Pediatric Palliative Care National Action Initiative: Steering Committee Members

Leveraging the growth and maturation of the field, in February 2019 a steering committee of pediatric palliative care leaders representing a variety of disciplines, organizations, and areas of focus convened to identify strategic solutions to major access barriers nationally. Using a consensus-driven process, the committee identified potential interventions to grow and strengthen the field. Work to refine and address this list of action items is ongoing.

Sarah Friebert, MD
Director, Haslinger Family Pediatric Palliative Care Center, Akron Children’s Hospital
Faculty, Palliative Care Leadership Centers™

Diane E. Meier, MD, FACP, FAAHMP
Director, Center to Advance Palliative Care

Joanne Wolfe, MD, MPH
Director, Pediatric Palliative Care, Boston Children's Hospital
Division Chief, Pediatric Palliative Care Service, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Chris Feudtner, MD, PhD, MPH
Director of Research, Pediatric Advanced Care Team, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Toluwalase Ajayi, MD
Director, Diversity Initiatives and Clinical Researcher, Digital Medicine, Scripps Research Translational Institute
Director, Palliative Medicine, Scripps Mercy Hospital

Justin N. Baker, MD
Member, St. Jude Faculty
Chief, Division of Quality of Life and Palliative Care
Attending Physician, Quality of Life Service
Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program

Robert A. Bergamini, MD
Mercy Clinic, Children's Cancer and Hematology

Deborah Campbell, MD, FAAP
Professor of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Chief, Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore

Joan “Jody” Chrastek, RN, DNP, CHPN, FPCN
Pediatric Advanced Complex Care Team Coordinator, FACE-TC Research Interventionist, Fairview Home Care and Hospice

Tammy I. Kang, MD, MSCE
Section Chief, Palliative Care, Texas Children’s Hospital
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine

Kathie Kobler, PhD, APRN, PCNS-BC, CHPPN, FPCN
APRN Coordinator, Center for Fetal Care
Perinatal Palliative Care, Advocate Children's Hospital

Ron-Li Liaw, MD
Director, KiDS of NYU Foundation Center for Child and Family Resilience, Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care, NYU Langone Health

Jennifer S. Linebarger, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Palliative Care
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine

Debra Lotstein, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, USC Keck School of Medicine
Director, Division of Comfort and Palliative Care, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine

Kathy Perko, MS, CPLC, CHPPN, FPCN
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

Stacy S. Remke, MSW, LICSW, APHSW-C
Senior Teaching Specialist - Health, Disabilities and Aging, School of Social Work, University of Minnesota

Abby R. Rosenberg, MD, MS, MA
Associate Professor, Pediatrics, University of Washington
Director, Palliative Care and Resilience Lab, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
Director, Pediatrics, Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW

Elisha Waldman, MD, FAAHPM
Chief, Division of Palliative Care, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

James A. Block, MD
President, J. A. Block Health Associates

Richard D. Goldstein, MD
Program Director, Robert’s Program on Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School

Rebecca Kirch, JD
Executive Vice President, Healthcare Quality and Value, National Patient Advocate Foundation