Melissa A. Alderfer, PhD is Center Director for Nemours Children’s Center for Healthcare Delivery Science-Delaware, a Principal Research Scientist at Nemours Children’s Hospital-Delaware, a Professor of Pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and a licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience as a behavioral researcher. Her program of research focuses on how childhood chronic illness impacts families, how families adapt and learn to manage illness and the healthcare system, and how we can intervene to improve the experience. Within this program of research she has specific expertise regarding siblings of children with cancer and developing and evaluating family-based interventions. She has received funding for her research on siblings of children with cancer from the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, and Department of Defense and has mentored various undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty from various professional disciplines on sibling-related studies. She has over 130 publications that have improved our understanding of the experience of childhood cancer for families and ways to meet their psychosocial needs. Dr. Alderfer is the Chair of The Sibling Partnership for Advocacy, Research, and Care (Sibling Partnership) bringing to that position her experience and expertise in community-academic research partnerships and advocacy for siblings of children with cancer and other serious illnesses.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, “Dr. Mike” moved to California as a medical student at Stanford University, where he earned his M.D. After continuing at Stanford in a Pediatric Residency and then Post-doctoral Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology, Dr. Amylon joined the faculty of the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Amylon has a long-standing interest in the psychosocial impact of pediatric cancer and its treatment on patients and their families. He has been actively involved with Camp Okizu, a program of peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreation for children with cancer and their families, centered on a residential camping experience. He served for over two decades as Medical Director and a member of the Board of Directors for Okizu. He has conducted collaborative research into the impact of camping and peer support programs on pediatric cancer patients and their well siblings, with Okizu and the Children’s Oncology Camping Association –International (COCA-I). He has served as a member of the Board of Directors and the Research and Education Committee of COCA-I and served as its President from 2016-2018. He has served as a member of the American Cancer Society's Peer Review Committee on Psychosocial and Behavioral Research, and currently serves as a volunteer visitor for the American Camping Association Accreditation program and for the COCA-I Gold Ribbon Accreditation program. He has been a member of the Sibling Partnership for Advocacy, Research and Care in Childhood Cancer since 2014.

Whitney Kvistad is a PhD candidate at Vanderbilt University, nurse, and clinical nurse educator at the University of California Davis. She is a sibling of a child with cancer in her early childhood and is bereaved. Her research interests are in pediatric quality of life care and the most vulnerable siblings of children with cancer during treatment, survivorship, and bereavement.

Kristin Long is an Associate Professor within the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Boston University. Her research investigates individuals’ and families’ experiences of medical illness and disability in an effort to develop interventions that promote psychosocial functioning within family-centered, culturally-informed models of care. Although her work cuts across different diagnostic and cultural groups, she has conducted most of her research in the context of cancer and sickle cell disease in childhood and autism across the life course. Dr. Long has particular expertise regarding siblings of youth with cancer and other medical conditions. Dr. Long has formed meaningful community partnerships to increase the relevance and community impact of her work. Furthermore, she has spearheaded efforts to form local, national, and international collaborations and has led multi-site and multi-disciplinary teams to better understand how to address pervasive unmet needs among individuals with chronic medical conditions or disability and their families. Dr. Long has received funding from the National Cancer Institute, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, and the Mattie Miracle Foundation to support research related to siblings of youth with cancer. She also has mentored the work of numerous undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees who are pursuing sibling work. Dr. Long has been a member of this group since its founding in 2006.

Katie Newell is the Senior Family Services Manager at Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. In her role, Katie leads a team of four and oversees several programs supporting childhood cancer families, including SuperSibs. SuperSibs is dedicated to comforting, encouraging and empowering siblings of children with cancer, so they can face the future with courage and hope. With a current enrollment of over 1600 siblings, SuperSibs supports siblings ages 4-18 by providing them with age-appropriate mailings that include coping skills and encouragement as their brother or sister fights cancer. Since joining Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Katie has focused on growing and strengthening the SuperSibs program, while giving her team the tools to learn and support families. In addition to the general SuperSibs program, Katie has also taken the lead on supporting bereaved siblings through the SuperSibs Grief and Loss program. Katie earned a Master of Public Administration with a focus in non-profit management and previously worked to support children and families in the child welfare system before joining Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation in 2020. Katie is also an active participant in SPARC.

Kristi is the Assistant Camp Director at Okizu, a camp for children with cancer and their families. Kristi has worked with Okizu since 2007. During this time, she has served on the board of COCA-I (Children’s Oncology Camp Association) working with oncology camps throughout the United States and Canada. Kristi studied Public Health with a focus on Maternal and Child Health at Boston University. While in Boston, Kristi worked at Boston Medical Center working as Health Promotion Advocate in the Pediatric Emergency Department working to address social determinants of health & Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Access Management.

Sandra K. Ring (Sandi) has devoted her career to making a difference in the lives of others through her focus, passion, and knowledgeable dedication to impactful and ongoing advocacy, outreach, education, research, and the provision of resources that enable access to support.

Currently on the Advocacy & Policy team at the American Academy of Dermatology, Sandi is devoted to strengthening grassroots efforts among the network of state dermatology societies and disease-specific patient advocacy organizations. By fostering collaborative relationships and working together, the result is greater visibility and awareness of the specialty that will resonate throughout communities nationwide.

While at the American Academy of Pediatrics, Sandi managed a Quality Improvement project and worked with pediatricians to advance the integration of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) practices and services nationwide.

Sandi worked for both the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, where she originated the role of Medical Outreach and Education, provided pediatric healthcare marketing guidance to chapters nationwide, facilitated the development of a national online referral and eligibility review process, and developed the first National Medical Advisory Council.

Involved with the launch of SuperSibs! in 2002, Sandi managed: the national referral outreach and education efforts increasing growth monthly. Sandi also led the development, distribution, assessment, and training regarding the comprehensive education, awareness, and critical support resources that helped improve sibling support efforts in pediatric hospitals throughout North America.

Sandi received her Masters (M.S.) in Early Childhood Development from the Erikson Institute/ Loyola University; and her undergraduate degree in Marketing/Psychology from the University of Georgia. She is a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP), and has completed introductory courses with Professional Patient Advocates in Life Sciences.

Sarah E. Wawrzynski Ph.D., CCRN, is an experienced pediatric critical care nurse and researcher. Her program of research focuses broadly on the impact of pediatric chronic, and life limiting disease on the health and well-being of the connected family members. Sarah’s dissertation research was funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research entitled “Social Media Use and Social Support Among Adolescent Siblings of Children with Cancer” (F31NR018987). This study examined the social support networks and perceived support among siblings of children with cancer. She is also exploring whether social media may play a role in how adolescent siblings access the support they need. This fall she will be joining the Center for Health Care Delivery Science at Nemours Children’s as a post-doctoral fellow.

Sarah currently lives in Utah with her partner, two sons, two Great Danes, and a pet snake. She enjoys the outdoors, spending summer weekends camping, canoeing on the lake, and hiking or biking as much as possible.

Lin Ewing

Melanie Goldish

Janet Hock

Anne Lown

Anna Marsland

Nancy Ostrowski

Lisa Towry

Christina Amaro

Lauren Quast

Megan Shaeffer

Christina Sharkey