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PHA Professional Mentor Profiles2023-12-15T14:00:39-05:00

PHA Professional Mentorship Program

Mentor Profiles

The clinicians and researchers listed here have volunteered to mentor other health care professionals and researchers new to pulmonary hypertension or taking on new career challenges.

Nurse/Nurse Practitioner Mentors

Amy Chybowski, MSN, RN, ANP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Ambulatory and Inpatient, Adult Pulmonary

Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison

Years of experience in PH? 10.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Both.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Works with adults who have PH and their caregivers.

Additional involvement: Amy is a member of the PHA Registry Liaison Committee and leads a PHA support group. She previously was a member of PHA’s PHPN Practice Committee, a PHA community workshop speaker and presented a poster at the PHA 2022 International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications (and helping with patient assistance programs)

PA/APN work-up and managing PH patients

Patient support group activities

PHCC accreditation (comprehensive care centers)

PH professional development

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Multidisciplinary teams

Louise Durst, RN

RN Study Coordinator, Lead, Trainer

Pulmonary Hypertension Research Coordinator, Nurse Specialist

Cardiovascular Research Unit, Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota

Years of experience in PH? Louise has worked in PH since 1998.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? She has expertise in both clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Louise works with a diverse patient population that has various forms of PH including idiopathic, familial, associated, left heart disease, lung disease, porto-pulmonary, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and thromboembolic among others. She also works with the transplant program. She has experience with drug trials including phase 1, device trials and registry studies, including industry sponsored and institutionally funded.

Additional involvement: She is a former chair of the PH Professional Network Executive Committee and a former member and chair of the PHPN Membership Committee. She has also served on the Scientific Leadership Council and PHA Board of Trustees and has been a member of the PHA Accreditation Committee.

Areas of expertise

Data/outcomes management

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Palliative care and/or hospice patient

Patient support group activities

PHCC accreditation-CCC

PH research

Pregnancy and women’s issues

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Judy Germani, RN

Specialty Care Nurse Coordinator

West Virginia University Hospital

Heart and Vascular Institute
Morgantown, West Virginia

Years of experience in PH? Judy has worked in PH since 2007.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? She has expertise in both clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Judy works predominantly with PH patients in the Appalachian community, including patients who have difficulty obtaining medications due to weather conditions, problems commuting to appointments, issues with communication and lack of funding for medications.

Additional involvement: Judy has been a member of PHA and the PHPN since 2014 and has been a mentor for the PHPN Mentor Program.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

PHCC accreditation – CCC

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Loida Johnson, RN, MSN, ACNP, CNS

Nurse Practitioner

University of Maryland Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland

Years of experience in PH? Loida has worked in PH at the University of Maryland Medical Center since 2010.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Loida has experience in both clinical care and research. She participates in all aspects of research and clinical trials on PH and PH therapies at UMMC.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? She works predominantly with PH adult population.

Additional involvement: Loida is a past member of the PHPN Education Committee.

Areas of expertise

Data/outcomes management

Developing disease self-management programs for patients (e.g. diuretic protocols)

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

PA/APN work-up and management of PH patients

PHCC accreditation-CCC

PH clinic nursing duties

PH educational opportunities for health professionals

PH program development and evaluation

PH research

Working as a part of a multidisciplinary team

Jennifer Kliner, MSN, ACNP-BC  

Nurse Practitioner

Clinical Project Director, Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension Programs

Coordinator, Comprehensive Pulmonary Hypertension Program

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Years of experience in PH? Jennifer has worked in PH since 2011.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? She has expertise in clinical care.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Jennifer works with patients diagnosed with PH and/or pulmonary vascular disease associated with scleroderma and various other autoimmune disease, congenital heart disease, HIV, CTEPH and porto-pulmonary PAH as well as a large population of idiopathic and familial pulmonary hypertension, on all approved forms of therapies. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is a large volume lung transplant center with a heavy research presence in which Jennifer is active as a sub-investigator on the various clinical trials.

Additional involvement: Jennifer was an invited speaker at the 2017 Midday Symposium conducted at the 52nd American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Clinical Meeting and Exhibition, discussing Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Collaborative Care. Jennifer has spoken at PHA’s International PH Conference in 2012, discussing the integration of palliative Care Medicine for PH patients. She has served as a speaker at several PH Patient PHorum support group meetings and has worked with pharmaceutical companies on advisory boards.

Areas of expertise

Managing IV and SQ therapies

PHCC accreditation – CCC

PH program development and evaluation

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Judy Lane, RN, BSN

PH Case Manager

Research Nurse

Nebraska Medicine
Omaha, Nebraska

Years of experience in PH? Judy has worked in PH since 2007.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? She has expertise in both clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Judy works in an adult congenital heart disease and PH clinic that is run with an adult congenital heart physician. Her expertise is with adult PH patients. Her clinic sees many rheumatology patients. Judy treats patients with all forms of therapy, but her clinic tends to use mostly IV Veletri.

Additional involvement: Judy attends annual PHA and PHPN meetings and has been a member of the PHPN Practice Committee. She has facilitated support groups in her area and has worked with pharmaceutical companies on advisory boards and as a speaker.

Areas of expertise

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

Patient support group activities

PHCC accreditation – CCC

PH clinic nursing duties

PH educational opportunities for health professionals

PH Program development and evaluation

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Susie McDevitt, DNP, ACNP-BC 

Nurse Practitioner

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Years of experience in PH? Susie has worked in PH since the late 1990s mostly as a nurse practitioner but also in the field of medical affairs.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? She has expertise in both clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Susie works with adult PH and CTEPH patients from a large comprehensive care center. She manages inpatient and outpatient PH and CTEPH patients. She completed a one-year palliative care certificate program in December 2021.

Additional involvement: Susie served as the chair of the 2021 PHPN Symposium Committee. She is a former member of the PHPN Executive Committee and has served on the PHPN Membership and Education committees.

 

Areas of expertise

Developing disease self-management programs for patients (e.g. diuretic protocols)

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

PA/APN work-up and management of PH patients

Palliative care and/or hospice

Patient support group activities

Patient/family counseling (insurance and psychosocial)

PHCC accreditation – CCC

PH clinic nursing duties

PH educational opportunities for health professionals

PH program development and evaluation

PH research

Pregnancy and women’s issues

Publishing

Work/life issues for the health professional

Working as a part of a multidisciplinary team

Stephanie Nolley, RN, BSN

Nurse Coordinator

Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program

University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, Washington

Years of experience in PH? Stephanie has worked with PAH patients since 1996.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? She has expertise in both clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Stephanie works with all populations.

Additional involvement: She is a former chair of the PHPN Education Committee.

Areas of expertise

Developing disease self-management programs for patients (e.g. diuretic protocols)

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

Palliative care and/or hospice

Patient support group activities

Patient/family counseling (insurance and psychosocial)

PHCC accreditation – CCC

PH clinic nursing duties

PH educational opportunities for health professionals

PH program development and evaluation

PH research

Pregnancy and women’s issues

Work/life issues for the PH professional

Working as a part of a multidisciplinary team

Laura Nowicki, RN

Clinical Nurse Specialist

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Years of experience in PH? Laura has worked as a dedicated PH nurse coordinator since 2014. She previously worked in the pulmonary inpatient ward for eight years and was involved in the care of PH inpatients admitted to pulmonary service.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? She has expertise in clinical care.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Laura works with adult PH patients, including a large group of patients with socioeconomic hardships. She has coordinated care for patients on all forms of PAH therapy with experience managing patients on higher doses of inhaled treprostinil.

Additional involvement: Laura is involved in PHA and the PHPN. She regularly attends PHA’s International PH Conference and Scientific Sessions and the PHPN Symposium. She helps coordinate the annual NC Research Triangle PH Symposium with specific focus on the patient education. She presented at the PHA 2022 International PH Conference on understanding and navigating insurance.

Areas of expertise

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

Patient/family counseling (insurance and psychosocial)

PHCC accreditation – CCC

PHCC accreditation – RCP

PH clinic nursing duties

PH program development and evaluation

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Traci Stewart, RN, MSN, CHFN

Pulmonary Hypertension/Heart Failure Nurse Clinician Specialist

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Pulmonary Hypertension Program

Iowa City, Iowa

Years of experience in PH? Traci has worked in PH since 1997.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Her expertise is in clinical care.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Traci’s expertise is in adult PH.

Additional involvement: Traci is a past chair of the PHPN. She is also a past Practice Committee chair and past sub-chair of Online University Allied Health.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

Patient support group activities

PH educational opportunities for health professionals

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Donnielle Turner, BSN

Clinic Nurse

Houston Methodist

Pulmonary Hypertension Center

Houston, TX

Years of experience in PH? Donnielle has been working in PH since 2017.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Clinical Care

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Donnielle works with a disadvantaged patient population including houseless and incarcerated patients.

Additional involvement: Donnielle has attended the PHPN Symposium and International PHA Conference since 2017 and in 2023 helped organized the inaugural O2 BreatheWalk.

Areas of Expertise

Developing Patient Education Materials

Navigating REMS Criteria

Obtaining coverage for PH Medications (including use of Patient Assistance Programs)

PH Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities

Risk Assessment

Work/Life Issues for the Health Professional

Working as part of a Multidisciplinary team

Marcy Turner, RN

Clinical Nurse Specialist

PH Nurse Coordinator
Arizona Pulmonary Specialist, Phoenix

Years of experience in PH? Nine.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Clinical care

Specific expertise, such as a certain patient populations? Marcy works with all patient populations including beneficiaries of Medicaid, Indian Health, Medicare/Medicare Complete, commercial insurance, and federal and veteran benefits.

Additional involvement: Marcy has attended PHA international PH conferences, as well as other local and national nurse conferences.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH Medications, including through patient assistance programs

Palliative care and hospice

Patient/family counseling insurance and psychosocial)

PHCC Accreditation (comprehensive care centers)

PH clinic nursing duties

Development and evaluation

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Pregnancy and women’s issues

Work/life issues for health care professionals

Multidisciplinary teams

Mary Whittenhall, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Program Administrator

Brown Medicine / Rhode Island Hospital

Providence, RI

Years of experience in PH? Mary has been working in PH since 2014.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Mary has experience in clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? N/A

Additional involvement: Mary has served as a PHA Support Group Leader and has been on several PHA Committees, including the PHA International Conference, PHPN Symposium, PHA On the Road, O2 Breathe Walk, Advocacy, and Support Group / Education Committees.

Areas of expertise

Basic Science Research

Developing Patient Education Materials

Lung Transplant and Referral

Managing Hospitalized PH Patients (including Hospital Policy and Procedures)

Managing IV and SQ Therapies

Navigating REMS Criteria

Obtaining coverage for PH Medications, including use of Patient Assistance Programs

PA/APN Work-up and Management of PH patients

Palliative Care and/or Hospice

Patient support group activities

Patient/Family Counseling (Insurance and Psychosocial)

PHCC Accreditation – CCC

PH Clinic Nursing duties

PH Educational Opportunities for Health Professionals

PH Program Development and Evaluation

PH Research

PH Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities

Pregnancy and Women’s Issues

Publishing

Pulmonary Rehab

Risk Assessment

RV Imaging

Work/Life Issues for the Health Professional
Working as part of a Multidisciplinary team

Melisa Wilson, MSN, ACNP, BC

Nurse Practitioner

Florida Hospital Orlando

Orlando, Florida

Years of experience in PH? Melisa has worked in PH since 2005.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Her expertise is in clinical care.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Melisa’s expertise is in PHCC accreditation and management of adults in PH.

Additional involvement: Melisa currently serves a Board of Trustee member. She is the immediate past chair of the PHPN and former member of the Scientific Leadership Council. She has also served as a chair for the PHPN Symposium, co-chair of PHA On the Road, a speaker and panelist at multiple PHPN Symposia and PHA Conferences.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

PHCC accreditation – CCC

PH educational opportunities for health professionals

PH program development and evaluation

PH research

Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

Michelle Cash, RN, MSN, APRN

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati, Ohio

Years of experience in PH? Michelle has worked in PH since 2007.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Her expertise is in clinical care.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? She wPediatrics, CDH, CHD and BPD

Additional involvement:

PHA Pediatric Task Force, 2018-ongoing

PHA Mental Health Task Force, 2017-ongoing

PHPN Symposium Planning Committee, Vice Chair, 2013-2015; Chair 2015-2017

PHA Professional Network Executive Committee Member 2013-2017

PHA’s Pulmonary Hypertension Comprehensive Care Review Committee, 2014-2015

PH Professional Network Mentor, 2010-present

PHA Pediatric Resource Ad Hock Committee, Chair 2012

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

PA/APN work-up and management of PH patients

Pediatrics

PHCC accreditation - CCC

PH clinic nursing duties

PH program development and evaluation

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Michelle Ogawa, MSN, RN, CPNP

Nurse Practitioner

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital

Stanford University
Palo Alto, California

Years of experience in PH? Michelle has worked in PH since 2006.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Her expertise is in clinical care.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Michelle cares for pediatric patients with PH and/or pulmonary vascular disease associated with congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, porto-pulmonary syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, Alagille syndrome, rheumatologic/autoimmune diseases, as well as idiopathic and familial PH. She has extensive experience caring for patients on parenteral prostacyclins (IV and subQ).

Additional involvement: Michelle has spoken at several PHPN symposia in the past. She and a colleague created a resource for teens that is now available on PHA’s website.

Areas of expertise

Data/outcomes management

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

PA/APN work-up and management of PH patients

Patient/family counseling (insurance and psychosocial)

Pediatrics

PH clinic nursing duties

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Elise Whalen, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, CPN

Nurse Practitioner

Texas Children’s Hospital (Houston)

Years of experience in PH? Four.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Clinical care and research.

Specific expertise, such as certain patient populations? Pediatric pulmonary hypertension patients.

Additional involvement: Elise is a member of PHA’s PHCC Review Committee and Pediatric Task Force. She is a presenter at PHA’s 2023 PHPN Symposium.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policies and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Patient support group activities

Pediatrics

PHCC accreditation (comprehensive care centers)

PH research

Publishing

Quality improvement for PH programs

Multidisciplinary teams

Pharmacists

Laura Duvall, PharmD, BCPS  

Specialty Practice Pharmacist, Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Hypertension

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, Ohio

Years of experience in PH? Laura has worked in PH since 2007.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Her expertise is in clinical care.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Laura’s expertise is in internal medicine.

Additional involvement: Laura has spoken at the PHPN Symposium about the safe use of infused prostacyclin.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

PH educational opportunities for health professionals

PH program development and evaluation

Working as a part of a multidisciplinary team

Physician Mentors

Dan Grinnan, MD

Physician / Clinical Researcher

Director, Comprehensive Care Center for Pulmonary Hypertension

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA

Years of experience in PH? Dr. Grinnan has been working in PH since 2003.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Dr. Grinnan has experience in clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? N/A

Additional involvement: Dr. Grinnan is a current member of PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council, the PH Care Center Communications Committee, and chair of the PH Care Center Review Committee. He was previously the chair of the PHA Registry (PHAR) Committee.

Areas of Expertise

Data/Outcomes Management

Garnering Institutional Support for Program Building

Managing Hospitalized PH Patients (including Hospital Policy and Procedures)

Managing IV and SQ Therapies

PHCC Accreditation - CCC

PH Program Development and Evaluation

PH Research

Publishing

Risk Assessment

Working as part of a Multidisciplinary team

Deborah Jo Levine, MD, FCCP, FAST

Physician/Professor of Medicine

Director of Lung Transplant Outreach
Stanford University, Palo Alto, California

Years of experience in PH? 11.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Both.

Specific expertise, such as certain patient populations? Lung transplantation, interventional pulmonology and PH.

Additional involvement: Dr. Levine is editor-in-chief of PHA’s quarterly peer-reviewed journal, Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension and serves on the editorial board. Dr. Levine is chair of PHA’s On-Demand Committtee and has served on the PHA Scientific Leadership Council, Professional Education Committee and Membership Committee.

Areas of expertise

Data/outcomes management

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policies and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Palliative care and/or hospice

PH professional development

PH research

Pregnancy and women's issues

Pulmonary rehab

Multidisciplinary teams

Abhijit Raval, MD, FCCP

Physician / Clinical Researcher

PH Program Director

AnMed Health

Anderson, SC

Years of experience in PH? Dr. Raval has been working in PH since 2014.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Dr. Raval has experience in clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Dr. Raval has expertise with drug-induced PAH patients and HIV-associated PAH.

Additional involvement: Dr. Raval is the Program Director for the AnMed Health Anderson PH Care Center and has been a member of PHA’s Liaison Committee and an editor for Advances in PH.

Areas of Expertise

Developing Patient Education Materials

Managing Hospitalized PH Patients (including Hospital Policy and Procedures)

Managing IV and SQ Therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH Medications, including use of Patient Assistance Programs

Palliative Care and/or Hospice

Patient support group activities

Patient/Family Counseling (Insurance and Psychosocial)

PHCC Accreditation - RCP

PH Educational Opportunities for Health Professionals

PH Program Development and Evaluation

PH Research

Publishing

Pulmonary Rehab

Risk Assessment

Work/Life Issues for the Health Professional

Working as part of a Multidisciplinary team

Zeenat Safdar, MD, MS, ATSF, FCCP, FACP

Physician/Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center

Principal Investigator for Clinical Trials
Houston Methodist Hospital

Years of experience in PH? 18.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Both.

Specific expertise? N/A

Additional involvement: Dr. Safdar is director of the Houston Methodist Lung Center, a PHA-accredited PH Care Center. Dr. Safdar previously was an editorial board member for Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension, PHA’s quarterly peer-reviewed journal, and a member of PHA’s PHCC Review Committee.

Areas of expertise

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policies and procedures)
Managing IV and SQ therapies

PHCC accreditation (comprehensive care center)

PH program development and evaluation

Pregnancy and women's issues

Sandeep Sahay, MD, MSc

Physician / Clinical Researcher

Houston Methodist Hospital

Houston, TX

Years of experience in PH? Dr. Sahay has been working in PH since 2013.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Dr. Sahay has experience in clinical care and research.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Dr. Sahay has expertise with mentoring early adult career faculty in both PAH as a disease state as well as academic medicine. He serves on editorial boards and as associate editor for several journals and has deep insight into manuscript preparations and developing a critical insight while evaluating them. Dr. Sahay also has expertise in risk stratification in PAH.

Additional involvement: Dr. Sahay has been a member of PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council and the PH Care Center Review Committee.

Areas of Expertise

Obtaining coverage for PH Medications, including use of Patient Assistance Programs

PHCC Accreditation - CCC

PH Research

Risk Assessment

Oksana Shlobin, MD

Physician

Medical Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Care Center
INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia

 

Years of experience in PH? 17.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Clinical care.

Specific expertise? Pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Additional involvement: Dr. Shlobin was a member of PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council, PHCC Oversight Committee, and PHCC Review Committee. She has been a faculty presenter at PHA international PH conferences and PHPN symposiums.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policies and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

PHCC accreditation (comprehensive care centers)

PH professional development

PH program development and evaluation

Pregnancy and women's issues

Work/life issues for health care professionals

John Swisher, PhD, MD

PH Physician/PH Program Director
East Tennessee Pulmonary Hypertension Center

StatCare Pulmonary Consultants, Knoxville

Years of experience in PH? 22.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Both.

Specific expertise? Our PH program serves a rural Appalachian region and is a community-based program with clinical research opportunities for patients.

Additional involvement: Dr. Swisher is a member of PHA’s PHCC Review Committee and PHA Registry Liaison Committee, and previously was a member of PHA’s Health Care Provider Education and Support Working Group.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policies and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including through patient assistance programs

Patient support group activities

PHCC accreditation (comprehensive care centers)

PH professional development

PH program development and evaluation

PH research

Multidisciplinary teams

Nidhy Varghese, MD, FAAP

PH Physician/PH Program Director
Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston

Years of experience in PH? 10.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Clinical care.

Specific expertise? Pediatric pulmonary hypertension and chronic respiratory failure.

Additional involvement: Dr. Varghese serves on PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council, PH Care Center Review Committee and PH Care Center Pediatric Task Force. Dr. Varghese previously served on the Scientific Sessions Committee for PHA international PH conferences and has presented sessions at past conferences.

Areas of expertise

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policies and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Pediatrics

PHCC accreditation (comprehensive and regional care centers)

PH program development and evaluation

Multidisciplinary teams

R. James White, MD, PhD

PH Physician/PH Program Director

Clinical Researcher
University of Rochester Medical Center, New York

Years of experience in PH? 20.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Both.

Specific expertise? Pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Additional involvement: Dr. White is a member of PHA’s Scientific Leadership Council and has served as an associate editor of PHA’s quarterly peer-reviewed journal, Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension.

Areas of expertise

Basic science research

Developing patient education materials

Garnering institutional support for program building

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policies and procedures)

Managing IV and SQ therapies

Navigating REMS criteria

Palliative care and hospice

Patient support group activities

PHCC accreditation (comprehensive care centers)

PH clinic nursing duties

PH program development and evaluation

PH research

PH coordinator roles and responsibilities

Pulmonary rehab

Risk assessment

RV imaging

Work/life issues for health care professionals

Social Workers

Allyson Rupp, MSW, LCSW

Social Worker and Complex Care Manager

Stanford Healthcare

Stanford, California

Years of experience in PH? Allyson has worked in PH since 2003.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Her expertise is in clinical care.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Allyson is a clinical social worker for inpatients and outpatients, covering support and assessment for all patients and caregivers and providing counseling around adjustment to illness, grief and bereavement. She also handles inpatient case management/discharge planning and relevant treatment authorizations for inpatients.

Additional involvement: Allyson is a member of the Scientific Leadership Council Sub-Committee for insurance advocacy, the PHPN Symposium Planning Committee and the PH Care for All initiative. She has previously been a member of PHA’s Caregiver Advisory Board, facilitator of PHA’s Telephone Caregiver Support Group and an editor of and contributor to PHA’s Survival Guide.

Areas of expertise

Developing patient education materials

Managing hospitalized PH patients (including hospital policy and procedures)

Obtaining coverage for PH medications, including use of patient assistance programs

Palliative care and/or hospice

Patient support group activities

Patient/family counseling (insurance and psychosocial)

Work/life issues for the health professional

Working as a part of a multidisciplinary team

 

Physician Assistant (PA) Mentors

Charlie Lee, MPAS, MMS, PA-C

Physician Associate (PA)

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Boston, MA

Years of experience in PH? Charlie has been working in PH since 2014.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Clinical Care

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? Charlie has expertise working with adult patients.

Additional involvement: Charlie has previously been a member of the PHPN Symposium Committee and PH Care Center Review Committee.

Areas of Expertise

Managing Hospitalized PH Patients (including Hospital Policy and Procedures)

Managing IV and SQ Therapies

PA/APN Work-up and Management of PH patients

PHCC Accreditation - CCC

PH Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities

Risk Assessment

Robyn Kunkel, PA

Physician Assistant (PA)

University of Minnesota Heart Care

Edina / St. Paul, MN

Years of experience in PH? Robyn has been working in PH since 2012.

Expertise in clinical care, research or both? Robyn has experience in both clinical care and research, and has participated in several research studies as a sub investigator.

Any specific expertise, such as a certain patient population? N/A

Additional involvement: Robyn has previously been a member of the Patient and Caregiver Education Committee.

Areas of Expertise

Developing Patient Education Materials

Managing IV and SQ Therapies

PA/APN Work-up and Management of PH patients

PHCC Accreditation - CCC

PHCC Accreditation - RCP

PH Program Development and Evaluation

PH Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities

Risk Assessment

Working as part of a Multidisciplinary team

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