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. 

Statutory Objectives of the Council

1. Consult with and advise the director on matters related to the establishment, maintenance, operation, and evaluation of palliative care initiatives in this state;
2. Consult with the department of health for purposes of its implementation of section 3701.361 of the Revised Code;
3. Identify national organizations that have established standards of practice and best practice models for palliative care;
4. 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;
5. Establish guidelines for health care facilities and providers to use under section 3701.362 of the Revised Code in identifying patients and residents who could benefit from palliative care;
6. On or before December 31 of each year, prepare and submit to the governor, general assembly, director of health, director of aging , superintendent of insurance, medicaid director, and executive director of the office of health transformation a report of recommendations for improving the provision of palliative care in this state.

Council Membership - May 2019-April 2022

• Jill E. Anderson, MSW-LISW-S - Clinical Manager, Mount Carmel Hospice and Palliative Care

• 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 

• Charles von Gunten, MD. PhD, FACP - Vice President, Medical Affairs, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Ohio Health Kobacker House 

• 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