Key Contacts and Leadership
Our Community Palliative Care Learning Collaborative (C-PCLC) leadership team and facilitators are here to help. Find contact information and learn how to create a Center to Advance Palliative Care membership account.
Not sure who to contact? Email our program
Your C-PCLC Leadership
Brenda Matti-Orozco, MD
Medical Director, Community Palliative Care Learning Collaborative
"Palliative care means sharing the patient’s (and family’s) journey across the continuum of health, aging, and illness. I choose to work in palliative care because…it has allowed me to practice the heart of medicine, with joy and passion."
Yvette Vieira, MMH, HEC-C
Manager, Community Palliative Care Learning Collaborative
"Being able to provide a patient with expert, multi-focal symptom management during some of the most vulnerable moments of their life, means honoring their experience as a human and their important role as part of a caring community. Palliative care does this."
Lauren Salvatore, RN
Project Coordinator, Community Palliative Care Learning Collaborative
"As a former cardiac nurse for about 12 years, to me, palliative care means Angels on the health care team, to comfort, support, and protect these very sick patients as well as their family members — to give them the proper care, relieving pain, suffering, and the unknown these patients may face."
Atlantic Health System Champions
Carol Vargas
Vice President, Integrated Care, Atlantic Health System
“A paradigm shift of viewing palliative care as a gift instead of seeing it as giving up has the potential to change the way patients experience serious illness."
Mark Calderon, MD
Medical Director, Post-Acute Quality and Value, Atlantic Health System
"When a patient is seriously ill, they understand the value of each day. While they still must face their illness, the support of palliative care in controlling pain and improving a person’s well-being makes each day a more positive experience and allows patients to make the most of the time they have with their families."
Care Facilitators by Location
For Holly Manor Center, Morris View Healthcare Center, Morristown Post Acute Rehabilitation & Nursing Center
Brenda Matti-Orozco, MD
Medical Director
"Palliative care means sharing the patient’s (and family’s) journey across the continuum of health, aging, and illness."
Beth Bertolini, RN, HEC-C
Palliative Care Nurse
"I choose to work in palliative care because it combines clinical expertise with compassion in order to provide the best care possible."
Alison Allocco, LSW
Care Coordinator
"Advocating for our patients’ needs, ensuring timely transitions of care, breaking through barriers to receiving care all while ensuring meaningful connections between members of the care team."
Colleen Burlace, LPN
Care Coordinator
"Trust. Trust that we will, together, create new and innovative treatment plans in order to offer our patients their best life possible while dealing with serious illnesses."
For Autumn Lake Healthcare, Runnells Center for Rehabilitation & Healthcare and Spring Grove Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center.
Abdul Mondul, MD
Medical Director, Palliative Care
"The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. We do this by working to: treat the whole patient not just the illness; relieve symptoms, pain, and stress; help educate patients and their families on their illness; and support them playing an active role in their care decisions."
Sharon Burniston, MDiv, BCC-PCHAC, CT
Palliative Care Chaplain
"I love palliative care because we use a holistic approach. We understand that each patient is unique; and whether we are treating physical symptoms or having difficult conversations, we consider how the mind, body, and spirit all come together and impact each other."
Alison Allocco, LSW
Care Coordinator
"Advocating for our patients’ needs, ensuring timely transitions of care, breaking through barriers to receiving care all while ensuring meaningful connections between members of the care team."
Colleen Burlace, LPN
Care Coordinator
"Trust. Trust that we will, together, create new and innovative treatment plans in order to offer our patients their best life possible while dealing with serious illnesses."
Sharon McSorley, RN
Care Coordinator
"Palliative care embraces the patient with comfort for the body, the spirit, and the mind when confronted with a serious illness."
Arbor Ridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, Lincoln Park Care Center, Oakland Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, The Renaissance at Lincoln Park
Cathy Stevens, DNP, APN-C, CNN
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
"I wish people knew that palliative care is not about dying, it is about living with quality. Too many people suffer with symptoms when they could potentially be helped."
Bari Maffei, LCSW
Palliative Care Social Worker
"Palliative care is important because…It puts the patient in the driver’s seat. It gives them control over their own care. Distressing symptoms are managed, and quality of life is improved. "
Jaclyn Vallier, RN
Care Coordinator
"Palliative care is a service to help assist patients and their families in forming goals of care and improving quality of life. They are there to help make the patient comfortable, and assist with any emotional, mental and spiritual needs."
Barn Hill Care Center, Complete Care at Woodlands, Heath Village, Homestead Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, House of the Good Shepherd, Limecrest Subacute and Rehabilitation Center and United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen
Maria Shindler, MD
Palliative Care Physician
"I wish people knew this about palliative care…that it should be part of every person’s health care strategy, starting when you are young and healthy. It is similar to an insurance plan: have a plan in place when you don’t need it."
Joan Pollner, RN, MSN, CHPN, CNE
Palliative Care Nurse
"I wish people knew this about palliative care…that it is most beneficial at the beginning of a serious disease. Palliative care is not about death or end of life…it is about living life to the fullest, whether a day or a decade. I did not choose palliative care…it chose me!"
Deb Granata, RN, MSN, CDONA/LTC
Care Coordinator
"The elderly are one of the most vulnerable populations in health care. They are often not given information in a way that they can understand. Too often, families make decisions for them. I want to be their voice."
Barn Hill Care Center, Complete Care at Woodlands, Heath Village, Homestead Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, House of the Good Shepherd, Limecrest Subacute and Rehabilitation Center and United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen
Maria Shindler, MD
Palliative Care Physician
"I wish people knew this about palliative care…that it should be part of every person’s health care strategy, starting when you are young and healthy. It is similar to an insurance plan: have a plan in place when you don’t need it."
Joan Pollner, RN, MSN, CHPN, CNE
Palliative Care Nurse
"I wish people knew this about palliative care…that it is most beneficial at the beginning of a serious disease. Palliative care is not about death or end of life…it is about living life to the fullest, whether a day or a decade. I did not choose palliative care…it chose me!"
Deb Granata, RN, MSN, CDONA/LTC
Care Coordinator
"The elderly are one of the most vulnerable populations in health care. They are often not given information in a way that they can understand. Too often, families make decisions for them. I want to be their voice."