A Night to Remember, a Future to Build Together

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for the Legacy of Care Tribute, a powerful evening honoring the visionaries, champions, and leaders who are transforming the future of care for people with serious illness.

view photos from the event

Held on May 1, 2025, the event was a night of celebration, reflection, and transition. We honored Senator Angela McKnight with the David LaMotte Award for Excellence in Patient Support, recognized Dr. David Barile for his extraordinary leadership as our founding Chief Medical Officer, and welcomed Dr. Hamza Habib into his new role as GOCCNJ’s Chief Medical Officer. The evening featured moving tributes and a shared commitment to build on the legacy we’ve created together.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, supporters, and event attendees, we raised more than $69,000—a testament to what’s possible when we unite around a common purpose.

But our work is just beginning.

As we look ahead to the January 2026 launch of NJ’s groundbreaking Medicaid Palliative Care Program, we’re at a pivotal moment in our journey. This program will bring much-needed services to the most vulnerable with serious illness across the state—but only if we ensure it is implemented with care, equity, and the infrastructure to succeed.

Your continued support will allow us to:

Expand community-based palliative care, especially in under-resourced areas
Upskill and train primary care providers to facilitate high-quality, person-centered goals of care conversations and advance care planning
Educate and empower patients and caregivers to understand their options and advocate for the care they want
Strengthen our advocacy to ensure this benefit delivers on its promise—especially for seniors and the most vulnerable in NJ with serious illness

We’re proud of what we’ve built so far—but there’s more to do.

Let’s raise $100,000 by January 2026 to build a stronger and more compassionate system of care.

Stand with us. Be part of this legacy. Help us ensure that everyone in NJ with serious illness receives the care they need and no less, and the care they want and no more!

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Together, we are changing the future of serious illness care in NJ.

Thank you to the sponsors of the Legacy of Care Tribute!

PLATINUM SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

Baldwin-Sieck Family Fund

SILVER SPONSORS

Lori & Michael Feldstein

BRONZE SPONSORS

Samuel S. Becker, MD & Jennifer Jang

Joyce &
Don Hofmann

Suzanne & Steven Peskin, MD

Kim Pimley

Special thank you to event photographer: Mike Schwartz Photography

Rutgers Edward J Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

Committee Chairs

Jessica Israel, MD
Complete Care

Deborah Toppmeyer, MD
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Greg Rokosz, DO, JD, FACEP
Hackensack Meridian Health

Committee Chairs

Jessica Israel, MD
Complete Care

Deborah Toppmeyer, MD
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Greg Rokosz, DO, JD, FACEP
Hackensack Meridian Health

Host Committee

Andy Aronson, JD
Health Care Association of New Jersey

Alex Binder, MBA
Parker Advanced Care Institute
VNA Health Group

Chris Bolich, DO, FACOI
Cooper University Health Care

Laurie Brewer
NJ LTC Ombudsman

Katie DeMarco, DNP, MSHS, FNP-BC, APN, CHPN, FPCN
New Jersey Palliative Care Advanced Practice Nurse Consortium (NJPC APNC)
Hackensack Meridian Health

Larry Downs, JD
Medical Society of New Jersey

Theresa Edelstein, MPH, LNHA
New Jersey Hospital Association

Sage Farrar Kealy, MBA, MPH, FHELA, FACHE
Hackensack Meridian Health

Stephen Goldfine, MD, DABFP, CAQGM, DABHPM
Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice

Tracy Grafton, LCSW, ACHP-SW
Hackensack Meridian Health

Donald Hofmann
Investor

Marianne Holler, DO, FAAHPM
VNA Health Group

Aline Holmes, DNP, RN
Rutgers University School of Nursing

Bhoomika Kamath, MD
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Florence Kariuki, RN, BSN, MHA, FHELA
Health Recovery Solutions

James McCracken, MHA, LNHA, CALA
Leading Age NJ & Delaware

Samantha Nagengast, MD
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Steven Peskin, MD, MBA, FACP
Consultant

Kimberly Pham, MD
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Joyce Plaza, BSN, OCN
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Joshua J. Raymond, MD, MPH, FAAFP, AGSF
CentraState Healthcare System

Cathy Rowe, DrPH
New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well

Ward Sanders, JD
New Jersey Association of Health Plans

Biren Saraiya, MD
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Jill Schwartz-Chevlin, MD, MBA, FACP
WellBe Senior Medical

Linda Schwimmer, JD
New Jersey Health Care Quality

Chaplain Ted Taylor
RWJBarnabas Health

Yvette Vieira, MMH, HEC-C
Atlantic Health System

Anthony Webhe, DO, MBA, FACOI
Sena Health

Debra Wentz, PhD
New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies