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
| Name | Affiliation |
| Executive Director of NASW-Florida Chapter | |
| Steve Bahmer | President & CEO of Leading Age Florida |
| Dorene Barker | Associate State Director, Advocacy of AARP Florida |
| Travis Blanton | Owner, Partner of Johnson & Blanton |
| Maria Cabrerra | American Cancer Society |
| Executive Vice President of Florida Tax Watch | |
| Christopher Cogle, MD | Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council (CCRAB) |
| Kristen Griffis | Executive Director of Elder Options |
| Leonard Hock | Lead of Florida POLST |
| Melissa Jordan | Chief of Public Health of Florida Health |
| Scott Kistler, MHA | Vice President for Strategy & Business Development of Empath Health |
| Sheri Kittelson, MD, FAAFP | Associate Professor, Chief, Division of Palliative Care, Department of Medicine of University of Florida |
| Michael Sheedy |
Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops |
| Margherita Labson, BSN, MSHSA, CPHQ, CCM | Labson & Associates |
| Michael Lawton |
CEO of Florida Health Plan, United Healthcare |
| Paul Ledford |
President & CEO of Florida Hospice & Palliative Care |
| Denise Bellville |
Executive Director of Home Care Association of Florida |
| Paul D. Malley |
President of Five Wishes |
| Gail Matillo |
President & CEO of Florida Senior Living Association |
|
Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) |
|
| Bobbie McKee |
Research Advocacy Manager of Moffitt Cancer Center |
| Donna Melogy |
Vice President, Case Management, Long Term Care of Sunshine Health |
| Cindy Meredith |
Director Client Relations of Florida Association of Health Plans |
| Samer Nasr, MD |
VISN 8 Clinical Lead, Rehabilitation and Extended Care Integrated Community of Care, Network 8 (10N8) |
| Juan Palacios |
Service Chief, Palliative, Geriatrics & Extended Care of Orlando VA Medical Center |
| Susan Ponder-Stansel |
President & CEO of Alivia Care, Inc. |
| Emmett Reed |
Executive Director of Florida Health Care Association |
|
|
|
| Laurence M. Solberg, MD, AGSF |
Staff Geriatrician, NF/SG VAHS GRECC 182, US Dept. of Veterans Affairs of Veterans Health Administration |
| Kim Streit |
Vice President of Florida Hospital Association |
| Megan Wessel |
Vice President, Regional Cancer Control, American Cancer Society of Southeast Region |
