Peer Mentor Program

Our mentors share their own experiences from a peer perspective, and listen to our patients and caregivers. They understand the toll a serious health issue can take on our families. Our participants say this one-on-one communication with another patient or caregiver has been extremely beneficial.
 
Peer Mentors can:
  • 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.
 
All peer mentors are volunteers of the Michigan Medicine who have received extensive training. Conversations are kept in strict confidence. You can connect with a mentor in person or by phone, have a single conversation or more – whatever you find most helpful!

Check this video highlighting the benefits of having a peer mentor program. 

This video was made possible by funding from the Mott Golf Classic. 

Benefits of Peer Mentoring

Current Peer Mentor Programs

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Peer Mentor Program

Sandy Lemkin, Clinical Care Coordinator & Mentor Coordinator 

 

Bone Marrow Transplant Peer Mentor Program

Kathryn Hudacek, Nurse & Mentor Coordinator

 

Cardiac Rehab Peer Mentor Program

Diane Perry, Exercise Physiologist & Mentor Coordinator

 

Cochlear Implant Peer Mentor Program

Heidi Slager, Audiologist & Mentor Coordinator

Kelly Starr, Speech/Language Pathologist & 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 

 

COVID Peer Mentor Program

Mari Pitcher, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator 

 

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 

 

Heart Failure Peer Mentor Program

Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator

 

Heart Transplant & LVAD Peer Mentor Program

Jessica Singer, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator 

Jack Harrington

 

HATP Peer Mentor Program

Toia Dennis, Social Worker & Mentor 

 

IBD-Pediatric Peer Mentor Program

Nicole Hall, Social Worker & Mentor 

 

Implantable Cardiac Device Peer Mentor Program

Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer 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

 

Neurology/Epilepsy Pediatric Peer Mentor Program

Ashley Barnes, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator

 

NICU Peer Mentor Program

Michele Martin, Nursing Supervisor & Mentor Coordinator 

Corrie Ziegman

 

Ortho-Shoulder/Knee Replacement Peer Mentor Program

Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator

 

Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Peer Mentor Program

Lisbeth Harbcourt, Social Worker & Mentor Coordinator

 

Pulmonary Hypertension Peer Mentor Program

Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator

 

Radiation Oncology Peer Mentor Program

Deanna Carr-West, Radiation Therapist & Mentor Coordinator

Tayler Lashbrook, Radiation Therapist & Mentor Coordinator

 

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

Marisa Rhodes, Manager Peds Orhopedics & Mentor Coordinator

 

Spinal Cord Injury & PM&R Peer Mentor Program

Patricia Zuba, Spinal Injury Clinical Specialist & Mentor Coordinator

 

Stroke Peer Mentor Program

Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator

 

Throat, Neck, & Head Cancer Peer Mentor Program

Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator

 

Urology Peer Mentor Program

Lisa Mathias, Clinical Care & Mentor Coordinator

June 22, 2018

Bikers Follow Road to Peer Mentorship

by Chris Mosley, patient advisor

March 16, 2018

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.