The Council was established in May 2019 with the selection of twenty members. The highly qualified and dedicated members of the Council represent the many facets of care necessary for the provision of effective palliative care.  The membership includes representatives from medical, nursing, social work, psychology, psychiatry, exercise physiology, pharmacology, spiritual care, and a patient and family representative.  The Council will meet regularly and meeting agendas and minutes are available through this page.  Education and information materials will also be made available as the work of the Council progresses. 

Membership

Council members are chosen from a pool of qualified applicants to represent the urban, suburban, and rural makeup of Ohio as well as both small- and large-scale systems of care. 

Members of the Council will be expected to carry out the following duties:

• Consult with and advise the director on matters related to the establishment, maintenance, operation, and evaluation of palliative care initiatives in this state; 

• Identify national organizations that have established standards of practice and best practice models for palliative care;

• Identify initiatives established at the national and state levels aimed at integrating palliative care into the health care system and enhancing the use and development of palliative care; and

• Establish guidelines for health care facilities and providers to use in identifying patients and residents who could benefit from palliative care.

On or before December 31 of each year, the Council shall prepare and submit a report of recommendations for improving the provision of palliative care in the State of Ohio to the Governor, the General Assembly, Director of Health, Director of Aging, Superintendent of Insurance, and the Director of Medicaid.

Council Membership December 2022 - November 2025

• Siobhan Aaron, PhD, MBA, MSN, RN, FNP-BC - Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, University Hospitals and Assistant Professor, Case Western reserve University, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing

• Vahagn Azizyan, MA, BCC - Palliative Care Lead Chaplain, Ohio Health

• Susanne M. Evans, RN, BSN, MS, NE-BC - Clinical Director, Cincinnati Children’s Home Care Service, Starshine Hospice 

• Hilary Flint, DO, MEd, FAAP, FAAHPM - Associate Professor of Anesthesia; Fellowship Director - Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine; Pediatric Palliative Medicine -Star Shine Hospice, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center

• Jessica Geiger-Hayes, PhrmD, BCPS, CPE - Clinical Pharmacist, Riverside Methodist Hospital

• Phyllis Grauer, PharmD, RPh, CPE, CDCA - Owner, Specialty Practice Clinical Pharmacist Consultant, Charxis Consulting, LLC  

• Gayle M. Greenhagen, RN, BSN, CHPN - Manager, Bridge Palliative Care 

• Susan Griffiths, CEHCH, LNHA, BS, - CEO Nivalis Health/Hospice/Palliative Care

• Reid Hartmann, MD - Associate Professor Family and Community Medicine, University of Cincinnati; Palliative Medicine Fellowship Director and Palliative Care Consultation, The Christ Hospital; Medical Director, Queen City Hospice and Palliative Care

• Jennifer Henkle, BSHCA, RN, CHPN - Regional Palliative Care Coordinator, Mercy Health

• Robert Kose, MD. JD - Hospice of Northwest Ohio

• Kelly Murray, RN, MSM, CHPCA, CHC - Senior Director of Compliance, Ideal Home Health and Tridia Hospice

• Debra Oriold, MEd - Patient Family Member  

• Chirag Rajni Patel, MD, FAAHPM - Regional Chief Medical Officer, Ohio’s Hospice Southwest Care Region, President Innovative Care Solutions and Pure Healthcare Chief Medical Officer, Pure Healthcare  

• Zach Rossfeld, MD, FAAP - Inpatient Palliative Care Physician, Grant Hospital  

• Laura Kay Shoemaker DO - Director, Palliative Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center  

• Kristi Strawser, MSN, MBA, RN, CHPN, NE-BC - Executive Director, State of the Heart Care

• Adonyah Whipple, APRN, APRN, ACHPN, AGCNS-BC - Senior Patient Care Manager, Kindred Hospice  

Council Membership - May 2019-April 2022

• Jill E. Anderson, MSW-LISW-S - Manager of Population Heath, Equitas Health 

• Mark Curtis, RN, PMHCNS-BC, ACHPN, LMT - Director, Integrative Care, Innovative Care Solutions Center for Supportive Care

• Susanne M. Evans, RN, BSN, MS, NE-BC - Clinical Director, Cincinnati Children’s Home Care Service, Starshine Hospice 

• Sarah Elizabeth Friebert, MD - Director, Haslinger Pediatric Palliative Care Division, Akron Children’s Hospital 

• Jessica Geiger-Hayes, PhrmD, BCPS, CPE - Clinical Pharmacist, Riverside Methodist Hospital

• Phyllis Grauer, PharmD, RPh, CPE, CDCA - Owner, Specialty Practice Clinical Pharmacist Consultant, Charxis Consulting, LLC  

• Gayle M. Greenhagen, RN, BSN, CHPN - Manager, Bridge Palliative Care 

• Medford Mashburn, MD, HMDC - Medical Director, Mercy Youngstown, Hospice of the Valley, and Medicare Care Choices 

      •  Debra Oriold, MEd - Patient Family Member  

• Chirag Rajni Patel, MD, FAAHPM - Regional Chief Medical Officer, Ohio’s Hospice Southwest Care Region, President Innovative Care Solutions and Pure Healthcare Chief Medical Officer, Pure Healthcare  

• Rev. Dr. Paul L. Ray - Director of Chaplaincy Services, Adena Health System  

• Zach Rossfeld, MD, FAAP - Inpatient Palliative Care Physician, Grant Hospital  

• Laura Kay Shoemaker DO - Director, Palliative Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center  

• Kristi Strawser, MSN, MBA, RN, CHPN, NE-BC - Executive Director, State of the Heart Care  

• Kathy Thornton, APRN - Vice President of Clinical Services, Hospice of Huntington in Ohio

• Karen Wonders, PhD, FACSM - Executive Director, Maple Tree Cancer Alliance Program Director, Sports Science, Department of Kinesiology and Health, Wright State University

• Alexander Wolf, DNP, RN, APRN - Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Medicine, TriHealth 

• Adonyah Whipple, APRN, CNS, ACHPN - Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Knox County Hospital  

Meeting Dates