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Cheryl-Lynne McCalla DO is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician. Dr McCalla is originally from Flossmoor, Illnois. She was an Air Force Flight Surgeon taking her from Virgina to Alaska and South Korea. Dr McCalla has worked as a Family Medicine Physician in Georgia and has recently relocated here to Virginia. Dr McCalla will be the Primary Care at Home team’s Physician for Virginia patients outside the beltway.
Dr McCalla received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Tuskegee University and a Masters in BioMedical Science from Barry University prior to attending medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her Family Medicine Residency at Augusta University Medical Center.
Kathleen Ramkaran, RN, CCM, is the Nurse Care Manager for Primary Care at Home. She has extensive nursing experience, including chronic care management and acute care hospital experience. Kathleen is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and speaks three languages fluently. She received her nursing degree from Howard Community College.
Hali Gantumur is the Team Coordinator supporting the Virginia North team. She has been with Capital Caring since 2012, supporting the Capital Caring providers and patients. Hali is the point person for patients, families, and providers, as she handles many of the administrative tasks of caring for our patients. Hali is originally from Mongolia and earned her Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Mongolian Technical University.
Yasmin Eleady-Cole is the Team Coordinator supporting the DC/MD and VA South teams. In this role, Yasmin is the point of contact for patients and families regarding scheduling and all the administrative responsibilities of caring for our patients. Yasmin is a Washington, DC native with more than 10 years’ experience in the physician practice management field. Yasmin attended North Carolina Central University, where she studied Exercise Sports Science.
Jennifer Olsen GNP-BC, has more than 15 years experience as a Nurse Practioner with her focus on Geriatrics and Palliative Care. She has extensive work in Palliative Care at Georgetown University Hospital and George Washington University Hospital. She worked at Capital Caring as a Palliative Care Nurse Practioner and we are thrilled to have her return in 2022 as a Primary Care at Home NP.
Jenny grew up outside of Philadelphia and earned her BSN in Nursing from University of Pennsylvania. She received her MSN as a Nurse Practioner from Catholic University of American with a speciality in Geriatrics.
Dr Raj received her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Economics from Northwestern University. She completed a Post-Baccalaureate degree from Columbia University prior to attending Emory University School of Medicine for her Medical Degree. She completed her Residency in Internal Medicine at George Washington University.
Allison Kuchar is the Vice President of Pediatric Services. In this role, she oversees all children’s hospice, palliative care, and community bereavement programs. She is also responsible for facilitating ongoing complex care coordination and best practices for all pediatric patients, paving the way for how pediatric concurrent care is effectively implemented, and provides needed guidance, resources, and support to the Capital Caring Kids team. She is also involved with managing grants, donors, and sponsorships supportive of Capital Caring Kids programming and local, regional, and national involvement with increasing access and awareness of pediatric hospice and palliative care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Allison, formerly the Director of Pediatric Care Coordination with Capital Caring Kids, has worked closely for years with hospitals and outpatient clinics in the metro region to educate providers of children’s hospice eligibility and offer support with hospital to home discharge planning. She has supported hundreds of parents through difficult decision making, guiding them through the process of enrolling with hospice.
Pediatric programs require specialty considerations for models of care delivery, staffing ratios and management, funding mechanisms for care, and methods for care coordination. Allison is committed to breaking down accessibility barriers for children with complex illness and their families and has presented on topics pertaining to concurrent hospice care, complex care coordination, and pediatric hospice program structure at multiple national conferences, including with the Hospice Foundation of America. She is also a contributing author in several scholarly articles on these topics, some of which have been featured in the Journal of Palliative Medicine and American Academy of Pediatrics.
Allison’s journey with hospice started twelve years ago as a volunteer with Capital Caring, when she would visit hospice patients in their home to offer companionship and socialization. Her passion with caring for patients and their families navigating end-of-life has led to a ten-year career with hospice. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral and Community Health, along with a Master’s of Healthcare Administration, Masters of Business Administration, and advanced certificates in Health Education.
Angi Stapleton, BSN, RN, is the Regional Executive Director for the District of Columbia. In this role, she provides leadership and support to the interdisciplinary teams caring for patients and families in DC. Angi has extensive healthcare experience, from her start as a Licensed Practical Nurse to the completion of her bachelor’s degree and working in a medical and trauma intensive care unit. As her career progressed, Angi developed a deep compassion for patients and families experiencing challenging times, leading her to seek work in hospice.
After working as a travel contract nurse with Capital Caring Health, Angi became a full-time employee and served as a Clinical Manager. Angi’s enthusiasm and dedication to Capital Caring Health have continued to grow throughout her tenure, especially in her current role as Regional Executive Director.
Angi holds a Bachelor of Science from Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania.
Kimberly Grove is the Managing Director for Capital Caring Health. In this role, she is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the region’s largest nonprofit advanced illness care providers. Previously, she served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Human Resources for Capital Caring Health. In that role, she worked with the CEO to provide direct executive support, acted as a liaison, managed strategic initiatives, and oversaw administrative operations.
Kimberly has 20-plus 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 the hiring and recruitment team and worked to build relationships to expand the pipeline of job candidates to fit critical roles within the organization.
As Regional Executive Director for Maryland, Lisa Robinson oversees the clinical teams supporting Maryland patients daily at Capital Caring Health. Lisa has served in healthcare for 24 years, including as an emergency room nurse and a pediatric HIV and AIDS nurse, a role that brought her into patients’ homes and worked closely with families.
Lisa was introduced to Capital Caring in 2006 when she witnessed the high-quality care and what she calls “committed compassion” towards a family member. The experience left an indelible impression on her life, ultimately leading her to hospice nursing at Capital Caring. Lisa’s experience as a case manager and a clinical supervisor prepared her for work in the field which she enjoys with her team. The most gratifying part of her work is receiving words of appreciation from families and knowing that she and her staff are making a difference.
Patricia A. Bishop, RN, MSN, CHPN, is the Regional Executive Director for the Western Virginia region. Pat provides leadership, management, and support for the clinical operations and services for Loudoun, Western Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier counties, serving over 300 patients daily. Pat’s scope of responsibilities includes hospice home and facility patients, the Adler Center for Caring – a 21-bed hospice inpatient facility located in Aldie, VA, and inpatient care with our partner hospitals within the service area.
Pat has extensive healthcare experience, including both acute care hospital and hospice, devoting the past 25 years to hospice and palliative end-of-life care. In addition to her experience in leadership and management of clinical operations, she has experience and a special interest in quality, performance improvement, and regulatory compliance.
Pat holds both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and maintains national certification in Hospice and Palliative Care.
As Regional Executive Director for Fairview Park, Elizabeth’s role is to ensure patients and families have the highest quality of care and team support when receiving hospice care in their homes. Her mission is to support our teams with the right tools, resources, knowledge, empowerment, and financial viability to provide our patients and families with a genuine hospice hug.
Her education includes degrees in nursing, psychology, and metaphysics. Her background in nursing includes medical-surgical, geriatrics, addictionology, and behavioral health. These disciplines led her to an executive-level career in managed healthcare, including medical, EAP, and behavioral health utilization review and case management. Elizabeth’s greatest professional joy is when families complement staff for support during the most difficult time of life and when our staff identifies a magic moment of healing within the patient and family.
Ray Jay Garcia, M.D.Dr. Ray Garcia is a Medical Director with more than 10 years experience providing hospice and palliative care and 14 years practicing Family Medicine. He is a firm advocate for providing comfort and dignity to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses, and promoting a positive philosophy of hospice care to the community.
University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
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.
Matthew Kestenbaum, M.D. is Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Kestenbaum has been with Capital Caring Health 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, Dr. Kestenbaum served as hospice medical director for 10-plus years.
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Northwestern University Medical School – Internal Medicine
Anne Silao-Solomon, M.D.Dr. Silao-Solomon has been the hospice medical director in Capital Caring Health’s Loudoun community since 2010. She is also currently the hospice medical director in the Winchester region. She is certified in both Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Her main interests include management of cancer related symptoms, end of life communication, and integrative approaches in pain management to help maximize patients’ comfort at the advanced stage of their disease.
University of the East
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Family Medicine
Capital Hospice – National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Matthew Irwin, M.D., M.S.W.Dr. Irwin has been a hospice medical director with Capital Caring since 2004 and has also maintained a family medicine practice during that time. He appreciates the breadth of experience that includes helping people through the entire range of life, including newborns, children, adolescents, adults and older generations. He has been honored several times to receive the Northern Virginia Magazine Top Doctor award, including in 2020 and 2021.
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Howard University School of Medicine – Family Practice
Howard University Hospital – Family Practice
Prior to joining Capital Caring Health, Catherine was the Director of Care Management and Population Health at Johns Hopkins HealthCare. Catherine worked for more than 10 years with United Health Group, most recently as Sr. Director of Clinical Services for Optum’s Complex Care Management in the MidAtlantic region. In this role she had oversight of care delivery to Medicare ISNP and DSNP populations. She is a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner.
Catherine graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in American Literature from Middlebury College and received a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have been working at CCH since 2014 so already 8 years!
My current role is to serve as attending for our GIP patients at Fairfax Hospital, provide support to other physicians serving as GIP attendings at the other Inova hospitals, and also assist w/ complex discharges of hospital patients to our home hospice teams.
I used to be the medical director for Arlington home teams and at Halquist IPU.
Before that, I worked in the Chicagoland area for another non-profit hospice company, also caring for palliative care and hospice patients in residential, IPU, and hospital settings.
Can’t believe it’s been 19 years of doing this amazing work! Time flies!
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I love working on interdisciplinary teams so that we can create beautiful care for patients and families going through difficult times. I am excited about being an Ambassador as it is an opportunity to go beyond the walls of Fairfax Hospital and connect and reconnect with colleagues in other hospitals and out in the communities that we serve.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: One fun (non-clinical) fact about myself: One of my highlights in life was to bike across the country the summer after my first year of medical school. I rode with 20 other people, mostly college students. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet all kinds of people within the group and in the communities that we visited. And I got to appreciate the vastness and variety in terrain within our country! That was also a time to re-imagine myself, even for just the 6 weeks of travel, when I shaved my head and explored a different part of myself! LOL
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have been with Capital Caring since May 2018 as a nurse at the Adler Center for Caring.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I look forward to being part of this important effort towards improving communication and connection. I’m also excited about meeting colleagues from other teams, learning about their experience, and sharing ideas.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I look forward to getting to know each other better through this experience
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have worked for Capital Caring since 1996, 26 years loving my work and feeling proud of my organization.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I am looking forward to sharing ideas and information from my office region colleagues to improve our organization and express concerns/resolutions for general practices. Looking forward to hearing from my colleagues and making a difference.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I passed my LPN Nsg Boards in 1985, Love Hospice Work. I try to have a healthy work/life balance and plan vacations, hiking, kayaking and time with family and friends. I’ve been know to visit a Brewery/Winery and fly kites, play bocce, cards, board games, love watching my friends kids play their sports too! Brings back awesome memories! Fun and Life Balance go together!
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have been at Capital Caring since February 2020 (a little over 2 ½ years). My current role is Social Work Clinical Manager for the Maryland region. Previously, I was a Social Worker on the Montgomery County team.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I am looking forward to improving communication across the company and working toward moving the company forward.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: Though I grew up in Maryland, I am relatively new to working in this area, having previously worked in Baltimore. I have 2 young daughters, ages 7 and 4, who take up most of my time when I am not working. I enjoy following and watching women’s soccer and am also excited to watch the men’s World Cup next month.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have been working here for approximately 6 months. I am the Human Resources Generalist at Headquarters.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: Being able to provide valuable feedback, serve as a connection point between teams and headquarters to help improve communication, shape employee appreciation activities, and develop creative solutions to address challenges.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I am a people person, a good listener, and an observer of life. I enjoy making new friends and learning from them. I am organized and I’ve always been the person in between employees and management to make things run smoothly.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: Over 15 years as a social worker on the Arlington team.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: Serving my colleagues and the mission we all share. In a nutshell, an ambassador is a position of service.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I have many interests and enthusiasms: reading literature and mysteries (I’m a huge Inspector Morse fan), poetry (which I read and write: Housman, Keats, Kipling, Poe, Dickinson are favorites), history and biography, watching films and sometimes collecting movie one-sheets from films I particularly love like FAREWELL MY LOVELY, LA CONFIDENTIAL, CHINATOWN and ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLY WOOD (my all-time favorite).
For the first ten years of my life, I rode horses, growing up on a horse farm where my parents raised and bred Arabian horses.
I consider myself a political junkie, and got in my first political argument in 1968, when I was in the third grade of elementary school
I went to Staunton Military Academy and thrived in that environment. That school basically shaped me into who I am today.
After graduating from Gettysburg College, I spent 15 months in a Jesuit novitiate to prepare for the priesthood, but as I sometimes tell others, when I realized I enjoyed talking with the girls who worked n the refectory there rather than gossiping with the priests and brothers over coffee, the sign marked “EXIT” was already on the wall. I then came to DC and went to social work school at The Catholic University of America, then earned another graduate degree from Georgetown. My first social work job was being Director of Social Services at Christ House, which is an in-patient medical facility for the homeless. After doing that for several years, I started the Early Head start program in Arlington and then managed health access programs in collaboration with Fairfax County.
I am married to my beloved wife and best friend Josefina “Fina”, who is from the Bicol province in the Philippines, which is where we hope to retire. I have two children, our daughter Jereille, and my son Frankie. We also have a cat, Happypawn, who is named after Jennifer Yu, a young lady who won the United States Women’s Chess Championship in 2019, with an almost perfect score.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: 9 years I have been working for Capital Caring. I am a certified nursing assistant working to take care of residents of Prince George’s County.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I am looking forward to being an Employee Ambassador. I would like to help promote all the company has to offer.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I am a wife and a mother. My passions are camping, bike riding, and homesteading. I recently hiked 4 miles, overnight camped, and rode my bike for 26 miles. I love the creator for making all things possible.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I joined CCH as a PRN chaplain in the fall of 2019 and transitioned to a fulltime grief counselor in DC in February 2020, 30 days before the pandemic lockdown. I now cover Bereavement for DC TEAM 1, Sibley IPU and provide regular, limited coverage for our organization-wide grief intake call center.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: Getting to know my peers and being a translator and bridge-builder for the various perspectives and experiences of CCH employees. I would like all of us to feel seen, heard, known, understood, valued, and appreciated.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: Generally, I am a major introvert and prefer one on-one-connection so putting myself out there for this role is a growing-edge for me. I love quiet, being in nature, swimming, health/wellness pursuits, reading, insights about life and people, gardening/anything plant-related, and travel. Currently, I live in DC with my husband of 18 years and have a diverse community of friends and neighbors.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have worked for Capital Caring for five years. I began in Alexandria office and am presently at the IPU at Sibley Hospital. I have served as a chaplain throughout my entire employment with Capital.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: As an Ambassador I am looking forward to listening thoughtfully to as many ideas as possible. The art of change is directly connected to listening, valuing opinions and acting on those ideas which enhance the work environment for all. Respect, collaboration and implementation are the watchwords for any strong organization.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: How do you become a person of compassion and empathy? I would suggest it is through life experience. For me that road led me through almost getting my PH.D in Medieval Scandanavian History (who knew), being a police office in Champaign, Illinois (many stories), working for the U.S Department of State (many travels and adventures, and finally becoming an Episcopal priest. A very eventful life path which has taught me a great deal.
I love to laugh, walk the ferocious miniature poodle Oberon, hold friends close to my heart, watch British mysteries, and generally be grateful for life in all its manifestations.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have been with Capital Caring for just over 1-1/2 years and am a Pediatric Nurse Case Manager with Capital Caring Kids.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I’m most looking forward to working with other CCH members of various disciplines to promote the ideas and voices of all team members.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I love to cook and always take a cooking class when traveling. With a kitty and new puppy at home, life is never dull.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I’ve been working in my role in the hospital for around 3.5 years now.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I’m looking forward to using my advocating for staff as much as I do the patients I serve.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I take self-care seriously and encourage others to do the same. Myself and other members of my team often jog in place to get all our steps in for the hour!
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have been with Capital Caring for about 5 years as a Clinical Liaison.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I look forward to being a change agent and a voice for my peers.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I believe in staying positive, working hard and making things happen.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I’ve been working at Capital for 5 months. I am a Client Relations Executive in DC.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I’m looking forward to advocating for my fellow team members to continuously make progressive change in my role.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I am a total composition of my life experiences and use my unique experience to empower the work, I do each day.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I started working at Capital Caring in 2003 as a RN Case Manager (Hospice of Northern Virginia). Took off in 2009 to complete my Master’s degree and returned to Capital Caring in 2011. I have served in many different capacities at Capital Caring to include; RN Case Manager, Clinical Liaison, Nights/Evenings & Weekends, Admissions, Clinical Manger and IPU nurse and Manager. Currently, my role is as the RN Clinical Educator, but I still do admissions sometimes on the weekends. I am privileged to be able to serve in this role, and great rewards through my support of the clinical staff as well as our patients and families.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: Sharing ideas about positive growth, to have each employee feel they belong here, and to share the sense of honor about the work that we do. I feel very connected to our mission, vision and core values. I see this as a wonderful opportunity to collaborate and work together to achieve new heights.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I grew up on the Oregon coast which I adore and visit often. My family shares my enthusiasm for nature and outdoor activities. Usually the family vacations encompass some new outdoor activity such as sand boarding at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. I have two children, Madison and Dylan as well as a French bulldog named Twinkie. Madison is in college studying architecture and Dylan is a senior in high school and plays in pickleball tournaments over the weekend. I enjoy spending time with my family including snuggling with Twinkie. I just recently revived my passion for swimming, and have been able to swim daily.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I started working at CCH this time in 2020. My role is now Executive Assistant I to the Regional Executive Director for Virginia. Prior roles: Office Manager and Patient Care Coordinator for Prince William and Loudoun Teams.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: I look forward to contributing to making CCH an even better place and to be the advocate/spokesperson for those folks I work with.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I first worked for CCH in 2001-2005 as a billing specialist and then as the Office Manager for Halquist Memorial Inpatient Unit. A fun fact, I love raising chickens and camping.
Q: How long have you been working at Capital Caring and what is your role?
A: I have been working with Capital Caring Health for 4 years but in medical field for 39 years as a CNA.
Q: What are you looking forward to about being an Employee Ambassador?
A: Looking forward to being there for all Employees to bring forth concerns and served as a team leader in whatever is brought to me and share un a professional and caring way.
Q: What would you like to share to help other employees get to know you?
A: I am a great at problem solving and full of information and ideas that may help in our daily duties.
