Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics

Meet Our Team

Robert M. Arnold, MD

Robert M. Arnold, MD, is a distinguished service Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and in the University of Pittsburgh Center for Bioethics and Health Law. He completed his medical school training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and residency at Rhode Island Hospital. Subsequently he has been on the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh. From 2000-2016, Dr. Arnold was the first Leo H. Creip Chair of Patient Care. The chair emphasizes the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, particularly at the end of life. He is the Director of the Institute for Doctor-Patient Communication and the Medical Director of the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute. He is clinically active in palliative care.

Dr. Arnold has published on end-of-life care, hospice and palliative care, doctor-patient communication and ethics education. His current research interests are focused on educational interventions to improve communication in life-limiting illnesses and better understanding how ethical precepts are operationalized in clinical practice. He also is working with the UPMC Health System to develop system-wide, integrative palliative services throughout the health system. He was the Past-President of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities as well as the Past-President of American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Amar Bansal, MD

Amar Bansal, MD , is an Assistant Professor in the Section of Palliative and Medical Ethics and the Renal Electrolyte Division at the University of Pittsburgh. He rounds on both the inpatient nephrology and palliative care consult teams. In the outpatient setting, he has an interest in the following areas: 1) individuals who may be interested in discussing aggressive management of their kidney disease without using dialysis; 2) those living with cancer who also have kidney disease, 3) individuals with liver and kidney disease, 4) polycystic kidney disease, and 5) ANCA associated vasculitis.

Karl B. Bezak, MD, HMDC
Karl B. Bezak, MD, HMDC (he/him) is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Bezak completed his medical school training at Vanderbilt University, internal medicine residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, and hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He received additional training in global health with the National Institutes of Health, gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Pennsylvania and has prior experience as an academic hospitalist.

He currently serves as co-medical director for the UPMC Advanced Illness Care Program (Palliative Care at Home) as well as the medical director for the TelePalliative Consult Service serving rural communities in Western Pennsylvania.

Dr. Bezak provides advanced pain and symptom management, assists patients, families, and clinicians with interpersonal communication and complex medical decision-making, and aims alleviate suffering and ensure goal-concordant care for patients with serious life-limiting illness.

He is passionate about fostering awareness and engagement in palliative care as an essential paradigm for providing whole-person, high-value, equitable, patient and family-centered care that enhances long-term quality of life and supports sustainability of health systems.

Dr. Bezak is an educator of medical trainees at all levels, and the director of quality improvement for the hospice and palliative medicine fellowship program, with academic interests in telepalliative care, healthcare innovation, technology, and social entrepreneurship.

Mamta Bhatnagar, MD

Mamta Bhatnagar, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her medical education at Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi, India and completed an internal medicine residency at St Vincent Charity Hospital, Case Western University in Ohio. Dr. Bhatnagar subsequently completed a fellowship in Geriatrics from the Cleveland Clinic and a palliative medicine fellowship from Summa Hospital Health System in Ohio.

Dr Bhatnagar has written on frailty in palliative care, weight loss in the elderly and side effects of psychoactive medications in older adults. She successfully completed a Masters in Clinical Research at University of Pittsburgh and completed research projects exploring the importance of functional status to quality of life in palliative care patients and their clinicians. In her role as Medical Director for palliative care services at UPMC Shadyside, she has completed multiple cycles of Quality Improvement projects around CPR assessment and Advance Directives in the hospital and outpatient settings. She currently serves as the Director of the Supportive and Palliative care clinic at Hillman where she is continuing her Quality Improvement projects with Advance Care Planning. Dr Bhatnagar also co-directs the Advance Illness Care program with the UPMC Health Plan.

Rhiannon Bircher, MSN, CRNP

Rhiannon Bircher, MSN, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner with the Supportive Care and Palliative Medicine team at UPMC Presbyterian. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology at Juniata College in 2011. That same year she attended Duquesne University’s second-degree nursing program and earned her BSN in 2012. From there, Rhiannon worked at Presbyterian as an ICU nurse for 4 years before taking a position as a float nurse within the system while she pursued her Master’s degree. She again graduated from Duquesne in 2019 with her MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Rhiannon looks forward to supporting patients and their families as they cope with difficult circumstances.

Tammy Brinker, CRNP

Tammy Brinker, CRNP, is currently a Nurse Practitioner in the Supportive and Palliative Care Program at the UPMC Presbyterian Heart and Vascular Institute and is also a member of the UPMC Presbyterian inpatient consult team for Supportive and Palliative Care. Her primary role is helping patients with life-limiting illnesses by addressing pain and symptom management, goals of care, and end-of-life issues.

Tammy earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1989, worked as a critical care nurse for eight years, then earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh in 1997. She is board-certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner, and she also earned Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse credentials in 2023. Her work prior to joining the palliative care team included working as a nurse practitioner in primary care internal medicine, cardiology, and inpatient medicine.

Hailey Bulls, PhD

Dr. Hailey Bulls is an Assistant Professor in the Palliative Care Section of the Division of General Internal Medicine, licensed clinical psychologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Associate Director of the CHAllenges in Managing and Preventing Pain (CHAMPP) clinical research center at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Bulls completed her doctorate in Medical/Clinical Psychology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, clinical internship at James A. Haley VA, and NCI R25-funded postdoctoral fellowship in behavioral oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. She is an NIH-funded clinician investigator, including an NCI-funded K08 award. Dr. Bulls’ research program aims to develop and test targeted, tailored pain management interventions as early as possible in the cancer continuum, as well as address issues that commonly arise with prescription opioids (e.g., opioid stigma, health equity). Dr. Bulls also evaluates experimental models of cancer pain using actigraphy and quantitative sensory testing. She has been recognized nationally for her work, including an honorable mention for the NIH HEAL Director’s Trailblazer Award and acceptance to the SBM Monica Baskin Diversity Institute for Emerging Leaders.

Cathy Calkins, MSN, CRNP

Cathy Calkins, MSN, CRNP is a nurse practitioner within the Supportive and Palliative Care program with the inpatient consult service at UPMC Presbyterian. Her primary role is to provide care for hospitalized patients with life limiting illness though pain and symptom management, facilitating goals of care discussions, and providing support to families. 

Cathy graduated from West Virginia University in 2007, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She worked at UPMC Presbyterian for eight years with experience in trauma and ICU. Her personal connection with patients and her families earned her an ACES award. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing from Carlow University, in 2015. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Palliative care has been the primary focus of her advanced degree. She worked at Aspire healthcare for four and a half years providing palliative care to patients in the home setting, until joining the UPMC inpatient team in 2020.

Chris Chavlick

Chris Chavlick joined the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics as an administrative assistant. She is currently enrolled in the Nonprofit Management program at the University of Pittsburgh and has over 20 years of administrative experience. She recently worked for the Office of Child Development at Pitt as an executive assistant to the co-directors. Prior to that, she worked as the assistant to the Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology section at UPMC Presbyterian.

Julie W. Childers, MD, FAAHPM

Julie W. Childers, MD, FAAHPM,, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2005 and completed residency training in internal medicine at the University of Rochester in 2008. She completed fellowship training in palliative care in 2009 and obtained a master’s degree in medical education from the Clinician Educator Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh in 2010. She joined the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh in July of 2010 and is now a Professor of Medicine. She serves as an attending physician on the inpatient palliative care consultation services at Presbyterian and Mercy hospitals, and is the medical director of the medical ethics consultation service at Presbyterian/Shadyside Hospitals. At the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, she serves as the Ethics/Law curricular lead, and in 2021, she was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators. In addition to her roles in palliative care, medical ethics, and medical education, she is board certified in Addiction Medicine, and serves as a consultant on the Addiction Medicine Consult Service at Presbyterian Hospital and has an outpatient clinic for opioid use disorder. Her academic interests include teaching motivational interviewing and serious illness conversations, treating pain in patients with co-occurring substance use disorders, and managing addiction in patients with serious illness.

Jamie Ciotti, MSW, LCSW

Jamie Ciotti, MSW, LCSW is a Palliative and Supportive Care Social Worker at UPMC Mercy Hospital. Working collaboratively with the Palliative Care team, she provides psychosocial support for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families, including education on end-of-life issues and assistance with the transition to palliative care or hospice.

Jamie comes to the Palliative and Supportive Institute with a diverse background in medical social work, mental health, and education. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ashland University and earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh.

René N. Claxton, MD, MS

René N. Claxton, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her medical school training at the University of Florida, Internal Medicine residency at the University of Virginia and palliative medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. She also completed a master’s degree in Medical Education at the University of Pittsburgh. She is clinically active in the palliative care inpatient setting and serves as the Director of Education for the Section of Palliative care and Medical Ethics and as the Assistant Medical Director for UPMC Community Palliative Care Programs.

Jennifer Davison, DNP, CRNP

Jen Davison, DNP, CRNP is a nurse practitioner with the Supportive and Palliative Care Institute working in the outpatient palliative care clinic at UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital. Prior to this role she helped launch the Palliative and Supportive Institute’s inpatient telemedicine consult service, providing palliative care consults to some of UPMC’s community hospitals.

Jen earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources with a minor in Education from Oregon State University in 2002. After several years in the natural resource education field, she returned to school and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University in 2006. Jen spent her time in nursing from 2006 to 2015 working in oncology on the inpatient and outpatient side where she was introduced to the field of palliative care. She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2015 at the University of Pittsburgh. Since completing her graduate nursing education, she has been practicing palliative care across multiple settings including the hospital, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and tele-medicine.

Kendall Downer, MD

Kendall Downer, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh.  She completed medical school training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, internal medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Her clinical responsibilities are mainly on the inpatient Palliative Care service at UPMC Shadyside hospital. Her academic interests include medical education and the partnership of palliative care and malignant hematology.

Amy Drangines, MSW, LCSW

Amy Drangines, MSW, LCSW is a Social Worker with the Palliative Care Team at UPMC Shadyside Hospital. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Kentucky and Master of Social Work with an Integrated Healthcare Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining the Palliative Care Team at UPMC Shadyside, Amy worked as a Palliative Care Social Worker at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL and as a unit-based Social Worker at UPMC Shadyside in Oncology and Intensive Care Units.

As part of the Palliative Care team at UPMC Shadyside, Amy focuses on supporting patients and families through life-limiting illnesses by providing counseling, education, resources, and legacy work. She appreciates the collaborative and interdisciplinary focus of the team. Throughout her career, Amy has supervised Masters-level social work students as interns.

Donna C. Durant, DNP, MSN, CRNP-F, BSN

Donna C. Durant, DNP, MSN, CRNP-F, BSN is a nurse practitioner within the Supportive and Palliative Care program with the inpatient consult service at UPMC Presbyterian. Her primary role consists of meeting patients and families anywhere along the continuum of chronic illness and diseases. Working within an interdisciplinary care team that wraps their arms around patients with the highest quality of care, compassion and guidance is the goal. Donna’s goal is to manage the pain and symptoms that chronic illness and diseases bring to folks and working to continue to experience a meaningful life. We meet patients during pain or suffering to help unfold their values, concerns, and goals as illness or the disease progresses despite the highest medical care.

Donna graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and in 2000 from Carlow University as a Family Nurse Practitioner. And most recently, graduate of Duquesne University, Doctorate in Nursing, program. As a registered nurse Donna worked at Children’s Hospital in the ICU and from there worked with children and adults with spina bifida at Allegheny General Hospital. Along with one of the internists at AGH, a program for primary care for adults with disabilities was started. From there Donna worked with internists with the outpatient service at Allegheny General Hospital, Primary Care Northside.

In 2006, Donna joined UPMC Magee Internal Medicine’s I service, inpatient medicine service. It was there that Donna worked alongside the Palliative Care service at UPMC Magee. Donna has worked in inpatient Palliative Care for total of 6+ years (UPMC East, UPMC Presbyterian/Montefiore Hospitals).

Donna’s passion is working to deliver the highest quality care for patients and families. She also has a passion for teaching nurses who work at the bedside in the care, compassion, skills, and the philosophy of Palliative Care. Current work post-doctoral degree includes inpatient palliative care consults, teaching nurse residency, committee member for department of ethics, continued work in the areas of moral distress and healing for bedside staff, integrative therapies for nurses and patients.

Donna is grateful to be a part of the team within the Supportive and Palliative Care program at UPMC Presbyterian.

Maria C. Garcia, MSW, LSW

Maria C. Garcia, MSW, LSW, is a licensed social worker with the UPMC Supportive and Palliative Care team at UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Passavant. Working collaboratively with the Palliative Care team, she provides psychosocial support for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and their families, by providing counseling, resources, including education on end-of-life issues and assistance with the transition to palliative care or hospice, and legacy work. Maria received a dual bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Professional Spanish; Modern Languages & Culture from Slippery Rock University. She has a Masters in Higher Education Administration and a Masters in Social Work with a certificate in mental health from the University of Pittsburgh. During graduate school, she participated in the Coalition for Opioid and Addiction Leadership Fellowship.

Michael Garcia, MD

Michael Garcia, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. He received his medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica and completed his Emergency Medicine residency at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. He completed a Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. 

His clinical responsibilities include providing inpatient Supportive and Palliative Care consultation at UPMC Mercy. He also works as an Emergency Medicine Physician at UPMC Shadyside, Jameson, and Horizon hospitals. His academic interests include teaching all levels of learner’s communication skills and incorporating key components of Palliative Medicine within the Emergency Department. 

Beverly Gaetano, LCSW

Beverly Gaetano, LCSW is the Supervisor for the Palliative Care Social Workers at UPMC, in the inpatient hospital settings. She is currently a Palliative Care Social Worker at UPMC Passavant Hospital McCandless, and she has worked as a Palliative Care Social Worker at UPMC Magee Womens Hospital. Her background includes facilitating a women’s cancer support group through Cancer Bridges. She has a master’s degree from The University of Pittsburgh and holds a clinical license in the field of social work.

Sherry Gunn, MSW, LSW

Sherry Gunn, MSW, LSW, is a clinical social worker with the UPMC Supportive and Palliative Care team at UPMC Mercy Hospital. Working collaboratively with the Palliative Care team, she provides psychosocial support for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families, including education on end-of-life issues and assistance with the transition to palliative care or hospice.

Sherry received a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Brigham Young University, followed by graduate work in Educational Psychology after which she taught Special Education for grades K-8. Most recently, she earned a master’s degree in Social Work as an Edith M. Baker Integrated Healthcare Fellow from the University of Pittsburgh.  She interned at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Marika Haranis, DNP, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, ACHPN
Marika Haranis, DNP, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, ACHPN is the Director, UPMC Palliative Care and responsible for the oversight and management for all inpatient and outpatient supportive and palliative care clinical services within the UPMC Health System. She is also the co-leader for Spiritual Care for UPMC Health System. Marika earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing as a family nurse practitioner from Rutgers University, a post-master’s certificate as an acute care nurse practitioner from the University of Pennsylvania, and Doctor of Nursing Practice in Health Systems Executive Leadership at the University of Pittsburgh in 2022. She most recently served as the System Clinical Director of Palliative Care at a large health system in Northern Virginia
Kelly W. Harris, MD, MS

Kelly W. Harris, MD, MS is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and an attending physician in the Division of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Dr. Harris received a BA with Honors in both Religious Studies and Biology from the University of Chicago, and she received an MD with a Certificate in Biomedical Ethics from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She completed her residency training in Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and her fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She subsequently obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Research during a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Harris aims through her research to improve the long-term health and well-being of families impacted by prenatal diagnoses of serious illness. Her current focus is on understanding and optimizing clinician-parent communication at the time of a prenatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease.

Sara Hayes, MSPAS, PA-C

Sara Hayes, MSPAS, PA-C is a physician assistant with the TelePalliative care program at UPMC community hospitals. Her primary role is providing rural hospitalized patients and their families access to specialty palliative care via telehealth. She helps with supporting patients and their families, pain and symptom management, goals of care discussions and end-of-life management.

Sara completed her BS in nutrition science/minor in chemistry at Indiana University in 2010 and MS in physician assistant studies at Indiana State University in 2013. She has primarily worked as a physician assistant in hospital medicine which provided an excellent foundation in clinical medicine and helped her realize her passion for palliative medicine. She transitioned to palliative medicine at UPMC in 2023 where her passion has continued to grow. She feels honored to help patients and their families navigate life with a serious illness via telehealth. She is excited to continue growing and learning within the field of palliative medicine.

Rebecca Hoelsken, MSN, CRNP, CRM

Rebecca (“Becca”) M. Hoelsken, MSN, CRNP, CRM, is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, 1987. She took her first position as a nurse on the Liver Transplant Unit at Presbyterian Hospital, working with Thomas Starzl, MD. From there she moved on to various positions as a Staff Nurse, working in the ICU/PACU, Nursing Education and Research, and finally Medical Oncology-solid tumors. She credits those early years in nursing with shaping her professional career, which is informed by a desire to always look for ways to improve patient care, and to eagerly engage in new learning experiences.

Becca went on to receive her master’s degree in Nursing Science and CRNP from LaRoche College in 1997. She again held several positions, including in Internal Medicine and Primary Care and a Liver Disease Clinic/Transplant Center in Phoenix, AZ, before finally making her way back to UPMC where she took a position at Shadyside Hospital in Surgical Oncology. In this position, she grew both professionally and personally, and developed a love for palliative care. She decided to pursue a position in this area, and has been with our Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics since 2015, where she is challenged daily. She is developing a Reiki Therapy Program at Shadyside in which Nursing and Medical staff provide Reiki to patients.

Colleen Hutzel, MSW, LSW

Colleen Hutzel, MSW, LSW, is a social worker with the Supportive and Palliative Care team at UPMC Presbyterian. Colleen supports patients and families by participating in goals of care conversations; and providing resources, counseling, and legacy work. She continues to manage the Ladies Hospital Aid Society grant project, “The Miracle Box,” which focuses on providing items to patients and families that complement medical care in holistic, personalized ways.

Colleen graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 with a Bachelors in Social Work and minor in creative writing. She then earned her Masters in Social Work and certificate in gerontology at the University of Pittsburgh in 2020. Throughout her college experience, she was an active fellow in the Hartford Partnership Program for Aging Education.

Colleen Johnston, MSW, LSW

Colleen Johnston, MSW, LSW, is a licensed social worker with the UPMC Supportive and Palliative Care team at UPMC Shadyside. As part of the interdisciplinary Palliative Care team, Colleen focuses on supporting patients and families through life-limiting illnesses by providing counseling, education, resources, and legacy work.

Colleen graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in theology. She then earned a Master of Social Work from Boston College in 2021 with a focus in medical/health social work. Colleen completed internships during her graduate education at St. Mary’s Home for Women and Children in Dorchester, MA, and in the Mother-Baby Postpartum Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Boston Medical Center. Prior to joining the Palliative Care team in 2022, she worked as a unit social worker at UPMC Shadyside on the CTICU, MSICU, and cardiothoracic surgery units.

Linda A. King, MD

Linda A. King, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. King graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in 1995, completed a primary care medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1998, and then completed a fellowship in palliative care at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. King is the Associate Section Chief for the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics. Her clinical responsibilities include working on the inpatient Palliative Care consultation services at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, UPMC Mercy and UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital. She is the medical director of the Palliative Care Service at UPMC Shadyside. Dr. King is involved in Palliative Care and Clinical Skills education for first and second-year medical students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Shannon Joy, MSN, CRNP

Shannon Joy, MSN, CRNP is a nurse practitioner within the Supportive and Palliative Care program with the inpatient consult service at UPMC Shadyside. Her primary role includes optimizing pain and symptom management as well as addressing goals of care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Shannon graduated from Penn State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health with a Neuroscience concentration / minor in Psychology and immediately went on to complete the Accelerated Second Degree BSN program at Duquesne University in 2011. She worked as a senior professional staff nurse at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC for over five years, with the majority spent in the adult medical intensive care unit and also regularly instructed classes with the education department. As a critical care nurse, she always aimed to make a personal connection with patients and their families to provide support through difficult clinical scenarios which earned her a Cameos of Caring award nomination. She simultaneously worked to complete her MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner degree in 2016 through Carlow University. 

Shannon’s nurse practitioner experience has been predominantly focused on the oncology patient population, initially with the outpatient Cancer Pain & Supportive Care clinics at Magee supporting women with breast and gynecologic cancer (2016-2017), and for the past two years (2017-2019) on the inpatient Hematology-Oncology “A Service” APP team at UPMC Shadyside as the primary medical service for patients with solid tumor malignancies. Eager to once again employ her passion for palliative care, she is excited to transition to her new position at Shadyside.

Rachel Kuchnicki, MPAS, PA-C

Rachel Kuchnicki, MPAS, PA-C is a physician assistant within the Supportive and Palliative Care Program at UPMC Mercy. Her primary role includes optimizing pain and symptom management as well as addressing goals of care for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

She graduated from Gannon University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and a Minor in Biology. She also completed her master’s in physician assistant studies at Gannon University in their 5-year Physician Assistant program and graduated in 2022. Among others, Rachel completed clinical rotations in Internal Medicine, Neurology/Neurosurgery, and Surgical Oncology to prepare her for her current position. Rachel was drawn to palliative care because of its emphasis on patient-focused care, clear communication, and patient advocacy. She looks forward to supporting patients and their families as they cope with difficult circumstances.

Czarina Kulick, MSW, LCSW

Czarina Kulick, MSW, LCSW, is a Senior Social Worker with the palliative care team at UPMC Shadyside-Presbyterian. She received a Master of Social Work degree at Smith College, School for Social Work in Northampton, MA. She is also a certified oncology social worker with over 20 years of clinical experience in various settings.

In her role at UPMC Shadyside, she provides counseling for palliative and hospice care patients, while also working on creating new initiatives to better support patients and their families by focusing on memory-making and legacy building activities. Czarina also works at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System as a Senior Social Worker specializing with aging Veterans in crisis.

Prior to her work at UPMC, Czarina was a social work supervisor at Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, HIV Clinic in Washington, DC. She completed her clinical internships at the National Institute of Health, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, HIV-AIDS unit, and at George Washington University Hospital, in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Janet Leahy, CRNP

Janet Leahy, CRNP, as the Supervisor APP for the Hospital- and Outpatient-Based Palliative Care Services, provides departmental leadership to direct, supervise, and manage daily activities of the Pas and CRNPs in the department. She also provides clinical services where needed and teaches communication training throughout the system. Ms. Leahy earned a diploma in nursing from St. Francis School of Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Waynesburg University. She is board-certified as an acute care nurse practitioner with a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh.

Taylor Lincoln, MD, MS

Taylor Lincoln, MD, MS is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Critical Care Medicine and Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Boston College in 2007 with a B.S. in Biology and Philosophy. She completed her M.D. at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 2013, internal medicine residency at the University of North Carolina in 2016, and then hospice and palliative medicine fellowship and master’s degree in clinical research in 2018 followed by pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2021.

Her clinical responsibilities are at Mercy Hospital on the inpatient Palliative Care service and Medical-Surgical ICU. Her academic interests include teaching clinicians to better communicate with patients and families around serious illness and improving end-of-life care for critically ill patients through goal concordant care.

Lars Margolis, MD

Lars Margolis, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his medical school training at Columbia University, Internal Medicine residency at the University of Washington, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital.

His clinical activities include inpatient Supportive and Palliative Care consultations at UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside, Magee, and Mercy hospitals. He assists patients and clinicians with communication surrounding goals of care, as well as pain and symptom management for hospitalized patients. His academic interests include medical education, with a focus on optimizing feedback for trainees. He will also serve as the Palliative Care Educator for 3rd and 4th year medical students as they rotate with the Supportive and Palliative Care consultation teams.

Rachel Markovitz, MSN, CRNP

Rachel Markovitz, MSN, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner within the Supportive and Palliative Care program with the inpatient consult service at UPMC Mercy. Her primary role is to provide care for hospitalized patients with life-limiting illnesses through pain and symptom management, facilitating goals of care discussions, and hospice evaluations. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duquesne University in 2015 and completed her Master of Science in Nursing from Carlow University in 2021. She worked as a nurse at UPMC Presbyterian for over five years, with the majority spent in the surgical intensive care unit. As a critical care nurse, she always aimed to provide support and personalized care to patients and their families through difficult clinical scenarios.

Anna McGovern, MSW, LSW

Anna McGovern, MSW, LSW is a Palliative and Supportive Care Social Worker at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. As part of the Palliative Care team at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, Anna focuses on supporting patients and families through life-limiting illnesses by providing counseling, education, resources, and legacy work.

Anna graduated from the Catholic University of America in 2020 with honors and earned her Bachelors in Social Work and minor in ASL. She then continued at the University of Pittsburgh to earn her Masters in Social Work with a certificate in integrated healthcare in 2021. During graduate school, she participated in the Edith M. Baker Integrated Healthcare Fellowship and the Death and Dying Feinstein Fellowship. Anna comes to the Palliative and Supportive Institute with a diverse background in medical social work across Intensive Care, oncology, general inpatient and antepartum/postpartum units. In her free time she enjoys cooking with friends, being outside and staying active. She recently ran the 2022 Pittsburgh Marathon.

Meghan McKinnon, MSN, CRNP

Meghan McKinnon, MSN, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner with the Supportive Care and Palliative Medicine team at UPMC. She earned her Associate Degree in Nursing in 2014 from Westmorland Community College. Meghan went on to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pennsylvania State University in 2016. She then earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Carlow University in 2021. Meghan has worked as a professional staff nurse at UPMC McKeesport for six years before joining the Supportive Care and Palliative team.

Charles T. Mupamombe, MD HMDC FACP

Charles T. Mupamombe, MD HMDC FACP is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his medical school training at St. George’s University in Grenada, internal medicine residency at SUNY Health Sciences at Brooklyn, and hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY.

He currently serves as the medical director for the Outpatient Supportive and Palliative Care. His primary clinic is at the Hillman Cancer Center, with additional clinical duties at UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Magee Womens Hospital, and UPMC Mercy. He assists patients and clinicians with communication regarding goals of care, as well as pain and symptom management in patients with life-limiting illness.

Stacy Niditch MSN, CRNP

Stacy Niditch MSN, CRNP is a nurse practitioner at the UPMC Hillman Cancer treatment center at Shadyside. She earned her bachelors of science in nursing at Binghamton University, and masters in nursing at New York University. She is certified as an adult Nurse practitioner and certified in Hospice and Palliative Care through HPNA. Stacy has 30 years of nursing experience and started her work as an inpatient hospital RN on medical, surgical units, and has been a clinical instructor at Penn College. She has been working solely in Hospice and Palliative Care for the last 11 years, currently working as an outpatient nurse practitioner in Palliative Care providing supportive and symptomatic relief for those with a cancer diagnosis.

Talia Padawer, MSW, LSW

Talia Padawer, MSW, LSW is a Palliative and Supportive Care Social Worker at UPMC Shadyside Hospital. As part of the Palliative Care team there, Talia supports patients and their families through life-limiting illness by providing counseling, companioning, education, and resources. In her work she also facilitates legacy and memory-making activities with patients and their loved ones. Talia’s current professional interests include Meaning-Centered and Dignity Therapies with seriously ill and dying persons.

Talia holds a BA in Spanish from the University of New Mexico. She earned a Master in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, with specialization in gerontology. During her graduate education, Talia completed internships at the Latino Community Center and the Integrated Health and Aging Program at Western Psychiatric Hospital in Pittsburgh. She was thrilled to step into the palliative social work role in the summer of 2023 and join the interdisciplinary palliative medicine team at Shadyside.

Gina Piscitello, MD, MS

Gina Piscitello MD, MS is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, medical school at University of Minnesota, and internal medicine residency and hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at the University of Chicago. She also completed a Master of Clinical Research at Rush University and a fellowship in clinical medical ethics at the MacLean Center at University of Chicago.

Her clinical responsibilities include inpatient palliative consultation and outpatient palliative clinic. She is interested in research at the intersection of clinical medical ethics and palliative medicine including clinician-patient communication, code status, moral distress, ECMO, and scarce resource allocation.

Lisa Podgurski, MD

Lisa Podgurski, MD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics and the University of Pittsburgh. Her clinical responsibilities include inpatient consult service at UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside and Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC, as well as seeing palliative care outpatients at Hillman Cancer Center.

Lisa completed her undergraduate studies in Bio-Psych and Anthropology at Carnegie Mellon University; medical school training at Harvard Medical School and Internal Medicine Residency training at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian program. She recently earned a Masters in Medical Education from the University of Pittsburgh.

Lisa also serves as Wellbeing Champion for the Section and facilitates our monthly Psychosocial Rounds.

Kelly Prilla

Kelly C. Prilla joined the Palliative and Supportive Institute in June of 2022 as an administrative liaison. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Duquesne University in 2013 and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in 2020. She has over 25 years of administrative experience. Before joining the PSI she supported the Clinical Transformation Executive Team at Highmark Health and the General Counsel and CFO of Allegheny Health Network. She enjoys spending time with her large family and especially relishes time with her nieces and nephews.

Sinthana Uma Ramsey, DO
Sinthana Uma Ramsey, DO is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. She attended the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Education. She then completed her medical school training at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Internal Medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian-Shadyside. She later completed her Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at the Ohio State University in 2021. She has also spent time as a Hospitalist at UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside.

Her clinical responsibilities include providing inpatient palliative care consultations at UPMC Shadyside and Presbyterian. She dedicates her time to assist patients and clinicians with communication regarding goals of care, as well as pain and symptom management in patients with life-limiting illness. Academic interests include improving the quality of palliative care provided to patients with solid-tumor and hematologic malignancies. She currently serves as the palliative care subspecialty education coordinator, integrating palliative care education to resident trainees.

Eva B. Reitschuler-Cross, MD

Eva B. Reitschuler-Cross, MD, graduated from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, in 2004 and completed her residency training in Internal Medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA in 2010. She then served as a chief resident at Mount Auburn Hospital and completed a fellowship in medical education. After completing a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2011, she joined the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh in August 2012.

Dr. Reitschuler-Cross currently serves as an attending physician on the inpatient consultation service and has an outpatient clinic at the Hillman Cancer Center. She has a passion for medical education and will be serving as the subspecialty education coordinator for the GME Residency Program.

Hannah Reuman, MD

Hannah Reuman, MD, specializes in hospice and palliative care. She is certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. She is affiliated with UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Presbyterian, and UPMC Mercy. She completed her medical degree at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, her residency in pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and her hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.

Rhiannon Rieger, MMT, MT-BC
Rhiannon Rieger, MMT, MT-BC is the Music Therapist with the Palliative and Supportive Care team at UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital. Rhiannon collaborates with patients with life limiting illness, and their families, to provide music therapy services. As a board-certified music therapist, Rhiannon offers patient-preferred music in order to holistically focus on an individual’s psychosocial, emotional, social, and/or spiritual needs.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Youngstown State University, Rhiannon earned her Music Therapy Equivalency from Slippery Rock University. She became a board-certified music therapist and worked with older adults in nursing homes in Pittsburgh, while earning her master’s degree in music therapy from Slippery Rock University. In addition to her work at Magee, Rhiannon created a program and served as Music Therapist for Staff at UPMC Western Psychiatric as part of a wellness initiative through a temporary grant from HAP (The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania).

Jane Schell, MD

Jane Schell, MD, graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and trained in Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins. She completed dual fellowships in Nephrology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine at Duke University in 2012. She also earned a Masters in Health Science in 2011 and completed a qualitative study examining communication between nephrologists and elderly patients with kidney disease. She joined the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics and Renal-Electrolyte Division at the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 as an Associate Professor of Medicine.

She serves as an attending physician on the inpatient consultation service for Palliative Medicine and Nephrology. She also attends a nephrology clinic which addresses palliative care issues for nephrology patients. Dr. Schell’s academic and educational interests focus on communication within the doctor-patient relationship.

Yael Schenker, MD, MAS, FAAHPM
Yael Schenker, MD, MAS, FAAHPM, Yael Schenker, MD, MAS, FAAHPM, is a tenured Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Associate Chief of Research in the Section of Palliative and Medical Ethics, Director of the Palliative Research Center (PaRC), and Associate Director for Education and Training at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Dr. Schenker received her AB magna cum laude from Harvard University. She completed medical school, residency and fellowship training at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was also awarded a master’s degree in clinical research.

Dr. Schenker joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in 2010. Her research focuses on the integration of palliative care services for patients with serious illness, with a focus on primary palliative care approaches in oncology. She has been continuously grant-funded by agencies including the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the American Cancer Society, the National Palliative Care Research Center, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. She is highly sought after as a mentor and has been dedicated to increasing diversity among palliative care researchers. She is clinically active on the palliative care consult service.

Ethan Jaffe Silverman, MD

Ethan Jaffe Silverman, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his medical school training at Wayne State University, internal medicine residency at University of Chicago Medical Center, and hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at University of Wisconsin Madison. He also completed a fellowship in clinical medical ethics at the MacLean Center at University of Chicago, and an advanced fellowship in medical education at University of Wisconsin Madison.

His clinical responsibilities include providing inpatient Supportive and Palliative Care consultation at UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside, Magee, and Mercy hospitals. He assists patients and clinicians with communication regarding goals of care, as well as pain and symptom management in patients with life-limiting illness. His academic interests include medical education, ethical challenges at end of life, and moral distress of providers. He currently serves as the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program Director.

Adam J. Simcox, MSN, CRNP

Adam J. Simcox, MSN, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner on the Supportive Care and Palliative Medicine team at UPMC Shadyside. He earned his Bachelors of Arts degree in Religion and Music from Bluffton (College) University in 1998. He earned his RN Associates degree in 2003 from Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing, his BSN in 2016 from CALU, and his MSN from Carlow University in 2019. Much of his time as an RN was spent on the gynecological oncology unit at UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital. This provided him experience and familiarity with patients living with cancer. Through this time he felt a calling to the field of Supportive Care and Palliative Medicine. Adam believes and considers it a privilege to walk beside individuals and their families as they wrestle with their circumstances.  Adam is excited to be joining the growing Palliative Care team at UPMC Shadyside.

Sarah Slater

Sarah Slater is the PaRC Research and Administrative Coordinator, and also works with the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics in the Division of General Internal Medicine. She comes to the role with extensive experience in Pittsburgh’s nonprofit sector. She holds a M.A. in Theology with a concentration in social ethics, from Duquesne University, and a B.S. with a double major in Business Administration and International Development from Houghton College. Her master’s thesis considered the role of medieval scholastic anthropology in the moral philosophy of Josef Pieper.

In her previous positions, she has served as a program coordinator for a local community development membership organization, as the business manager for a human rights publication, and worked in the Business and Auxiliary Services Department at Pitt. Sarah is passionate about end-of-life ethics. In her free time, she serves as the copy editor for the Genealogies of Modernity online journal, and volunteers at Garfield Community Farm and with her parish choir.

Lori Spahr

Lori Spahr Lori Spahr joined the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics in 2010 and is a Senior Administrative Coordinator for the department. She earned a degree in Business Administration and has over 31 years of administrative experience. Before coming to the University of Pittsburgh she worked for West Penn Allegheny Health System as an Executive Assistant in the Finance area.

Aaron Teague, MA, MT-BC, LPC

Aaron Teague, MA, MT-BC, LPC, is the Creative Expressive Arts Therapist with the Palliative and Supportive Care teams of UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Shadyside. In this role, Aaron provides services as a board-certified music therapist and a licensed counselor. He collaborates with the patients and families in music therapy and counseling to provide support to patients with life-limiting illnesses. Services can include music offered for a patient to manage distress, co-created music with patients or families for psychosocial support, or counseling to manage symptoms.

Aaron earned both his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy and a Masters in Community Counseling from Appalachian State University. Before joining the Palliative Care team, he provided music therapy services on adult and child/adolescent inpatient units of UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. 

Andrew Thurston, MD, FAAHPM

Andrew Thurston, MD, FAAHPM, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his medical school training at the Baylor College of Medicine, and his residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He subsequently completed a Geriatrics Fellowship and a Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

His clinical activities include supportive and palliative medicine inpatient consult service at UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he is the Medical Director, UPMC Mercy Supportive and Palliative Care Program. Current areas of interest include the integration of medical humanities into clinical practice, and the use of reflective techniques involving art and literature to explore complex themes in medical practice.

Alicia Topoll, MD

Alicia Topoll, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) and the Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Topoll also serves as the Clinical Director of the Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) Palliative Care Program and Medical Director for Palliative Care at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. She completed her medical school training as part of the 6-year combined BS/MD program at Youngstown State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University where she joined the US Navy.

Dr. Topoll completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Naval Medical Center San Diego and completed her active-duty military service as a Flight Surgeon with the Marine Corps. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, where she also served as a chief resident.

Dr. Topoll is board certified in Cardiology and Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, which were completed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She also received a Master of Science degree in Medical Education at the University of Pittsburgh. Her clinical time is spent on the inpatient and outpatient service in both Cardiology and Palliative Care consultation service at UPMC Mercy, Presbyterian, Shadyside, and Magee Hospitals. Her academic interests include teaching communication skills, chronic illness, non-invasive cardiology, and the integration of cardiology and palliative care.

Richard L. Weinberg, MD

Richard L. Weinberg, MD, is Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics. He graduated from the University of Michigan and completed residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

He practiced general internal medicine at Penn Group/HealthAmerica in Pittsburgh and served as the head of internal medicine. He was then Chief, General Internal Medicine at Western Pennsylvania Hospital. In 2005, He moved to Fairfax, Virginia to work full time in hospice and palliative care. He served as faculty for the National Institute of Health-Capital Caring Palliative Medicine fellowship.

Dr. Weinberg currently provides supportive and palliative care consultations at UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside and Magee Womens hospitals.

Ashley Wills, DNP, CRNP

Ashley Wills, DNP, CRNP, is a nurse practitioner for the Supportive and Palliative Care Program at UPMC Magee Womens Hospital. Her primary role is to evaluate and support patients in the areas of pain and symptom management, goals of care, and hospice evaluations. Ashley earned her Bachelor of Arts from Carlow University in 2004 with a focus in English and creative non-fiction writing. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duquesne University of Pennsylvania in 2008 and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Robert Morris University in 2017. Her work prior to joining the palliative care team was as a registered nurse in the medical intensive care unit where she was introduced to palliative care. While obtaining her DNP, she completed a quality improvement project with the Palliative team at UPMC Mercy regarding moral distress in nurses caring for patients at the end of life.

Kathy Wunderle, MD

Kathy Wunderle, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed medical school at the University of Rochester, and then did her internal medicine residency at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. She first came to Pittsburgh in 2018 for a Critical Care Medicine fellowship, and then went on to complete a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Her clinical responsibilities include providing inpatient Supportive and Palliative Care consultation at UPMC Presbyterian, Shadyside, Magee, and Mercy hospitals. She also works as an intensivist at the VA in Oakland. Her academic interests include teaching all levels of learners communication skills and critical care medicin

Contact Us

Division of General Internal Medicine Academic Offices

UPMC Montefiore Hospital
Suite W933
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-692-4821

Patient/Clinical Inquiries

412-692-4888

Administrative Office

412-692-4889