Mission
The SDCCC strives to improve the quality of life for all San Diegans by promoting timely advance care planning and understanding of medical treatment options for chronic and serious illness, including palliative care, across the life span.
Vision
All people in San Diego County will have the opportunity to discuss their health care priorities with their loved ones, friends and healthcare providers, complete advance care planning documents, and feel empowered to make informed decisions so that they can receive the medically appropriate treatment they want to receive--and avoid medical treatment they do not want -- in alignment with their goals of care.
Values
Improving quality of life across the spectrum of health and illness.
Honest and genuine conversations about individuals’ personal goals of care.
Normalizing conversations about palliative care and end-of-life issues throughout the lifespan.
Improving access to palliative care for everyone with serious or chronic illness who wants it, including those receiving curative care.
Promoting open discussion of serious illness, medical interventions, and end-of-life care.
Respect for every person’s autonomy and right to receive care and reasonable medical treatment in the way they want to receive it.
Recognizing and respecting diversity and cultural context in making health care and end-of-life care decisions.
Informed, shared decision-making.
Supporting current and future healthcare professionals so that they can develop the expertise, resources, tools, and time to discuss these difficult topics.
our story
The San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care originated as the San Diego POLST Coalition in 2009, thanks to support from the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) and the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF). The organization was created with grant funding from CHCF to assist in education and dissemination of the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) after the POLST legislation (AB 3000) was passed in our state. Initially directed primarily at health care providers, our efforts were to promote best practices around advance care planning, and advance directives and POLST completion. In 2016, our leaders decided to broaden our scope to efforts in educating the public at large in addition to the health care community, a new independent 501(c)(3) corporation was created, and our name was changed to reflect our broader aims and our affiliation with the CCCC. The SDCCC is now a self-sustaining grass-roots organization that collaborates with many other local and statewide stakeholders in the advance care planning and palliative care space.
Karl Steinberg, MD (left) with first Executive Director of CSUSM Institute of Palliative Care (Helen McNeal - center) and Sharon Hamill, PHD Faculty Director of Institute of Palliative Care at CSUSM (right).
SDCCC Board Officers and Founding Members
Glenn Panzer MD, CMD, FAAFP
Chair, 2023-24; Founding Member
Dr Panzer is a Board certified Family Physician with added qualifications in Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Practice. He is Chief Medical Officer Emeritus of The Elizabeth Hospice. He has been affiliated with The Elizabeth Hospice for 14 years. He was Chief Medical Officer from 2007 to 2017. Dr Panzer prides himself as being a Certified Medical Director through AMDA (the Society for Post Acute and Long Term Care Medicine).
He is treasurer of San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care and on the executive committee. He is also past president of the San Diego Dementia Consortium. He was chair of the Medical staff Ethics and Palliative Care committees at Palomar Health from 2007 to 2017.
He is a graduate of the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at The Wyoming Valley Family Practice Residency Program in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania where he practiced for > 20 years. Dr. Panzer moved to San Diego with his wife Lori in 2003.
Christina Marquez MSG, CCM
Immediate Past Chair, 2023-24
Christina Marquez has 20 years of experience working with seniors in the healthcare setting. Ms. Marquez obtained her Masters of Gerontology from California State University in 2002. She began her career in Skilled Nursing Facilities as a Social Services Director, then completed an Administrator in Training program. During her career, marriage took her overseas to Okinawa Japan. While in Japan, Christina worked as a Family Readiness Officer for Marine Air Tactical Squadron 18. Upon returning stateside, Christina quickly realized she had a passion for marketing. Christina worked in several different capacities to include Home Health as an acute liaison, Branch Manager for a home care company, and hospice.
Christina moved to San Diego in 2015, where she worked for several years as a Director of Business Development for a large hospice and implemented their first Palliative Care program across 4 California sites. Ms. Marquez joined LightBridge Hospice & Palliative Care in 2019. Christina’s passion is meeting with families, guiding patients in goals of care conversations, and the ability to bring some joy during the most difficult time in a patient’s life. Christina is a Certified Care Manager, POLST certified trainer, and has had extensive training in Advanced Care planning discussions.
When Christina is not working she is enjoys watching her children play sports, hiking with her dogs and going to Disneyland.
Caroline Etland PhD, RN, ACPHN
Secretary, 2023-25; Past Chair, 2021
Dr. Caroline Etland is an Associate Professor at the University Of San Diego Hahn School Of Nursing, as the Woltman Hospice and Palliative Care Fellow. She serves as faculty for PhD, MSN and DNP students and conducts research on oncology, end of life and palliative care topics. In 2009, she served as a leader for the San Diego POLST coalition focused on implementing new legislation for Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment in healthcare facilities throughout the city. Working with the SDCCC, she has piloted innovative outreach programs to facilitate access to advance care planning and palliative care.
Pat McClendon RN, DNP, MSN
Treasurer, 2023-2024
Pat McClendon is a Caritas Coach and End of Life Doula. She is a former nurse leader on clinical, administrative and executive levels in healthcare organizations for over 30 years across four states, some of which in San Diego. Now Pat leads with two missions: to help nurses find wholeness through Healing Circles Global, and to help people find their personal path at end of life through doulaship.
Eva Navarrete
Education Committee Chair, 2023-24
Eva Navarrete, born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, relocated to San Diego to begin a profession in healthcare. While growing her career, she discovered her true calling in working with high-risk patients as a care coordinator. Her passion and dedication to her patients earned her an invitation to lead the first Spanish Breast Cancer support group for underserved Hispanic women through the Susan G. Komen’s Patient Navigator Program.
For the past twenty years, Eva gained recognition within the community by participating on lead committees like San Diego County Promotores, Vision y Compromiso, the Mexican Consulate’s Binational Health Week, as well as contributing to numerous local and national conferences, newspapers, radio, and television shows.
Eva quickly recognized the need for better education, preventative measures, and treatment options in the South Bay. She contributed to the development of a Health Promoter Program for San Diego. The program is comprised of over thirty enthusiastic volunteers and cancer survivors who strive to educate the community on the benefits of prevention and early detection of cancer. Ms. Navarete also manages the Wellness Outreach Peer Project. Here she leads a team of dedicated and trained senior Promotoras and volunteers to serve as a point of contact between health and social services and the community. They facilitate access to services and work to improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery by increasing health knowledge and self- sufficiency through a range of activities. These activities include outreach, community education, social support, and advocacy. These are key principles for advancing health equality by conducting weekly check-in calls, promote socialization and offer peer support to isolated seniors.
Michael McDuffie PhD
Past Chair, 2020
Michael McDuffie is Associate Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department at California State University San Marcos, where he is also Faculty Director of the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at CSUSM. McDuffie specializes in bioethics and clinical ethics, and he also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the CSUSM School of Nursing and the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care.
McDuffie serves as a Community Member of the Hospital Ethics Committees at Palomar Health, Escondido CA, and at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. At Palomar Health, he is a member of the Clinical Ethics Consulting Team, and a past member of the Investigational Review Committee (IRB). McDuffie serves as a Non-Physician Representative on the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Advisory Committee of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and is active with the San Diego County Medical Society Bioethics Commission. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Elizabeth Hospice.
Michelle Goldbach, DNP, MHA, RN, CHPN
Past Chair, 2019
Michelle is the Clinical Manager Palliative Care & Pediatric Hospice Programs at the Elizabeth Hospice in San Diego. California. For over 30 years she has been an international public speaker, educator, mentor and leader in the Healthcare. In addition to the San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care of California, Dr Goldbach is very involved in nursing and other professional organizations to promote access to care as well as increase awareness of hospice and palliative care to those working in healthcare.
Alicia Muñoz, FACHE, CPHQ, CPPS
Past Chair, 2018
Ms. Muñoz joined the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties in May 2012 and joined the Hospital Quality Institute when founded in April 2013. Ms. Muñoz completed her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from California State University and her Masters of Advanced Studies in the Leadership of Healthcare Organizations from UCSD. She is board certified in Healthcare Management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and board certified as both a Professional in Healthcare Quality and as a Professional in Patient Safety. She has worked in healthcare management for over 30 years and is currently Vice President, Quality Regional Network for Hospital Quality Institute.
Jennifer Ballentine, MA
Past Chair, 2017
Jennifer Moore Ballentine, MA, has more than 20 years’ experience in palliative care education and policy, change design, and nonprofit leadership. As CEO of the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California, she provides state-level leadership in advocacy, educational support, and institutional advancement of palliative care and advance care planning. Her past leadership positions include Executive Director of the CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care; President, The Iris Project; Vice President, Hospice Analytics; Executive Director, Life Quality Institute; Director of Professional Programs, Colorado Center for Hospice and Palliative Care. Jennifer participates in national initiatives to improve the quality and delivery of palliative care, including as Steering Committee member, Patient Quality of Life Coalition; Member, National Academy of Medicine Roundtable on Quality Care for People with Serious Illness; Member, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Palliative Care Council; Member, Coalition to Transform Advanced Care Legislative Taskforce.
John Tastad
Founding Member; Past Chair, 2016
John Tastad is the coordinator for the Advance Care Planning program at Sharp HealthCare, and the coordinator for Spiritual Support Services at Sharp HospiceCare. His academic training includes undergraduate studies at Northwest Christian University and the University of Oregon, and graduate studies at Fuller Theological Seminary and the University of San Diego. Now in his 17th year at Sharp, John teaches Bioethics for new employee and volunteer training at Sharp HospiceCare, and he serves on the Bioethics Committees at Sharp Memorial Hospital, Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. John is past-chair of the San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care, and he has spoken at events sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Center to Advance Palliative Care, California Hospice and Palliative Care Association and many additional organizations.
Christine Knutson RN, PHN, MSN
Founding Member; Past Chair, 2015
Christine Knutson has been a registered nurse for over forty years and continues with her passion for Palliative Care. She completed the POLST (Physician’s Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) educational program, as a Train the Trainer, soon after its inception in 2009. Chris was involved with our local POLST Coalition and was one of the founding members for our San Diego Coalition for Compassionate (SDCCC). She is an active member of our California Coalition for Compassionate Care (CCCC) and organized a POLST QAPI program in 2016 to address quality improvement in our skilled and long-term care communities, supported by the California Coalition community outreach grant programs.
Chris has several decades of experience in home health care, hospice, long term care, as well as, community education and outreach. She was involved with our San Diego Regional Homecare Council, as well as, one of the founding members of our San Diego Coalition for Improving End of Life Care. Chris holds a certificate as an ELNEC Trainer for Veterans and a certificate in Ethics and Mediation.
Congratulations to Chris for receiving the 2019 Doris A. Howell, MD, Award for Advancing Palliative Care. The award came with a $25,000 gift fund to be directed to the organization or agency of Christine’s choice—and the SDCCC was the fortunate to be chosen for this windfall! The SDCCC is forever grateful and indebted to Chris for her generosity in donating her Howell Award funding to the Coalition. At left, here is Chris accepting the award.
Karl Steinberg, MD, CMD, HMDC
Founding Member
Karl is a family physician, long-term care geriatrician, and hospice & palliative medicine specialist who is past chair of the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California and president-elect of the California Association of Long-Term Care Medicine. He serves on the National POLST Program's Leadership Council and the National Quality Forum's Geriatrics and Palliative Care Standing Committee, and has been a nursing home and hospice medical director in North San Diego County since 1995.
Sharon Hamill, PhD
Founding Member
Sharon received her BA from California State University, Long Beach; she received her MA and PhD in Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine. She is a Psychology and Child/Adolescent Development Professor and the former, founding Faculty Director of the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at CSUSM. She is currently serving as Interim Executive Director of the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care. Her research focuses on (1) adolescent and young adult caregivers in families with grandparents who suffer from Alzheimer’s and other diseases and (2) how palliative care can alleviate suffering and promote higher quality of life for patients and their families. Dr. Hamill was named the recipient of the 2015-2016 Harry E. Brakebill Distinguished Professor Award at CSUSM for excellence in teaching, research, and service.
Dr. Hamill’s current work focuses on resiliency training for young caregivers and young people who are bereaved, and making health care education for young people mainstream in palliative care. Dr. Hamill was a founding member of the San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care and served as its first secretary.
Matthew Parcasio, MA
Secretary, 2017-22
Matthew Parcasio served as Coalition Secretary from 2017-2022. Matthew has a Masters of Arts in Gerontology. He gained his knowledge of caring for older adults and adults with disabilities through his professional experience in Adult Day Healthcare, Assisted Living Memory Care, and Non-Medical Home Care settings. He is an Outreach and Education staff member at the County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services. Matthew is a member of the North County Community Action Network and the Live Well San Diego North County Community Leadership Team. Matthew is passionate about educating the community. He provides presentations, which include topics such as the overview of Aging & Independence Services programs, Advance Health Care Directive: Respected Decisions, Alzheimer’s Disease and other Related Dementias, Mandated Reporting of Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Training, “Don’t Get Hooked” Preventing Financial Abuse, Scams, and Fraud, and Good Mental Health is Ageless. Matthew is committed to advancing the Live Well San Diego vision of a region that is building better health, living safely and thriving.