Our Purpose
Formed in 2018 by founding partners Alivia Care and the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, the Florida Palliative Care Coalition now serves as the only organization solely focused on advancing the understanding, visibility, availability, and practice of palliative care in Florida.
OUR MISSION
To support and inspire the acceleration of solutions that promote better quality of life for Floridians living with serious, chronic, or advanced illness through research, education, advocacy and access to holistic health care.
OUR VISION
A future in which Floridians with serious, chronic, or advanced illness and their caregivers receive holistic health care that aligns with their goals, values and preferences and provides the best quality of life.
Florida Palliative Care Coalition Steering Committee
Co-Chairs
- Susan Ponder-Stansel – CEO, Alivia Care
- Paul Ledford – President & CEO, Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association
Members
| Name | Affiliation |
| Joyce Hahn, PhD | AARP |
| Sue Lehrer, PhD | AARP |
| Susan Ponder-Stansel – CEO | Alivia Care |
| Susan Harban-Alford – Senior Director, Government Relations | American Cancer Society – Southeast Region |
| Anna Gloth, APRN – Vice President of Program Development | Avow |
| Tara Friedman, MD, FAAHPM – Chief Medical Officer | Chapter Health |
| Mary Thomas, ESQ. – Executive Director | Council of Florida Medical School Deans |
| Katina Mustipher – CEO |
Elder Options
|
| Rick Teitzman, DO – Medical Director of Palliative Care | Empath Health |
| Pam Potter Ricco – COO | Five Wishes/Aging with Dignity |
|
Kimberly Smoak, MSH, QIDP – State Survey Agency Director
|
Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)
|
| Rebeca Mangali, DMS – Board President | Florida Academy of Physician Assistants |
| Allison Justice – Board President Elect | Florida Academy of Physician Assistants |
| Cynecia Welch – Education & Communication Manager | Florida Assisted Living Association |
| George Luck, MD FAAHPM – Professor, Anesthesiology, Department of Surgery | Florida Atlantic University, Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine |
| Erin Kobetz, PhD, M.P.H., Chair | Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council (CCRAB) |
| Michael Sheedy – Executive Director | Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops |
| Michaela Loomis, M.P.H – Associate for Bioethics | Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops |
| Jeff Obos – Public Information Administrator | Florida Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Susan Anderson – Director of Regulatory Affairs | Florida Health Care Association |
| Paul Ledford – President & CEO | Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association |
| Kim Streit, MBA, MHS – Senior Vice President | Florida Hospital Association |
| Leonard Hock, DO, MACOI, CMD | Florida Medical Directors Association and the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association |
| Tysharra Belfon, MSN, FNP-BC | Florida Nurses Association |
| Gail Matillo – President & CEO | Florida Senior Living Association |
| Niharika Suchak, MBBS, MHS, FACP, AGSF – Associate Professor, Department of Geriatrics | Florida State University, School of Medicine |
| Meg Cannan – Director of Research Engagement | Florida Tax Watch |
| Linda Ward – President & CEO | Gulfside Healthcare Services, Inc. |
| Virgina Norton – Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner | Gulfside Healthcare Services, Inc. |
| Denise Bellville – Executive Director | Home Care Association of Florida |
|
Lolita Melhado, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, ACHPN, FPCC |
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association |
| Travis Blanton – Partner | Johnson & Blanton |
| Allison, Salib, D.O., F.A.C.O.I., F.A.C.P. – Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine & Hospice and Palliative Care, Assistant Director of Clinical Examination | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton |
| Steve Bahmer – President & CEO | Leading Age Southeast |
| Bobbie McKee, PhD – Research Advocacy and Public Policy Director | Moffitt Cancer Center |
| Christina Cazanave-McCarthy, MSW – Executive Director | NASW-Florida Chapter |
| Hugh Clark, PhD – Association President | NASW-Florida Chapter |
| Margherita Labson, RN, BSN, MSHSA, CPHQ – Compliance Director, National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) | National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI) |
| Linda Brecher, DO, FACOI, FACR – Faculty |
Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine
|
| Brad Shapiro – Vice President, Long Term Care |
Sunshine Health
|
| Sheri Kittleson, MD, FAAFP – Associate Professor, Chief, Division of Palliative Medicine |
University of Florida, Department of Medicine
|
|
Jennifer O’Neill, DNP, MBA, Vice President, Palliative Care |
VITAS Healthcare |
|
Joe Shega, MD – Chief Medical Officer |
VITAS Healthcare |
