Skip to main content

Retirement hasn't slowed this former Project Director's drive to make a difference

This June, Bertha was honored as the 2025 AIM Advocate of the Year at the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum in Washington, DC. AIM, the legislative advocacy arm of the Alzheimer’s Association, annually recognizes one volunteer advocate from across the country for their outstanding contributions to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementias. 

 bertha-bullen.jpg

Dr. Bertha Bullen receiving her award from actor and AIM advocate, Diedrich Bader

 

As an AIM Advocate, Bertha meets regularly with both federal and state legislators to champion increased funding for dementia research and to support legislation that benefits individuals living with dementia and their families. She has served as AIM Ambassador to Senator Gary Peters, then-Representative Elissa Slotkin, Representative Tom Barrett, and currently to Senator Elissa Slotkin—engaging with them and their staff at least five times a year. She also maintains ongoing communication with her state senators and representative, ensuring that dementia-related issues remain a legislative priority.

Bertha’s commitment to this cause spans more than 15 years of volunteer service with the Alzheimer’s Association and AIM. Her contributions include facilitating caregiver support groups, advocating for research and caregiver legislation, serving on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s planning committee, leading community education programs, and stepping in wherever help is needed.

Her advocacy is deeply personal. Bertha’s initial motivation stemmed from losing her mother-in-law, grandmother, and mother to Alzheimer’s disease. That passion has only deepened following the loss of her brother to dementia and her sister’s recent diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s. For Bertha, staying involved is both a way to fight the disease and a path toward healing—transforming personal loss into meaningful action that uplifts others.  Learn More

 

Dr. Bertha Bullen joined the department in 1997 as Project  Director for Dr. Claudia Holzman’s
Pregnancy Outcomes and  Community Health (POUCH) Study and continuing in this role through 2016, directing several follow-up studies including the POUCHmoms Study. After retirement in  2017, Dr. Bullen continued working part-time with Dr. Holzman, assisting with POUCH data management and manuscript preparations until early 2020.