Leadership & Faculty
Anna Zivkovich, MD
Program Director
Kimberly Kremer, MS
Program Administrator
Hospice & Palliative Medicine Faculty
Garth Adams, MDiv
Loveleen Bains, MD
Ijzan Bruns, MSN, APRN, NP-C
Sandra Burcham, MS, LISW
Alejandro Calvo, MD
Cleanne Cass, DO, FAAHPM, founding program director & faculty emerita
Damanjeet Kahlon, MD
Dr. Daman Kahlon has been practicing and training fellows in palliative care and hospice medicine at the Dayton VA for twelve years. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine from Wright State University in 2008 and earned board certification in palliative care in 2012.
Amy Mestemaker, MD
Amy L. Mestemaker, MD, is a graduate of the University of Dayton. She obtained her medical degree from The Ohio State University and later completed her residency in internal medicine with Riverside Methodist Hospital (Columbus, OH). She has over thirty years' experience working for local hospital systems as a hospitalist, pain and palliative medicine physician, hospice physician, and hospice medical director. Currently, she works as the Medical Director of Mercy St. Rita's Hospice in partnership with Compassus (Lima, OH). Dr. Mestemaker is board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. She is also a board-certified Hospice Medical Director. She has taught hospice and palliative medicine at Wright State University's Boonshoft School of Medicine, the Dayton VA Medical Center, The Ohio State University, and Ohio University's Heritage College of Medicine. She has offered numerous lectures at local, regional, and national conferences on topics related to hospice and palliative medicine and ethics and has been active at the state level as part of the Ohio Drug Abuse Task Force, the Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) Task Force, the Ohio Pain Initiative, and the Ohio Governor's Opioid Cabinet (Prescribing Practices Workgroup). She maintains professional memberships with the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, the American Medical Association, the American Geriatrics Society, the Medical Group of Ohio, the Ohio State Medical Association, and the Columbus Medical Association. Dr. Mestemaker resides with her family in Sydney, OH.
Annie Schoen, MD
Greggory Volk, DO
Amanda West, MSW, LSW, LICDC, CTP
Amanda West is a dedicated social worker with a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Indiana Wesleyan University. With a compassionate and client-centered approach, Amanda has built a career supporting individuals and families through life's most difficult challenges. She currently works in hospice care, providing emotional support, guidance, and advocacy for patients and their loved ones during end-of-life transitions. In addition, Amanda brings a decade of experience in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, helping clients navigate recovery and build healthier, more stable lives. Her diverse background has shaped her into a well-rounded professional committed to promoting dignity, resilience, and hope in every interaction.