- Provide information, guidance and emotional support to patients who have experienced a serious health issue.
- Help patients confront challenging issues and emotions.
- Offer a network of peers to help those experiencing a health issue to not feel alone.
- Encourage patients to partner in their care.
Check this video highlighting the benefits of having a peer mentor program.
This video was made possible by funding from the Mott Golf Classic.
Current Peer Mentor Programs
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Peer Mentor Program
Sandy Lemkin, Clinical Care Coordinator & Mentor Coordinator
Darla Goulet, Mentor Coordinator
Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) Oncology
Emily Wailing, MD, Mentor Coordinator
Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) Chronic Kidney Disease
Lisa Zucker, Mentor Coordinator
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Peer Mentor Program
Erica Henkle, Mentor Coordinator
Cardiac Rehab Peer Mentor Program
Diane Perry, Exercise Physiologist & Mentor Coordinator
Janel Ehrman, Mentor Coordinator
To contact coordinators, click here.
Cochlear Implant Peer Mentor Program
Rachel Kooser, Audiologist & Mentor Coordinator
Community Amputee Network (U-CAN) Peer Visitor Program
Carla Vollmer, Limb Loss Support & Mentor Coordinator
Congenital Heart Center Peer Mentor Program
Chris Kozel, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Maria Real
Kristin Santa
Alana Oudekerk-Hanxx
Madelyn Smith
Andrea Craven
To contact coordinators, click here.
Cystic Fibrosis Peer Mentor Program
Katie Hall, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Peer Mentor Program
Elizabeth Boggs, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Gloria Patterson, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Epilepsy-Pediatric Peer Mentor Program
Ashley Barnes, Peds Epilepsy Coordinator & Mentor Coordinator
Fetal Surgery
Melissa Cantrell, Mentor Coordinator
Heart Failure Peer Mentor Program
Sara Kaufman Licata, Mentor Coordinator
Heart Transplant & LVAD Peer Mentor Program
Jack Harrington, Mentor Coordinator
Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Sophia Matossian, Mentor Coordinator
Miaya Boykin, Mentor Coordinator
IBD-Pediatric Peer Mentor Program
Nicole Hall, Social Worker & Mentor
Implantable Cardiac Device Peer Mentor Program
Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Colitis/Chrone's)
Nicole Hall, Mentor Coordinator
Kidney Transplant (Donor and Recipient) Peer Mentor Program
Stacy Brand, Transplant Center Outreach Manager & Mentor Coordinator
Kidney Transplant Pediatric Peer Mentor Program
Matt Butler, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Liver Transplant (Donor and Recipient) Mentor Program
Jennifer Smith, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Liver Transplant Pediatric Peer Mentor Program
Tanya Smith, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Lung Transplant Peer Mentor Program
Amy Van Zee, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Stephanie Zaientz, Mentor Coordinator
Neurology/Epilepsy Pediatric Peer Mentor Program
Ashley Barnes, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator
Ortho-Shoulder/Knee Replacement Peer Mentor Program
Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator
Pediatric Palliative & Bereavement Care
LaTresa Wiley, Mentor Coordinator
Sarah Lossing, Mentor Coordinator
To contact the coordinators, click here.
Prostate Cancer Center Peer Mentor Program
Jen Gamboa
Pulmonary Hypertension Peer Mentor Program
Susie McDivett, Mentor Coordinator
Radiation Oncology Peer Mentor Program
Tayler Lashbrook, Radiation Therapist & Mentor Coordinator
Dana Katz, Mentor Coordinator
To contact the coordinators, click here.
Same Sex Surrogacy Birth Peer Mentor Program
Melissa Cantrell, Clinical Care & Mentor Coordinator
Scleroderma Peer Mentor Program
Maya Sabbagh, Mentor Coordinator
Scoliosis Peer Mentor Program
Sadie Shepard, Mentor Coordinator
Spinal Cord Injury & PM&R Peer Mentor Program
Patricia Zuba, Spinal Injury Clinical Specialist & Mentor Coordinator
Cindy Douglas, Mentor Coordinator
Stroke Peer Mentor Program
Jessica Roberts, Mentor Coordinator
Throat, Neck, & Head Cancer Peer Mentor Program
Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator
UM Community Amputee Network (UCAN)
Carla Vollmer, Mentor Coordinator
Vent Clinic
Nicola Salvia, Mentor Coordinator
Service Spotlight: Peer Mentoring
Peer support is rooted in the belief that no one needs to travel their health care journey alone. Indeed, when patients can meet with and learn from individuals who have gone through similar health challenges, it often makes their experience easier and healing process more effective.