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 

Darla Goulet, Mentor Coordinator

 

Adolescent Young Adult (AYA) Oncology

Emily Walling, 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, Mentor Coordinator

Janel Ehrman, Mentor Coordinator

To contact coordinators, click here.

 

Cochlear Implant Peer Mentor Program

Rachel Kooser, Mentor Coordinator

 

Community Amputee Network (U-CAN) Peer Visitor Program

Carla Vollmer, Mentor Coordinator

 

Congenital Heart Center Peer Mentor Program

Chris Kozel, 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, Mentor Coordinator

 

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Peer Mentor Program

Gloria Patterson, Mentor Coordinator

 

Epilepsy-Pediatric Peer Mentor Program 

Ashley Barnes, 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, Mentor Coordinator

 

Implantable Cardiac Device Peer Mentor Program

Melissa Cunningham, Volunteer Coordinator 

 

Pediatric Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Colitis/Chrone's)

Nicole Hall, Mentor Coordinator

 

Kidney Transplant (Donor and Recipient) Peer Mentor Program 

Stacy Brand, Mentor Coordinator

 

Kidney Transplant Pediatric Peer Mentor Program

Matt Butler, Mentor Coordinator

 

Liver Transplant (Donor and Recipient) Mentor Program

Jennifer Smith, Mentor Coordinator

 

Liver Transplant Pediatric Peer Mentor Program

Tanya Smith, Mentor Coordinator 

 

Lung Transplant Peer Mentor Program 

Amy Van Zee, Mentor Coordinator

Stephanie Zaientz, Mentor Coordinator

 

Neurology/Epilepsy Pediatric Peer Mentor Program

Ashley Barnes, 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

Jan Gamboa, Mentor Coordinator

[email protected]

 

Pulmonary Hypertension Peer Mentor Program

Susie McDivett, Mentor Coordinator

 

Radiation Oncology Peer Mentor Program

Tayler Lashbrook, Mentor Coordinator

Dana Katz, Mentor Coordinator

To contact the coordinators, click here.

 

Same Sex Surrogacy Birth Peer Mentor Program

Melissa Cantrell, 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, 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

 

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.