Multidisciplinary Team Provides Supportive Care for Patients and Caregivers

Rab Razzak, MD FAAHPM

Dr. Razzak is Clinical Director for Palliative Care at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center; Clinical Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU); and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. He is also the founding program director of the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at UH Cleveland Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

After obtaining his medical degree from Bangladesh Medical College, he completed his internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine Program at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. He worked as a hospitalist in the early years of his practice and then transitioned to palliative medicine while he worked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, a decade ago. He was an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Hospital where he led outpatient palliative medicine, palliative care for Hopkins’ ACO, and led development of Hopkins’ palliative care program in Saudi Arabia (at JH ARAMCO) prior to his arrival in Cleveland. His research and clinical interests include development of palliative care delivery systems, palliative medicine education, self-care, mentorship and novel therapies for symptom management for patients with serious illness.

Jennifer LeGros, CNP

Jennifer received her BSN at Thomas Jefferson University in 2015, followed by her MSN through the University of Cincinnati in 2021. Jennifer is currently practicing as a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner. Jennifer’s nursing experience is based in cardiology and heart failure, and the transition to palliative care has been rooted in establishing and nurturing patient-provider relationships. Jennifer is also trained as a Second degree Usui Reiki practitioner, and uses non-pharmacologic interventions to assist with anxiety and additional symptom management. Jennifer’s mission is to make healthcare a more humanistic and practical experience for both patients and providers.

Jaclyn Hull, CNP

Jaclyn is a board-certified family nurse practitioner currently working in palliative medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Ashland University in 2018. She first worked as a registered nurse in inpatient oncology at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus and in inpatient pediatrics at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s. She pursued her family nurse practitioner board certification after receiving her master’s degree in nursing from Walsh University in 2022. She is currently finishing her doctorate of nursing practice degree from Walsh University with a research focus in nursing education and professional development. Her clinical and professional interests include integrative and holistic medicine, nursing education, advanced practice provider professional development and quality improvement within palliative medicine.

Annamarie Salvador, CNP

Annamarie is a board-certified acute care nurse practitioner currently working in palliative medicine at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Ursuline College in 2014. She worked as a registered nurse in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit (CTICU) at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She pursued her acute care nurse practitioner board certification after receiving her master’s degree in nursing from Ursuline College in 2022.

Anna made the decision to pursue palliative medicine after receiving a Daisy Award for care provided to her patients and their families at end of life as bedside RN in the CTICU. Her hope is to make one of the most difficult times of someone’s life a little easier through excellent holistic medical care, empathy, and compassion. Her clinical interests include integrative medicine and quality improvement within palliative medicine at University Hospitals.

Rachel Arnopolin, LCSW-S, APHSW-C

Rachel received her Master of Social Work from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois. Throughout her 26-year career in medical social work, she has always worked at major medical/teaching institutions, including Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago. She received her Advanced Palliative/Hospice Social Work Certification in 2022.

Kristy Stuart, M Div

Rev. Kristy Stuart lived most of her life in mid-Michigan before relocating to the Cleveland area to pursue a second career as a chaplain. She received her Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and is an ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister. Kristy completed her Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.