NCPPC Task Force Members

2022-2024  

Chair

Rachel Thienprayoon, MD, MSCS, FAAP, FAAHPM Bio
Palliative Care Quality Collaborative (PCQC)
Associate Professor of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Medical Director, Star Shine Hospice and Palliative Care

Holly Davis, APRN Bio
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
AVP Clinical Services, Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region, North Carolina

Cheryl Ann Thaxton, DNP, APRN, CPNP, FNP-BC, CHPPN, ACHPN, FPCN Bio
Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association (HPNA)
Director of DNP Program and APRN Clinical Tracks, Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, Houston, and Denton Campuses, Texas

Members

Tolúwalàṣé (Laṣé) Ajayi, MD FAAP Bio
Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)
Medical Director, Adult Palliative Medicine, Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego
Director of Diversity Initiatives and Clinical Research, Scripps Research Translational Institute
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UC San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego

Jennifer Bartz Bio
Family Advocate
Founder and Board President, Hero’s Path Palliative Care

Jori Bogetz, MD Bio
Palliative Care Quality Collaborative (PCQC)
Acting Assistant Professor, Division of Bioethics and Palliative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital

Amanda Borchik, M.Div. Bio
Association of Professional Chaplains (APC)
Pediatric Staff Chaplain, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Danielle Eaves Hernandez, MPH, CCLS, CTRS, CPH Bio
Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)
Certified Child Life Specialist, Community PedsCare Program, Community Hospice & Palliative Care

Sarah Friebert, MD, FAAP, FAAHPM Bio
Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)
Director and Founder, Haslinger Family Pediatric Palliative Care Center, Akron Children’s Hospital Faculty, Palliative Care Leadership Centers

Karen Geiger-Behm, M.Div. Bio
HealthCare Chaplaincy Network (HCCN)
Staff Chaplain II, Bone Marrow Transplant, Solid Tumor and Palliative Care Team, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Rebekah Halpern, MPAS, PA-C  Bio
Physician Assistants in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (PAHPM)
Pediatrix, NICU Miller Children’s Hospital

Betsy Hawley, MA Bio
Network of Pediatric Palliative Care State Coalitions
Executive Director, Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition of Pennsylvania

Lisa Humphrey, MD Bio
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Director of the Division of Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Melissa Hunt, Pharm. D. Bio
Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists (SPPCP)
Pediatric Clinical Pharmacist, Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services

Kristin James, LCPC Bio
Network of Pediatric Palliative Care State Coalitions
Executive Director, Greater Illinois Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition (GIPPCC)
Executive Director, Missing Pieces Child Loss Network

Danielle Jonas, MSW, LCSW Bio
Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network (SWHPN)
PhD Student at NYU Adjunct in the School of Social Work at NYU, and Private Practice, New York City

Tammy Kang, MD, MSCE, FAAHPM Bio
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)
Section Chief, Palliative Care,  and Executive Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics,Texas Children’s Hospital Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Palliative Care, Baylor College of Medicine

Rachel Kentor, PhD Bio
American Psychological Association (APA)
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Psychology Service, Texas Children’s Hospital

Kathie A. Kobler, PhD Bio
Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association (HPNA)
Coordinator, Center for Fetal Care – Perinatal Palliative Care, Advocate Children’s Hospital, Park Ridge, IL

Jenni Linebarger, MD, MPH, FAAP, FAAHPM Bio
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Director, Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, University of Kansas Faculty, Pediatric Bioethics Certificate Course, Children’s Mercy
Chairperson, American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Hospice and Palliative Medicine (SOHPM)

Alexis Morvant, MD Bio
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM)
Chief of Children’s Hospital Service Line: Pediatric Palliative Care and Integrative Therapies, Children’s Hospital New Orleans

Savithri Nageswaran, M.B.B.S., M.P.H Bio
National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC)
Director, Pediatric Enhanced Care Program, Brenner Children’s Hospital
Professor, Pediatrics (Section of Pediatric Palliative & Complex Care), Wake Forest School of Medicine

Matt Norvell M.Div. Bio
HealthCare Chaplaincy Network (HCCN)
Pediatric Chaplain and Clinical Manager for the Department of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy, John Hopkins Hospital

Arika Patneaude, MSW, LICSW, APHSW-C Bio
Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network (SWHPN)
Manager, Palliative Care & Clinical Bioethics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, WA

Jennifer L. Placencia, PharmD, BCPPS Bio
Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists (SPPCP) 
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Palliative Care, Pain and Opioid Stewardship, Texas Children’s Hospital

Sara Reynolds, MDiv, BCC Bio
Association of Professional Chaplains (APC)
Pediatric Senior Chaplain at Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHCO)

Fiona Sampey, PA-C, MMSc Bio
Physician Assistants in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (PAHPM)
Physician Assistant, Palliative Care Consultation Service, Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital (Bozeman, MT)Pediatric Faculty, Master’s Program in Palliative Care, University of Colorado at Denver

Solimar Santiago-Warner, MSW, LCSW, CPLC Bio
Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network (SWHPN)
Perinatal Palliative Care Social Worker and Counselor, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at New York Presbyterian

Jim Santucci, CPA Bio
Family Advocate 
Executive Director, Kara

Tressia Shaw, MD Bio
National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC)
Pediatric Medical Director, Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ
Fellowship Director, Palliative Medicine, Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Dannell Shu, BFA, MWS Bio
Family Advocate
Parent Advocate & Educator, Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition of Minnesota
Member of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Palliative Care Advisory Council

Amanda L Thompson, PhD Bio
American Psychological Association (APA)
Chief, Pediatric Psychology and Director, Pediatric Programs Life with Cancer
Inova Schar Cancer Institute

Emmalee Tresnan, BS, CCLS,  Bio
Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP)
Certified Child Life Specialist, Community Hospice and Palliative Care, Florida

Terri Warren, MSW Bio
Supportive Care Coalition (SCC)
Chief, Hospice and Palliative Care, Providence Home and Community Care in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington and Texas

Conrad Williams, MD, FAAP, FAAHPM Bio
Patient Care Quality Collaborative (PCQC)
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina and Director of the Palliative Care Program for the MUSC Children’s Health System

Jillian Williams Bio

Family Advocate