trent
Executive Secretary
Tiffanie Trent is a dedicated mother and singled parent. Working in E-commerce she provides site management and customer service for three high end fashion brands. This keeps her quite busy, but she still finds time to give back to her family and community.
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Although 19 years seemed like not enough time, Sia is living proof that “it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” Sia lived a full life, but most importantly, a purposeful life. She made every day count and strove to be an example of Christ in everything she did. During those 19 years, she touched many lives including my own.
Sia Yorker, was more than a cousin to Tiffanie, she was a sister and best friend. Sia always brought joy to Tiffanie's heart, whether it was a phone call, one of their adventures, or even just a Facebook post. To know Sia Yorker was truly to love her.
Tiffanie will be forever thankful for the memories and the bond the two shared. So, until the day Tiffanie and Sia get to see each other again, Tiffanie will honor Sia's life and memory by serving on the board of the Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation. By sharing Sia's story, we will continue to touch lives and raise awareness of this serious brain condition. Together we can make a difference.
Lesly Flynn Yarde
Event Manager
A wife, mother, grandmother, and Greenhouse Specialist, Lesly Yarde has remained a faithful, heart-driven board member of Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation from its conception. Lesly has always believed that God used the suddenly of Sia's transition due to a Sudden Acute Brain Hemorrhage to birth the foundation through her parents.
There are so many that have been impacted by Sia's story and have found the strength to move forward in life because of God's strength that is seen in Sia's parents on a daily basis. Sia Yorker Brain Awareness Scholarship Foundation not only brings awareness to the community of Signs and Symptoms of adverse brain conditions, but the involvement in the foundation also gives one the courage to continue to move forward no matter the suddenlies of life.
Not only have Sia's parents been dear friends to the Yarde family, but they have also served as pastors, which continues to afford many the opportunity to witness God's Strength manifested in their life as they continue to walk out the suddenly of their precious Sia's transition.
Shawn Riggins
Mission Ambassador
Shawn, a certified state and national animal control officer, assists law enforcement as the community's animal expert, works as a social worker, and at times risks his life as an emergency responder to resolve community member conflicts, among other things.
Shawn values his role as an Ambassador for the foundation because Sia always reached out with love to help others become the best they can be. Whether Sia is here or not, she has always wanted to be a pediatrician and was well on her way until the brain hemorrhage occurred. Sia was driven and goal-oriented.
I'm thrilled to be able to join forces with such a wonderful team in order to keep Sia's Dream alive by raising community awareness and education about the signs and symptoms of acute brain hemorrhages and other adverse brain conditions, as well as informing and encouraging graduating high school seniors pursuing a medical science degree to apply for the Sia Yorker Medical Science Scholarship.