AAHPM committees are a volunteer role that mainly involves reaching out through emails and conference calls to move forward with the responsibilities of the committee.
Committee members are selected to serve a period of two years.
Make sure your email address is up to date in order to receive a notification when the Call for Volunteers opens later this October.
2025-2026 Active Committees
Annual Assembly Planning Committee
Description
Design a comprehensive educational experience including a variety of sessions using evaluation and needs assessment data, educational abstract submissions, and knowledge of current issues.
Committee Roster:
- Richard Morgan Bain – AAHPM Chair
- Holli Martinez, FNP-BC ACHPN FPCN – HPNA Co-Chair
- Kimberly A. Frier, DNP APRN-CNP FNP-BC ACHPN FPCN
- Shari Alton, RN CHPN
- Brian Bell, MD FAAHPM
- Carrie Cormack, DNP CPNP CHPPN
- Tracy Fasolino, PhD FNP ACHPN
- Liz Gundersen, MD FAAHPM
- Noelle Marie Javier, MD
- Amy Porter, MD PhD
- Lynn Reinke, PhD ANP-BC FAAN FPCN ATSF
- Alva R. Roche-Green, MD FAAHPM FAAP FACP
- Billy Rosa, PhD MBE APRN FAANP FAAN FPCN
- Matthew Selle, MS BSN RN CHPN OCN
- Christina Ullrich, MD MPH FAAHPM
- Alison C. Wiesenthal, MD FAAHPM
This committee makes up members from AAHPM and HPNA.
Assessment Work Group
Description
Working to enhance the assessment skills and consistency of hospice and palliative medicine faculty to ensure that fellows are prepared to independently care for patients with serious illness.
Committee Roster:
- Stephen Berns, MD FAAHPM – Chair
- Laura Dingfield, MD MSEd FAAHPM – Co Chair
- Briana Ketterer, MD MS
- Katherine Morrison, MD FAAHPM
- Laura Morrison, MD FAAHPM
- Katie Stowers, DO
- Holly Yang, MD MSHPEd HMDC FACP FAAHPM
Awards Committee
Description
The Awards Committee is tasked with reviewing nominees for AAHPM’s annual awards and making selections based on established criteria and a thorough evaluation of each nominee’s qualifications.
Committee Roster:
- Vicki Jackson, MD MPH FAAHPM – Chair
- Jose Contreras. MD FAAHPM
- Kim Curseen, MD FAAHPM
- Bethany Rose Daubman, MD FAAHPM
- Ronit Elk, PhD FAAHPM
- Amanda Lorenz, MD FAAHPM
- Diana Martins-Welch, MD
Communities Committee
Description
Manage the Academy’s constituency model by establishing and maintaining guidelines, policies, practices and other resources for councils, special interest groups and forums.
Committee Roster:
- Brett Prestia, DO – Chair
- Christine Cofer, MD MS HMDC
- Heather Harris, MD FAAHPM
- Elisheva Newman, MD
- Tonya Smith-Hershman, PharmD
Development Committee
Description
Provide input and oversight to Academy fund development initiatives including individual giving campaigns or appeals and corporate/foundation related activities.
Committee Roster:
- Jacob Strand, MD FACP FAAHPM – Chair
- Paul Tatum, MD MS CMD AGSF FAAHPM – Chair Elect
- Bethany-Rose Daubman, MD FAAHPM
- Andrew Lawton, MD FAAHPM FACP
- Rebecca Sands, DO FAAPM
- Dillon Stein, DO FAAHPM
- Gregg Vandekieft, MD MA FAAHPM
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Description
Implement the Diversity Strategic Plan, promoting a culture of greater diversity and inclusion within the Academy.
Committee Roster:
- Arshia Madni, MD FAAP – Past Chair
- Noelle Marie Javier, MD – Chair
- Jon Furuno, PhD FAAHPM – Chair Elect
- Carlo Basilio, MD MPH
- Carine Davila, MD MPH
- Francisco Augusto Gonzales-Gottlieb, NP
- Ayano Kiyota, MD PhD FAAFP FAAHPM
- Eberechi Nwogu-Onyempka, MD MS FAAHPM
- Sayuj Paudel, MD FACP
- Diana Martins-Welch, MD
- Donna Zhukovsky, MD FACP FAAHPM
Education and Learning SCC
Committee Roster:
- Christine Khandelwal, DO FAAHPM – Chair
- Morgan Bain, MD FAAHPM – Chair Elect
- Mollie Biewald, MD FAAHPM
- Craig Blinderman, MD MA FAAHPM
- Dani Chammas, MD
- Melissa Mazor, PhD MS RN
- Miguel Paniagua, MD FAAHPM
- Debra Parker Oliver, MSW PhD
- Joseph Shega, MD
- Christina Ullrich, MD MPH FAAAHPM
Fellowship Grants Advisory Group
Description
Manage the foundation supported fellowship grants program including distribution of grants, program development for recipients’ fellows, and oversight of impact studies. Identify opportunities to inform, educate, and support fellowship programs in their efforts to obtain local funding.
Committee Roster:
- Dominic Moore, MD FAAHPM FAAP – Chair
- Annemarie Hargadon, MD
- Meredith Maxwell, MD
- Niharika Suchak, MD
- Melissa Teply, MD FAAHPM FACP
- Keisha White Makinde, MD MPH
- Carly Zapata, MD MPH
Fellowships in Training Committee
Description
Empower hospice and palliative medicine fellowship directors to achieve excellence by providing programs and tools to enhance the quality and diversity of their fellowship programs.
Committee Roster:
- Ben Thompson, MD – Chair
- Samuel Anandan, MD
- Mollie Biewald, MD FAAHPM
- Derek Chui, DO
- Brittany Cowfer, MD
- Regina Laico, MD
- Rex Alvin Paulino, MD AGSF
- Laura Taylor, MD MSc
- Jonathan Yeh, MD
Finance and Audit Committee
Description
Responsible for establishing a financial and auditing system that is consistent with current law and good accounting principles, preparing an annual budget for approval by the board, seeing that a certified audit or review is conducted annually, and supervising the maintenance of complete and correct records and books of all financial matters.
Committee Roster:
- Elise Carey, MD FAAHPM FACP – Chair
- Leslie Avant
- Amy Hickman-Davis, DO MACP MS FAAHPM
- Arif Kamal, MS MBA MHS FASCO FAAHPM
- Brian W. Murphy, MD HMDC FAAHPM
Governance Committee
Description
The Governance Committee is responsible for maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the Academy’s governance process and structure. This includes ensuring that the board meets its legal, ethical, and functional responsibilities through the development of effective policies, active committee engagement, strategic board recruitment, comprehensive orientation programs, regular self-assessment, ongoing education, and effective management practices.
Committee Roster:
- Michael D. Barnett, MD MS FAAP FACP FAAHPM – Chair
- Sandra Gomez, MD FAAHPM
- Stacie Levine, MD FAAHPM
- Robert Macauley, MD FAAHPM
- Kristi Saunders, MD MS HMDC DC
Leadership and Career Development Committee
Description
Charged with providing guidance regarding development and execution of dynamic training and learning experiences, ensuring interprofessionals are equipped with effective leadership and management skills appropriate for varied and evolving health care settings.
Committee Roster:
- Perihan El Shanawany, MD MBCH – Chair
- David Buxton, MD FAAHPM
- Niharika Ganta, MD MPH FAAHPM
- Amanda Linz, MD MS FAAP
- Adam Marks, MD MPH FAAHPM
- Simone Rinaldi, ANP MSN ACHPN
- Heidi Young, MD FAAHPM
Medical Student and Resident Engagement Committee
Description
Working to build and sustain a diverse workforce, this committee aims to attract, develop and retain the newest members of the Academy and workforce to expand access to high quality hospice and palliative care.
Committee Roster:
- Andrew Lawton, MD FAAHPM – Chair
- Sarah Cottrell-Cumber, DO
- Carolyn Kezar, MD
- Ian Kwok, MD
- Jared Lowe, MD HMDC
- Kristen G. Schaefer, MD FAAHPM
- Linda Siegel, MD FAAP FAAHPM
- Bryan Struck, MD
- Dustin Suanino, MD
- Amy Trowbridge, MD
- April Zehm, MD FAAHPM
Mid-Career Work Group
Committee Roster:
- Laura Dingfield, MD FAAHPM – Co-Chair
- Jaclyn Shameklis, MD – Co-Chair
- Mollie Biewald, MD FAAHPM
- Andre M. Cipta, MD FAAHPM
- Shannon Devlin, MD
- Kathleen Doyle, MD
- Ricky Leiter, MD MA FAAHPM
- Rebecca Martin, MD
- Jonathan Mullin, MD
- Annette Nijjar, MD
Next Gen Scholars Work Group
Description
The workgroup plays a vital role in identifying and cultivating relationships with HBCUs and overseeing the scholars and sponsors’ application, selection and matching process. Also makes recommendations on how to improve the program and expand marketing efforts.
Committee Roster:
- Kimberly Curseen, MD FAAHPM – Chair
- Ronit Elk, PhD FAAHPM
- Heather Harris, MD FAAHPM
- Arshia Madni, MD FAAP
- Alvin Reaves, MD FACP FAAHPM
- Maisha Robinson, MD MS FAAN FAAHPM
- Shellie Williams, MD FAAHPM
- Ivan Zama, MD FAAHPM
Publications Committee
Description
Serve as the forum for strategic oversight, communication and coordination regarding AAHPM official publications, including Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, PC-FACs* and AAHPM Quarterly.
Committee Roster:
- Claire K Ankuda, MD MPH – Co-Chair
- Rab Razzak, MD FAAHPM – Co-Chair
- Anna Leech, MD FAAHPM – Past Chair
- Amber Comer, JD PhD
- Bradley Eckert, MD MS
- Lori A Earnshaw, MD HMDC FAAHPM
Public Policy Committee
Description
Examine public policy issues with the potential to impact members, their patients, and the field; develop AAHPM’s advocacy agenda; and guide the Academy’s response to legislative and regulatory proposals.
Committee Roster:
- Claire K. Ankuda, MD MPH – Co-Chair
- Rab Razzak, MD FAAHPM – Co-Chair
- Anna Leech, MD FAAHPM – Past Chair
- Kimberly Bower, MD HMDC FAAHPM DC
- Amber Comer, JD PhD
- Bradley Eckert, MD MS
- Lori A. Earnshaw, MD HMDC FAAHPM
- Amy L. Davis, DO MS FAAHPM MACP
- Christopher Jones, MD MBA HMDC FAAHPM
- Chad Kollas, MD FACP FAAHPM
- Shelly Lo, MD
- Debra Lotstein, MD MPH FAAP FAAHPM
- Sonia Malhotra, MD MS FAAHPM FAAP
- Edward W. Martin, MD MPH HMDC FAAHPM
- Bruce C. Smith, MD MACP HMDC
- Ruth Thomson, DO MBA HMDC FACOI FAAHPM
- Gregg VandeKieft, MD MA FAAHPM
Quality Committee
Description
Promote and guide activities that improve the quality of health care based on evidence and research for people with serious illness and their caregivers in all settings.
Committee Roster:
- Laura P. Gelfman, MD MPH FAAHPM – Chair
- Emily Martin, MD MS FAAHPM – Chair Elect
- Eric Goodlev, MD – Past Chair
- Alia Berlin, FNP
- Rachelle Bernacki, MD MS FAAHPM
- Lama El Zein, MD MHA FAAFP FAAHPM
- Katherine Hicks, MD
- Michael Huber, MD MS HEC-C
- Kate Lally, MD FAAHPM
- Britni Lookabaugh, MD FAAHPM
- Emily Martin, MD MS FAAHPM
- Jasmin Meinke-Zhao, MD
- Carol Noon
- Ramiro Osvaldo Navia, MD
- Brandon Perkovich
- Morvarid Rezaie, DO HMDC
- Brenda Stokes, MD HMDC
- Audrey Tan, DO
- David Wu, MD FAAHPM
Research Committee
Description
Recommend ways in which the Academy can promote training, funding and implementation of research while collaborating with other national organizations to formulate a national research agenda for palliative care and advocate for increased funding.
Committee Roster:
- Laura Petrillo, MD – Chair
- Sarah Cross, MPH PhD LMSW
- Karleen Giannitrapani, PhD
- Sarina Isenberg, MA PhD
- Ashwin Kotwal, MD MS
- Elizabeth Kvale, MD MSPH FAAHPM
- Thomas LeBlanc, MD MA MHS FAAHPM
- Regina Mackey, MD
- Cara McDermott, MSc PharmD PhD
- Gina Piscitello, MD MS
- Daniel Shalev, MD
- Sarguni Singh, MD
- Rekha Thammana, MD
- Jennifer Tjia, MD MSCE FAAHPM
- Keisha White Makinde, MD MPH
State of the Science Planning Committee
Committee Roster:
- Kathleen Unroe, MD MHA MS – Co-Chair
- Joan Gleba Carpenter, PhD ACHPN – Co-Chair
- Prasanna Ananth, MD MPH
- Karen Bullock, PhD
- Elizabeth Dzeng, MD MPH PhD
- Deborah Ejem, MA PhD
- Stacy M. Fischer, MD
- Jennifer Gabbard, MD
- Shena Gazaway, RN PhD CHPN
- Mary Isaacson, RN PhD CHPN FPCN
- Sarina Roslyn Isenberg, MA PhD
- Erica C. Kaye, MD MPH FAAHPM
- Virginia LeBaron, PhD ACHPN FAAN
- Melissa Mazor, RN MS PhD
- Michael Smith, PharmD FCCP FAAHPM
- Jill Steiner, MD MS
- Karla Washington, PhD
- Rachel Wells, PhD, RN