Palliative Care Alaska

Celebrating 10 Years of Bringing Community Together.

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About Us

Who We Are

PCAN board members stem from all disciplines and institutions
across the state. Our diverse background adds depth and prepares us to meet the palliative care needs of our community. Our goal is to improve the quality of health care provided to all Alaskans.
 
Palliative Care Alaska Network is a 501c3, non-profit public charity, established in 2015. Our mission is to support palliative care through collaboration and education to empower a dynamic network of individuals, agencies, and communities to share tools and resources across Alaska.

What We Do

Collaborate. Educate. Advocate. We embrace our mission and vision by hosting events throughout the year that support professionals and community members in their efforts to grow palliative care. We offer ongoing educational opportunities to build skills and knowledge, including our annual CE symposium.
 
Since 2017, PCAN has offered an annual all-day event comprising many educational and networking opportunities. We bring together hundreds of participants throughout Alaska to serve a unified mission of improving palliative care services.

Our History

 
The Palliative Care Alaska Network assembled in 2015. The founding
members attended a palliative care workshop and recognized there was no comprehensive framework for palliative care in Alaska. They arrived from various backgrounds (nurses, social workers, physicians) and from diverse environments and institutions. Inspired by their shared purpose, the group strives to strengthen palliative care services and partnerships between communities and programs across the state of Alaska.
 
As time went on, the leadership team expanded. In 2019, PCAN received 501c3 status to enable us to serve our mission, vision, and goal to improve the quality of health care and the quality
of life for all Alaskans.

Mission:

Support palliative care through collaboration and education to empower a comprehensive and dynamic network of individuals, agencies, and communities to share tools and resources throughout Alaska.

Vision:

Create an empowered, comprehensive, and dynamic network of individuals and communities that share tools and resources necessary to access, develop, and achieve the highest quality palliative care services throughout the State of Alaska.

Timeline:

2015: Distributed state-wide survey to identify community needs and
interests. It established who was providing palliative care in Alaskan communities and what service structure was being implemented. It identified advance care planning and education as palliative care topics of interest in Alaska.
 
2017: Developed and hosted an annual Palliative Care Symposium every
October that draws participants from all over the state. Successful events
bring a large number of practitioners from across the state and provide continued education credit to attendees. 2017 Symposium “The New Face of Hope 2018 Symposium “The Many Faces of Palliative Care” 2019 Symposium “Stronger Together: Palliative Care in the Last Frontier’2020 Symposium “Living Well in a Time of Uncertainty 82021 TBD
 
2015-2018: Created and disseminated a quarterly newsletter which
provided information about programs across the state, education opportunities, supportive resources, and career advancements in Alaska.
 
2016-2018: Hosted statewide gatherings for interested community members. Each meeting tackled a palliative care topic, including a didactic and opportunities to collaborate as a team.

Future Goals

Alexis Lochner, RN, MSN, CHPN

President
Alexis is a born-and-raised Alaskan, a mother, wife, a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse, and an emerging leader in Palliative Care. She has worked in numerous community settings providing high-quality hospice care, including home-based care, assisted living and skilled nursing facility case management, and inpatient hospital hospice care management and clinical coordination throughout her career. She graduated with her Masters of Science in Palliative Care Leadership & Administration in 2024. 

Reeve Geiger, FNP

Vice President

Reeve Geiger is a Family Nurse Practitioner on the inpatient Palliative Care Team at Providence Medical Center. She has been a nurse for nearly 10 years and has worked in the medical field for over 30 years. Her passion for palliative care began while working as a floor nurse with Banner Health in Northern Colorado, where she had the privilege of caring for end-of-life patients and supporting them and their families through that meaningful journey.

Two years ago, Reeve and her husband relocated from Northern Colorado to Alaska so she could pursue her dream job in palliative care at Providence. The move has been an incredibly rewarding experience, both personally and professionally.

Outside of work, Reeve enjoys spending time outdoors—fishing, walking in the snow, and exploring Alaska’s beauty. She also loves playing with her French bulldogs and traveling with her best friends to fun and exciting places.

Reeve is proud to be part of PCAN and is passionate about sharing its message and advocating for the people of Alaska with compassion and purpose.

Anna Lukas

Secretary
Coming Soon
 

Caryn Hafer FNP-BC, DNP, BBA

Treasurer

Caryn Hafer joined the PCAN Board in 2023. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Colorado and currently works as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Trauma and General Surgery at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). Prior to this role, Caryn spent eight years as a Registered Nurse. Her clinical background includes internal medicine, telemetry, step-down, and post-anesthesia with a deep passion for palliative and hospice care.

In addition to her clinical experience, she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from UAA. A lifelong Alaskan, Caryn enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, two children, and dogs, and loves traveling and connecting with new people and cultures.

Kailey Cherry RN, BSN, CHPN

Co-Treasurer
Kailey was raised in Delta Junction, AK and currently lives is Wasilla, AK with her husband, son, and three dogs. She is a registered nurse certified in hospice and palliative care as well as an aircraft mechanic in the Air National Guard. She joined PCAN to help deliver palliative care resources to rural Alaskans and to increase palliative care education for healthcare providers around the state.

Founding Members,
2015-2018

Dr. Christopher Piromalli
Rona Johnson
Pat Dooley
Dr. Tram Chu
Christy McElrath
Billie Kelley

Past Board Members

Matt Deraedt, Hal Geiger, Kelsey Terland, Kris Green, Kim Huffington, Pat Dooley, Colleen Kelley, Serena Borofsky, Sean Timpane, Julie Wrigley, Christina Montana, Karen Hollar, Bianca Rauch, Sharon Lilja, Amy Tribbett, Julie Stayden, Christina Eldridge, Aimee Young, Beth Hesse, Sharon Bergstedt.

Have general inquiries? Contact us!