- 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
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
Prostate Cancer Center Peer Mentor Program
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

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.