Noelle Marie Javier, MD, is a trained internist, geriatrician, and hospice and palliative care specialist who also serves as a faculty member at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. She is a long-time advocate and champion for the provision of high quality and holistic medical care to the marginalized members of society including the older adults, indigent population, and the members of the LGBTQ population. As an empowered minority woman of Asian descent and transgender experience, she understands firsthand the unique set of care needs affecting this population. She has taken part and continues to promote culturally sensitive health care education and training in both local and regional settings.

 

Constance Dahlin, ANP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN is the Director of Professional Practice at the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), a consultant to the Center to Advance Palliative Care for their community-based initiative, a palliative NP at North Shore Medical Center in Massachusetts, Co-PI for a project to provide primary palliative care education to rural and community APRNs, national faculty for the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), and editor of the second and third editions of the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care. Ms. Dahlin is an ally committed to the delivery of high-quality palliative care to LGBTQ people and their families.

 

Gary Gardia, MEd, MSW, LCSW, began this career path as a volunteer more than 30 years ago. Since then he has worked in many capacities leading a variety of teams and departments. Gary received the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization's (NHPCO) "Heart of Hospice Award" for developing innovative programs to meet the needs of caregivers and the bereaved. Gary has also worked as a psychotherapist in private practice with a specialty in grief and loss, personal growth and development and substance abuse as well as offering guidance for people diagnosed with serious illnesses. For over 7 years, Gary served in leadership positions with NHPCO including the national section leader for Volunteers and Volunteer Managers as well as the section leader for Social Workers. He has recently written and taught an 8-month all online course entitled "Post-MSW Palliative Care Certificate" and an 8-week course entitled "Critical Palliative Care Skills for Social Workers" attended by social workers worldwide. Gary is a frequent presenter and keynote speaker at state and national conferences, and provides education, coaching, and retreats for hospital palliative care programs, hospices and other businesses.

 

Martha Rutland, DMin, is Director of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at VITAS Healthcare. She is a Certified Supervisor by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and is a Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains, with a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary. Martha is also an Ordained Minister through the United Methodist Church.

 

Judi T. Haberkorn, PhD, MSW, MPH, MBA, is a healthcare practitioner with over 20 years of experience in healthcare and social services. Dr. Haberkorn has served as both an Assistant Professor and as a healthcare training executive. Dr. Haberkorn has spent nearly 10 years in the hospice field and considers it an honor to work with patients in end of life care.

 

Reverend Vonshelle J. Beneby, MDiv, has been in ministry since 1992, and was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 2009. Vonshelle is a Chaplain/Psychosocial Support Coordinator for VITAS Healthcare in Volusia-Flagler Counties of Florida.  Vonshelle assesses and provides for the spiritual needs of patients, families, caregivers, and staff through pastoral care, spiritual counseling and bereavement services. Vonshelle is a member of the VITAS Ethics and Quality Assessment Committees. VITAS recognition includes certified trainer and lecturer and multiple recipient of Employee of the Year Award for Outstanding Chaplain Service. Local church involvements are pastoral care, planning and participating in worship services, preaching and litur-gical/interpretive dance.  Vonshelle also serves as a consultant leading discussions and workshops on ways churches may become more inclusive, open and affirming

 

Chaplain Sam Mullen ministers in an interfaith capacity in hospice chaplaincy with VITAS Healthcare, where he has been a staff chaplain for four years.  After 15 years as an evangelical pastor, Sam came out as gay and is now actively involved in advocacy for the LGBTQ community.  Sam has completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education, is certified as a grief coach, and has had several gay hospice patients.  Sam has also lead bereavement support groups for LGBTQ people in his area.