Vice President of Philanthropy
Laura Branker is a strategist who develops impactful outreach plans amplified with crisp messaging and strong collaboration with stakeholders and partners. She built a career that crosses the private, public and nonprofit sectors, working for iconic brands such as AARP, Wal-Mart, and UnitedHealth Group. Most recently, Laura designed and led global skills-based executive volunteer programs for multi-national corporations. She has held senior political appointments in Florida and District of Columbia governments. Laura graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Florida A&M University, and served two terms on the university’s Board of Trustees. As a delegate for the American Council of Young Political Leaders, she traveled as a United States representative to Venezuela and as the team lead to the Republic of Korea. She is an alumna of the Georgetown Leadership Seminar hosted by Georgetown University’s School of Diplomacy. Committed to volunteerism, Laura enjoys contributing her time and leadership to community and civic organizations. She is an avid supporter of cultural and performing arts.
Vice President of Practice Management
Linda Biedrzycki, an innovative healthcare administrator with a proven track record in effectively managing physician practices, serves as Vice President of Practice Management at Capital Caring Health.
In this role, she is responsible for daily business operations of our new Primary Care at Home (PCH) service as well as CCH’s hospice and palliative care programs.
Prior to joining Capital Caring Health, Linda was the Administrative Director for Emergency Medicine at MedStar Medical Group. During her time at MedStar, she was responsible for operations of the emergency departments at MedStar’s Georgetown University Hospital and Southern Maryland Hospital Center. She led more than 50 clinicians who cared for nearly 85,000 lives per year.
Linda is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. She completed a master’s in Health Administration at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
She enjoys traveling, Crossfit, cooking, spending time with family, friends, and her German Shepherd.
Chief of Strategy, Policy, & Legal Affairs
In his new role, Gary will direct efforts to determine how best to improve all aspects of advanced illness and hospice care throughout Capital Caring Health and on a national level.
Gary most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation where he was responsible for directing the development of new models and initiatives to improve and refine value-based care. For more than a decade, he has led efforts in health care improvement, operating at the intersection of public policy, law, regulatory affairs and business development. Gary is widely recognized as a national expert on a broad range of health plans, encompassing providers, employers, state-based exchanges and government organizations. He has also served as a policy and legal advisor on issues including fraud and abuse, antitrust, HIPAA, government payment systems, and FDA rules and regulations.
Gary also served on active military duty from 1996-2000, as Assistant to the Army General Counsel and during that period assisted at the White House Counsel’s Office. He holds a JD from Stanford Law School, an MPA from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, and a BA from Georgetown University.
Vice President of Public Affairs and Philanthropy
In addition to overseeing Capital Caring Health’s corporate and foundation relations and philanthropic partnerships, Parsons will also lead various aspects of Capital Caring Health’s relationships with local, state, and federal elected leaders, trade associations, civic organizations, business groups, advocacy organizations and work with other stakeholders to build support for Capital Caring Health’s mission of providing patients and families with advanced illness care of the highest quality.
Prior to joining Capital Caring Health, Jason served as Executive Director of Business for West Virginia where he advised the West Virginia Secretary of State. He also served as the Executive Director of Keep Prince William Beautiful, a not-for-profit serving Prince William County, Virginia, where he led the organization to record fundraising and new programs and initiatives. He most recently worked as a consultant focusing on Public Affairs and Philanthropy at Capital Caring Health.
Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships
Altonia has worked at Capital Caring Health for more than a decade holding leadership roles including Clinical Supervisor, General Manager, and Executive Director for offices in Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia and Prince George’s County, Maryland. In her new role, she will lead organizational-wide initiatives to build, strengthen, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders that advance the work of Capital Caring Health. Altonia will also work closely and collaborate with policy makers, elected leaders, and industry partners as well as oversee the organization’s relationship with local, state and federal legislative and executive branches in Richmond, Virginia; Annapolis, Maryland; and Washington, D.C.
On a national level, Altonia works with the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation as the Program Director for Innovation Lab. In this role, she supports all Innovation Lab activities, including the upcoming launch of the advanced disease specific programs and the ongoing development of other Innovation Lab programs.
President and CEO
Tom Koutsoumpas serves as President and CEO for Capital Caring Health. He is a highly-respected expert in the healthcare arena, and has particular expertise in hospice, advanced illness care and long-term care.
In addition to his role at Capital Caring Health, Tom serves as founding member of Healthsperien, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting and legal services firm focused on strategic issues operating at the intersection of public policy, business strategy and government affairs. Tom also co-founded and currently co-chairs the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC), an organization dedicated to the ideal that all Americans with advanced illness, especially the sickest and most vulnerable, receive comprehensive, high-quality, person- and family-centered care that is consistent with their goals and values and honors their dignity. In addition, Tom serves as President and CEO of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation.
Medical Director, Interventional Symptom Management
Dr. Michael Byas-Smith, an expert in interventional pain and symptom management and palliative care, is now seeing patients in Washington, D.C.
With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Byas-Smith performs interventions to relieve pain associated with cancers of the breast, lung, and abdominal organs and manages symptoms associated with neuropathy, osteoarthritis, and a wide variety of advanced illness.
Cancer Pain Specialist,Dr. Byas-Smith is medical director of the Capital Caring Health Adler Center and the Center for Pain and Palliative Care. He provides comprehensive interventional pain and palliative care consulting services in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C., for patients with advanced disease symptoms.
University of Illinois School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine – Anethesia
Cook County Health and Hospital Systems
National Institute of Mental Health – Pain Medicine
Chief Growth Officer
In this new role, Kieran will use his vast experience in strategic planning and execution to work with our Patient Advocate team. Kieran is well known for his innovative approach to business development leading to enhance patient access for both Hospice and Palliative Care. He has in the past and will now coordinate with all parties involved in these services—the medical community, community government and business leaders, insurers, service partners, patients and their families, and internal staff and volunteers.
Kieran will elevate our mission, values, and care services to a wider population of influencers and will work closely with other senior management to cross pollinate among these influencers what makes Capital Caring Health so special – an around-the-clock focus on putting patients and family first and always doing the right thing.
Mandy Brouillard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Science from Georgetown University. After graduating from Georgetown, she spent a year volunteering full-time with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she served patients as a Clinic Coordinator at Casa de Salud, a family medical clinic. After completion of her service year, Mandy returned to the Washington D.C. area and worked as a Case Manager at One Care DC, a core service agency providing mental health rehabilitation services to DC residents.
Mandy holds a certification in Harm Reduction from New Mexico’s Department of Health, and she is proficient in Spanish.
In her spare time, Mandy enjoys exploring the outdoors, playing any and all sports, and baking. She loves these activities even more when she is joined by her family, friends, or six month old puppy.
Georgetown University School of Medicine
University of Chicago Medical Center – Internal Medicine
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Physician
Dr. Heidi Young has more than a decade of experience as a hospice and palliative care physician. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she attended Georgetown University School of Medicine.
She completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Chicago followed by a chief resident year at MacNeal Hospital in Chicago. She returned to Washington, D.C., in 2010 and completed fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine through the National Institute of Health and Capital Caring in 2011. Prior to joining Capital Caring, she served as a general internist and palliative medicine consultant at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital as well as the Chief of Palliative Medicine at MedStar Georgetown for five years.
She currently serves as an Associate Professor with Georgetown University School of Medicine. Dr. Young is based in Arlington, Virginia.
MS, FNP-C
Caitlin Geary, MS, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than seven years of direct patient care experience. Prior to joining Capital Caring Health, she worked at The George Washington University Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit.
She earned a master’s degree in Nursing from Georgetown University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Central Florida.
Her hobbies include running, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and cat.
LCSW
Deanna Cho is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Certificate in Advanced Clinical Dementia Practice.
She earned a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Prior to joining Capital Caring Health, she was a geriatric medical social worker for the MedStar House Call Program. She supported elderly patients and their caregivers through aging and health-related transitions, facilitated an over-the-phone discussion group for home-limited elders, and provided crisis intervention.
She has served as a faculty member for the Home Centered Care Institute, educating providers interested in starting home-based primary care practices. She also instructed undergraduate students on the topic of geriatric social work and cultural competency. She was a co-contributor for the 2018 Best Research Poster of the Year in at the American Academy of Homecare Medicine, which explored the role of Home-Based Primary Care Social Workers.
Deanna enjoys rock climbing, reading, culinary experiences and traveling.
LCSW
Sherri Parker, LCSW, an experienced clinician with Capital Caring Health for 20-plus years has served in a variety of social work roles including home care, long-term care and grief support.
In her most recent role, she was the Lead Social worker at the Capital Caring Halquist Memorial Inpatient Center, a 15-bed acute care hospice unit. In this role, Sherri provided emotional support and counseling for individuals, couples, and families coping with challenges adjusting to serious illness, addressing increased caregiving needs and developing discharge plans. Sherri guided patients and families in accessing community resources and navigating insurance issues.
Sherri earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a licensed clinical social worker and member of NASW, who provides field instruction to graduate-level social work students at local universities, and clinical supervision to colleagues pursuing clinical licensure.
In 2018, she was presented the Employee of the Year Award from the Healthcare Council of the National Capital Area.
Sherri’s hobbies include spending time with her family and friends (including dogs), cooking, gardening and enjoying vacation time at the beach.
MSN, FNP-C
Sayaka Hanada, MSN, FNP-C is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with more than five years of experience in direct patient care. Prior to joining Capital Caring Health, she worked at George Washington University Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit. Sayaka also served as a clinical instructor adjunct professor at the George Washington University’s School of Nursing.
She earned a master’s degree in Nursing from George Washington University. Sayaka also holds a bachelor’s degree Brain and Cognitive Sciences from Rochester University, and she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Nursing from George Washington University.
Her hobbies include cooking/baking, yoga, traveling, and taking care of her dog, Kai.
Chief of Staff
Kimberly Grove is the Chief of Staff for Capital Caring Health. In this role, she works with the CEO and provides direct executive support, acts as a liaison, manages a broad range of projects, and assists with managing strategic initiatives, works with the executive team to coordinate various organization projects, as well as oversee executive administrative operations.
Kimberly has 20+ years of experience in healthcare and human resource management. She joined Capital Caring Health in October 2016 as a Recruitment Manager, and in March 2018, she was promoted to Director of Human Resources.
While serving as Director of Human Resources, Kimberly successfully led our hiring and recruitment team and worked to build relationships to expand the pipeline of job candidates to fit critical roles within the organization. Kimberly is an experienced and dedicated leader, and she will continue to support the organization in the coordination of strategic initiatives.
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Guntur Medical College
St. Barnabas Hospital – Internal Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital – Internal Medicine
University of Michigan – Geriatric Medicine, Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter – Hospice and Palliative Medicine
University of the East
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Family Medicine
Albany Medical College
Albany Medical Center – Diagnostic Radiology
Meharry Medical College – Internal Medicine
Eastern Virginia Medical School of the Medical College of Hampton Roads
Riverside Family Practice – Family Practice
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Memorial Family Medicine – Family Medicine
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center – Hospice and Palliative Medicine
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center – Internal Medicine
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center – Internal Medicine
University of Chicago Medical School – Clinical Medical Ethics
Northwestern University Medical School – Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Medical Oncology
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine
Kennedy Memorial Hospitals University Medical Center – Family Practice
Kennedy Memorial Hospitals University Medical Center – Rotating Internship
Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine
ETSU Quillen College of Medicine – Internal Medicine
ETSU Quillen College of Medicine – Internal Medicine
University of Virginia – Nephrology
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Loyola University Medical Center – Internal Medicine
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Hospice and Palliative Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Northridge Family Practice Residency – Family Medicine
Medstar Washington Hospital Center – Palliative Medicine
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Howard University School of Medicine – Family Practice
Howard University Hospital – Family Practice
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Allegheny General Hospital – Internal Medicine
St. John’s Episcopal Hospital – Internal Medicine
A. T. Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System – Family Medicine
Georgetown University Hospital – Washington Hospital Center – Hospice and Palliative Medicine
University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Family Medicine
University of Jos
Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine – Emergency Medicine
Gondar College of Medicine
Addis Ababa University Medical Facility – Pathology and Lab Medicine, Prince George’s Hospital Center – Internal Medicine
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
LewisGale Montgomery Hospital – Internal Medicine
OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital – Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Medical Director, Inpatient Hospice Services
St. Christopher’s Iba mar Diop College of Medicine
Internal Medicine
Medical Director, Community-Based Hospice Services
St. Matthew’s University
Carilion Clinic – Family Medicine
Carilion Clinic VTC – Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Medical Director, Community-Based Palliative Care Services
Medical Director, Education
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center – Family Medicine
George Washington University – Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Chief of Geriatrics
Eric De Jonge, M.D., is one of the nation’s most renowned physicians specializing in geriatrics. As Chief of Geriatrics, he is leading efforts to build an array of health services for elders with advanced illness, including Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC), Social Services, and other needed senior health services.
Dr. De Jonge is President of the American Academy of Home Care Medicine (AAHCM) and Co-Chair of the AAHCM Public Policy Committee. He previously served as Executive Director of the MedStar House Call Program and Director of Geriatrics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.
He was named National House Call Physician of the Year by the AAHCM in 2003. and in 2007, Dr. De Jonge helped develop and advocate for a Medicare reform law called Independence at Home (IAH) to advance the field of home care medicine and reduce Medicare costs. The IAH demonstration began in 2012 and Dr. De Jonge directed a successful IAH site at MedStar Health for seven years.
A native of Chicago, Dr. De Jonge graduated with honors from Stanford University and from the Yale School of Medicine. He trained in primary care internal medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview and completed fellowships in health policy at Georgetown and Geriatrics at Johns Hopkins. He is on the teaching faculty at Georgetown School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Yale University School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins Bayview – Internal Medicine
Johns Hopkins Bayview – Geriatrics
Chief Medical Officer
Matthew Kestenbaum, M.D. is Chief Medical Officer. Matt has been with Capital Caring since 2006 and is well known in the industry as an expert in hospice and palliative care. Among his many accomplishments and successes include his leadership with the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) and work with CMS. Prior to joining Capital Caring, Matt served as hospice medical director for 10-plus years.
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Northwestern University Medical School – Internal Medicine
Chief Mission Officer
Carolyn Richar has 30-plus years of nursing experience, certified hospice and palliative care nurse. Carolyn developed a deep love for hospice as a chaplain volunteer for Hospice of Northern Virginia (now Capital Caring) from 1988 to 1990. She returned in 2000 to work as a chaplain for the Prince William and Loudoun regions and then moved into the general manager position for the Prince William region in 2005. Carolyn has served as executive director for the Arlington region, including the Capital Caring Halquist Inpatient Center since 2009. She has also served in various roles including as a U.S. Senate Staff aide on health care issues and as a nursing home administrator.
Hear David’s story about how Capital Caring Health changed his perception of hospice. *While most hospice care takes place in a patient’s home, our inpatient centers are there to help manage pain and provide an extra level of care.
Chief of Clinical Operations
Susan Boris has 30-plus years of nursing and health care leadership experience. Susan has served in the executive director role for Loudoun and western Fairfax counties and she was also the executive director for Prince William and Fauquier counties from 2014 to 2016. Susan has worked as clinical operations manager, clinical supervisor and RN case manager during her time with Capital Caring.
Susan has a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and more than 30 years of nursing and leadership experience in the adult and pediatric clinical settings with a focus on end-of-life, hospice and palliative care.
Chief Performance & Compliance Officer
Keith Everett is Chief Performance & Compliance Officer at Capital Caring. He holds Master of Science in Business and Healthcare Administration from South University. Keith is certified in Lean Six Sigma and Public Health Quality with more than 15 years of comprehensive health care operational and quality improvement, and he serves on the Board of Examiners for the 2018 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The board is composed of more than 300 leading experts competitively selected from industry, professional, trade, education, health care, and nonprofit (including government) organizations from across the United States.
Prior to joining Capital Caring, Keith served as Vice President of Quality and Systems Improvement for the American Heart Association, Mid Atlantic Affiliate. During his time with the AHA, Keith managed the regional operations and implementation of the association’s quality agenda to support the achievement of its Strategic Plan for 350+ hospitals from South Carolina to Maryland. Keith is a member of several organizations including: the American College of Healthcare Executives, National Association for Healthcare Quality, American Society of Quality and the American Heart Association.
Chief Innovation Officer
Cameron Muir, M.D., FAAHPM, is Capital Caring’s Chief Innovation Officer, and he is responsible for identifying and implementing new business initiatives based on emerging innovative models designed to care for people with advanced illness. Prior to his work with Capital Caring, Dr. Muir was Medical Director of the Palliative Care and Home Hospice Program of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He served as the Director of the Palliative Care Program of the Northwestern University Medical School. Dr. Muir is Board-Certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Internal Medicine. Dr. Muir received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, completed his residency in internal medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and earned fellowships in bioethics at the University of Chicago Medical Center and in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Chief People Officer
Vivian brings more than 25 years of experience as a Human Resources executive for such organizations as Children’s National Medical Center and MedStar Montgomery Medical Center where she held operational and financial accountabilities for the organization and its more than 1,150 employees, 250 volunteers and 500 medical staff.
Vivian’s background prior to joining Capital Caring in January 2018, includes extensive engagement in recruitment and retention, employee relations, employee communications, talent management, compensation, benefits, occupational health and wellness, and organizational development. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Masters Degree in General Administration. She possesses a certification in Healthcare Human Resources (CHHR).
In her role as Chief People Officer, Vivian has responsibility for Human Resources and Education, which includes talent acquisition, management and retention, compensation and benefits, regulatory compliance, policy development and staff development, training and education.
Chief Financial Officer
David Schwind serves as Chief Financial Officer for Capital Caring. David has been a member of the Capital Caring team since 2005 and brings more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry. Prior to joining Capital Caring, he served as the Senior Vice President for Reimbursement and Regulatory Affairs of an organization providing ancillary support services to long-term care facilities throughout the United States. He has held management positions in several of the largest teaching hospitals on the East Coast. David is an advanced member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is a past president of their Washington, D.C. Chapter. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland.
Chief of Communications, Marketing, and Philanthropy
Steve Cone is the Chief of Communications, Marketing, and Philanthropy for Capital Caring. In this role, Steve will provide leadership to increase public and brand awareness of Capital Caring, one of the nation’s largest and most experienced nonprofit providers of hospice, palliative care and advanced illness care. Steve will also oversee the organization’s philanthropic activities and develop strategies to enhance the organization’s impact and reach.
Prior to his new role, Steve co-managed a data consulting and marketing services firm headquartered in New York. From 2015 to 2017, Steve was Chief Revenue Officer of the American Bar Association and from 2010 through June 2015, Steve was AARP’s Executive Vice President responsible for all membership activities and partnerships with corporations across America.
With more than 45 years of senior-level marketing and fundraising experience, he has created or led efforts to develop many national loyalty programs including United’s MileagePlus®, Hyatt’s Gold Passport, and Saks Fifth Avenue’s, SaksFirst rewards program.
Steve has provided marketing services to major organizations including Apple, American Express, FedEx, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and the San Diego Zoo. Steve has also led marketing campaigns for environmental groups like The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund. He has also provided marketing support to presidential campaigns for both major parties.
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Nancy Cook is vice president of Marketing and Communications for Capital Caring. Nancy has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and communications, having held leadership positions in this capacity at Georgetown University Hospital, the American College of Radiology, Magellan Health, and Providence Hospital. She has received numerous awards for her work in health care marketing and communications including an Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation and a national Telly Award.
Nancy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Spanish Language and Literature from Syracuse University, and a Master of Science degree in Marketing Strategy and Business from Johns Hopkins University. She is a certified Project Manager and is an active participant in fundraising efforts on behalf of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the national philanthropy of Tri Delta sorority, for which she is an officer.