Hospice Care for Everyone

Nancy Littlefield

DNP, RN, FACHE

President & Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Nancy Littlefield has a deep breadth of experience in healthcare, particularly in hospice and palliative care.  Prior to Hospice of the Piedmont, she served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Riverside Health System. Nancy has served in leadership positions both for Evercare Hospice and Palliative Care and Capital Hospice, now Capital Caring. Nancy has served on multiple local and state boards, including serving as Chair for Patient Experience Committee for the Virginia Hospice and Healthcare Association from 2018 to 2021.

Nancy is a fourth-generation nurse and has had a passion for excellence in hospice and end-of-life care throughout her several-decade career.

Nancy has called Virginia home for more than 30 years.  She received her Bachelor of Nursing from George Mason University, a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Old Dominion University.

Outside of work, Nancy and her husband enjoy cheering on the lives and activities of their 12 grandchildren. Her love of baking and hosting can often be found at a UVA tailgate and on the sidelines of UVA sporting events.

Alina Fomovska

MD, HEC-C

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Alina Fomovska joined Hospice of the Piedmont in January 2023 as a Medical Director, and was promoted to Chief Medical Officer in June 2023. She is a dual-board certified physician specializing in both Emergency Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is committed to promoting excellent end-of-life care across all patient care settings. She has a strong academic experience in medical education, teaching at both Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education levels. Prior to coming to Hospice of Piedmont, Dr. Fomovska served as an Assistant Professor at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Her academic focus is on the ethics of end-of-life care, and she is Healthcare Ethics Consultant certified by the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities. She is a graduate of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. In 2020, she completed a Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the University of Virginia.

Cheryl Ringer

CPA, CGMA

Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Ringer joined Hospice of the Piedmont in December 2023 as the Chief Financial Officer. Bringing a wealth of experience in hospice and palliative care finance, Cheryl previously served as the Chief Financial Officer at Loudoun Medical Group in Leesburg, Virginia. Prior to her work with LMG, she was the CFO for Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, Virginia, for nearly two decades.

Before her career in hospice finance, Cheryl was a manager at Yount, Hyde & Barbour, PC in Winchester, specializing in non-profit and healthcare clients. She is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Virginia Society of CPAs. In 2019, Virginia Business magazine named her one of Virginia’s Top CFOs.

Cheryl’s role at Hospice of the Piedmont extends beyond overseeing finances; she is a strategic leader, enhancing the day-to-day financial operations and guiding the organization through new ventures and growth. Her collaborative approach and adept financial management skills are vital for ensuring the organization’s fiscal health and stability. This involves working closely with staff, volunteers, donors, board members, and the broader community.

On a personal note, Cheryl is an active member of her church, actively serving in various supporting roles. She will relocate to the Charlottesville area with her family, bringing her professional expertise and personal commitment to the Hospice of the Piedmont community.

Jenn Downs

Chief Marketing and Development Officer

Ms. Downs joined Hospice of the Piedmont in 2022. She brings more than 15 years of marketing and development experience to the organization. Previously, Ms. Downs served as Director of Marketing and Communications for the Sentara Blue Ridge Region and prior to that was a news reporter and producer for NBC29 in Charlottesville. Ms. Downs has a strong and insightful understanding of the community we serve. As part of the Hospice of the Piedmont family, she is pleased to be able to help those in our community understand the services provided by the organization, and the tangible benefits and support that Hospice of the Piedmont provides for both patients and their families at the end of life. In addition, Ms. Downs understands the importance of the complementary services the organization can offer thanks to generous community philanthropy. She’s committed to stewarding the gifts the organization receives and ensuring philanthropy provides an ongoing meaningful impact to patients, families, and the greater community. Ms. Downs graduated from the University of Virginia. She also is a graduate of the The Advisory Board Fellowship and Leadership Charlottesville. Ms. Downs and her husband live in Crozet with their two sons. In her free time, she enjoys distance running, biking and exploring the great trails and wineries and breweries our area has to offer. Ms. Downs can be reached at jenn.downs@hopva.org.

Jennifer Kincaid

Chief People Officer

Ms. Kincaid draws upon over 30 years of exceptional experience in the field of human resources, showcasing a diverse background across multiple industries, including behavioral and mental health, higher education, and manufacturing. Her journey in this dynamic field has been marked by continuous growth and innovation.

A proud alumna of Columbia Southern University, Ms. Kincaid earned her MS in Organizational Leadership and BS in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resource Management, graduating with honors that reflect her dedication to academic excellence and professional achievement.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ms. Kincaid finds her anchor in family. She is a wife and mother, finding immense joy in sharing outdoor pursuits with her loved ones. Whether hiking, biking, or exploring new landscapes, Ms. Kincaid embraces the beauty of nature alongside her family.

In her current role, Ms. Kincaid continues to leverage her rich background to drive positive change, foster growth, and lead initiatives that empower individuals and organizations alike. Her passion for human resources, coupled with her extensive experience and strong ties to academia and leadership networks, positions her as a transformative force in the industry.

Lois Pearson

Chief of Business Development

Ms. Pearson previously served as project manager for Alliant Techsystems. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and has held numerous roles at Hospice of the Piedmont. When not working, Ms. Pearson enjoys spending time with her three children and four grandchildren, as well as tending to her herb and flowers gardens.

Lori Woods

Executive Assistant and Board Liaison

Ms. Woods works closely with the Board of Directors to facilitate education and compliance with governance for regulatory agencies. She also serves as a point person for senior leaders both within Hospice of the Piedmont, as well as with the Board. Additionally, Ms. Woods is responsible for many special projects across the organization and works closely with multiple leaders to ensure the smooth implementation of organizational initiatives. Prior to this role, Ms. Woods worked in the Development department at Hospice of the Piedmont, where she supported efforts to raise community support to fund a variety of programs within the organization.

Ms. Woods has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Lipscomb University.  She lives in Charlottesville with her husband and enjoys spending time with her two grown sons and their families.

Alina Fomovska

MD, HEC-C

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Alina Fomovska joined Hospice of the Piedmont in January 2023 as a Medical Director, and was promoted to Chief Medical Officer in June 2023. She is a dual-board certified physician specializing in both Emergency Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is committed to promoting excellent end-of-life care across all patient care settings. She has a strong academic experience in medical education, teaching at both Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Education levels. Prior to coming to Hospice of Piedmont, Dr. Fomovska served as an Assistant Professor at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Her academic focus is on the ethics of end-of-life care, and she is Healthcare Ethics Consultant certified by the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities. She is a graduate of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. In 2020, she completed a Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the University of Virginia.

Angela Stiltner

MD, CPE, HMDC, FAAHPM

Senior Medical Director

Dr. Angela Stiltner joined Hospice of the Piedmont in 2011 as Associate Medical Director, was promoted to Medical Director in 2012, and promoted again to Senior Medical Director in 2014. She is board-certified in Family Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The Hospice Medical Director Certification Board awarded her the Hospice Medical Director credential in recognition of her commitment to improving patient quality of life by displaying professional competency in the hospice industry. In November 2018, Dr. Stiltner earned the designation of Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 2000, she completed the UVA-affiliated Family Medicine residency program and Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at Carilion Health System in Roanoke, Virginia. Before joining Hospice of the Piedmont, she was an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of General Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care at UVA from 2004 until 2010. She is currently a University of Virginia Visiting Associate Professor of Family Medicine. In 2022 she earned the prestigious Certified Physician Executive (CPE) credential, which indicates a physician has achieved superior levels of professional excellence and management education while also demonstrating effective healthcare industry knowledge and leadership skills. She is the immediate past President of the Albemarle County Medical Society and serves on the Executive Board.

Will Anderson

MD, HMDC

Medical Director

In 2000, Dr. Anderson left an office-based general internal medicine practice to provide high-quality, personalized, facility-based health care to a limited number of geriatric patients. In addition to providing this concierge practice in facilities, he made a limited number of house calls to independent patients. The overarching purpose of this model of care was to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and hospital admissions, thereby improving quality of life for patients and families. While working in the solo geriatric practice, he worked part-time as a medical director for a hospice. From this experience, he first learned how much better an interdisciplinary team could deliver holistic end-of-life care than the physician-centered model. Dr. Anderson became certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine in October 2012. Since August 2013, he has been a full-time hospice medical director. Since February 2016, he has also directed the development of a palliative care program and its integration with the established hospice program of a community healthcare system. Dr. Anderson attended Yale University for his undergraduate degree, then went to University of Virginia for medical school. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Bioethics from Columbia University, with a concentration in Global Ethics.

Rebecca Burke

MD

Medical Director

Dr. Rebecca Burke is a part-time Associate Medical Director for Hospice of the Piedmont. She is board certified in hospice and palliative medicine, as well as internal medicine. She graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed her Internal Medicine residency training at Duke University. After working as a hospitalist for four years, she completed a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Following this, she worked as an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at Rutgers University and provided palliative care services at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Michael Dobson

MD, HMDC

Medical Director

Michael S. Dobson, MD, HMDC is board-certified in family medicine as well as hospice and palliative medicine. Born and raised in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada, a small mining town, he studied art history and biochemistry at Queen’s University and then medicine at Saba University. Michael did a residency in rural family medicine at the University of Nebraska and then a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at the University of Virginia. His interest in hospice and palliative medicine started just before medical school when he volunteered at the Kensington Hospice House in Toronto, Ontario.

Simran Mann

MD, HMDC

Medical Director

Dr. Simran Mann joined Hospice of the Piedmont as Associate Medical Director in August 2020. She is board certified in hospice and palliative medicine, as well as internal medicine. Additionally, she has obtained her Hospice Medical Director board certification. With a background as a hospitalist, Dr. Mann came to Hospice of the Piedmont with an interest in a more holistic patient care approach.

Dr. Mann previously served as an internal medicine hospitalist at various hospitals, including Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA, Southcoast Hospital Group in New Bedford, MA, and Signature Health Brockton Hospital in Brockton, MA. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC, and went on to get her doctorate from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies. She has completed her hospice and palliative medicine fellowship, as well as her ACGME internal medicine residency. At Hospice of the Piedmont, Dr. Mann will care for patients and families to maximize the quality of life when patients are facing life-limiting illness.

Timothy Short

MD, HMDC, FAAFP, FAAHPM

Medical Director

Dr. Timothy Short served as Hospice of the Piedmont’s Chief Medical Officer from 2008 to 2010 and 2021 to 2023. He was also the Director of the Education Institute. Today, Dr. Short brings tremendous clinical and educational experience to his role as a Medical Director.

In 2021, He came to HOP from the University of Virginia, where he was an associate professor of medicine in palliative care. He has been a family medicine doctor for over 20 years, with certifications in family practice, palliative care, and hospice. Dr. Short was on the 2019-20 Best Doctors in America ® list and had numerous honors and awards spanning two decades. In 2020, he was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow into the National Academies of Practice. In 2019, he was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award by Family Medicine Residents at UVa.

Dr. Short attended Duke University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with his B.A. in Religion. He went on to receive his medical degree from Duke, as well. His family practice residency took place at the University of Virginia. Throughout his career, he worked and taught for hospitals and practices locally and in Illinois.

Lauren Demarest

MSN, NP, ACHPN

Nurse Practitioner

Lauren Demarest, MSN, NP, ACHPN, previously worked as a nurse practitioner with One Community Hospice and Palliative Care, in Parkville, Miss. She has worked as an NP for hospices and in internal medicine and surgery at practices and organizations in Georgia, Hawaii, Ohio, and North Carolina. Ms. Demarest has her Master of Science in Nursing, Adult and Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, from University of Cincinnati, and her bachelor degree in Nursing in Psychology from University of Missouri.

Rachael Ann Anderson

FNP

Nurse Practitioner

Rachael Ann Anderson joined Hospice of the Piedmont in November 2023 as a Nurse Practitioner specializing in palliative medicine. She holds a nursing degree from George Mason University and is pursuing a Doctorate of Nursing Practice at the University of Alabama, set to graduate in May 2024. Prior to joining HOP, she initiated an outpatient palliative program in the Fredericksburg area with Affinity Care of Virginia and worked for Mary Washington Healthcare.

Rachael teaches nursing and health sciences at Germanna Community College, advocating for end-of-life education in nursing. Outside work, she enjoys crafting, attending her son’s sports events, watching sci-fi and fantasy movies with her family, and being a mom. She values HOP’s dedicated focus on hospice and palliative care, and its incredible patient resources.

Sarah Brown

MSN, RN, NP-C

Nurse Practitioner

Sarah Brown earned her bachelors in nursing at York College of Pennsylvania and then worked for 10+ years in acute care settings. She then achieved her FNP degree at Marymount University and subsequently worked for 7 years in internal medicine, primarily with geriatrics in long-term-care settings.

Rachel Hess

DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Rachel Hess is a doctorally-prepared, ANCC board-certified Advanced Practice Registered Nurse specializing in Adult-Geriatric Primary Care. She has a strong background in academic excellence, having attended both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emory University. She has worked in an array of clinical settings, including large academic-medical centers such as Duke University Hospital and Emory University Hospital, in addition to smaller technology-driven healthcare startups and non-profit community-based clinics. She is grateful to participate in the deeply complex and meaningful work of palliative medicine since joining Hospice of the Piedmont.

Sally Koch

MSN, RN, FNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Virginia. She previously worked at the UVA Medical Center as an RN in cardiothoracic surgery and in the acute care float pool.

Eva Rellins

MSN, FNP

Nurse Practitioner

Eva Rellins joined Hospice of the Piedmont in 2024, bringing with her a rich background in nursing and patient care. Originally from Virginia Beach and raised in Broadway, Virginia, Eva started her nursing career at UVA Health after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Jefferson College of Health Sciences in 2015. She worked as a registered nurse in cardiothoracic surgery and later in oncology as an infusion RN at the Cancer Center.

In 2021, Eva expanded her expertise by obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Radford University Carilion. Prior to joining Hospice of the Piedmont, she was part of the Urology Department at UVA Health, focusing on kidney, prostate, and urologic cancers.

Outside of work, Eva loves playing with her dogs – two beagles (Bandit and Priss) and one Beagle Mix (Sam).

Francis Ansa

MD

Dr. Ansa moved from Providence, Rhode Island, to Charlottesville in 2008 to start working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital (SMJH). Subsequently, he was appointed as the Medical Director of the ICU. A native of Ghana, where he completed medical school, Dr. Ansa has been a resident of the U.S. for 25 years. He came to the United States to pursue postgraduate studies at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore and at Brown University. Dr. Ansa has served on several committees at SMJH and is a member of the 100 Black Men of Central Virginia, whose purpose is to improve the quality of life within the community and advocate eliminating the achievement gap of African American male students through mentoring. Dr. Ansa currently lives in Charlottesville with his wife and children.

Cathy L. Campbell

MD

Dr. Cathy L. Campbell is an Associate Professor at University of Virginia’s School of Nursing and an ordained Buddhist chaplain. Her area of research focuses on increasing access to palliative care for vulnerable and under-served people, community-based advanced care planning, and spiritual care for transgender elders at end of life. As a Fellow in UVA’s Center for Global Health, Dr. Campbell has served as a mentor for research experiences for an interprofessional team of undergraduate and graduate students from the US in South Africa and Thailand. Most recently she completed a project as a Fulbright Scholar in Thailand, where her work explored the role of lay health workers and professional nurses providing care palliative care in rural communities. Her scholarly work and research have been published and presented to audiences in the U.S. and internationally.

Bruce T. Clark, Esq.

Bruce Clark arrived in Culpeper in 1974. Having received his JD degree from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, he is currently celebrating his fiftieth year in practice. For over twenty years, he has served as the Commissioner of Accounts for the Circuit Court of Culpeper. He has served on and chaired a number of local, regional, and state boards and has held numerous positions within the Virginia State Bar. Among others, he served as the Chair of the Board of the Culpeper Department of Social Services; as President of the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce; as Chair of the Culpeper Joint Town and County Economic Development Commission; as President of the Culpeper Bar Association and the Piedmont Bar Association; as President of the Culpeper Memorial Hospital Services Corporation and as President of the Virginia Conference of Commissioners of Accounts.

Abby Denby

Abby obtained her Associate Degree in Nursing from Piedmont Virginia Community College in 2001, her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Old Dominion University in 2008, and her Master’s degree at the University of Virginia with a focus on Health Systems Management in 2015. Currently employed with Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital as a Director of Patient Care Services, she also received her DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) from James Madison University. Abby began her nursing career at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System on the orthopedic/trauma unit but has been employed at Sentara Martha Jefferson since 2001. Specialty areas include wound/ostomy care, orthopedics, and general medical-surgical nursing. When Abby is not working she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchild playing tennis, riding horses, or any outdoor activities.

Lynne Fleming

Lynne Fleming is a retired Associate University Counsel for the University of Virginia where she provided legal advice to the UVA Medical Center. Previously, she served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General for the Virginia Office of the Attorney General and advised Virginia’s health regulatory boards and the Department of Behavioral Health. Lynne earned her B.A. at Mount Holyoke College, a Ph.D. in psychology from Syracuse University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Gaby Laufer

Gaby Laufer a native Israeli is a retired UVA professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and also the CEO and President of Avir Sensors, a UVA spinoff which he founded. He was the president of the Congregation Beth Israel from 2011-2013. In 2018 he published a book, A Survivor’s Duty, describing his father’s holocaust survival in the Hungarian forced labor battalions and in a German concentration camp. He is currently serving at SCORE as a certified mentor and a volunteer to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Gary Lee

Gary Lee is a retired Certified Public Accountant and a retired Principal with Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. He was the manager of Culpeper-based practice from 1981 until 2013 and concentrated in the areas of estate/trust taxation; planning and administration; construction accounting and taxation; small business and individual taxation and consulting. Mr. Lee received the 2014 Outstanding Citizen Award from the Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce in 2014 and in 2013 received the Community Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America’s National Capital Area Council. He attended Virginia Tech and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business with Accounting Major. He was a member of Beta Alpha Psi and Beta Gamma Sigma. Mr. Lee is married with two sons and four grandchildren. His interests include American history, antique collecting, golf, and the outdoors.

Chris Little

In 1997 Chris founded Dominion Digital (now SingleStone), a Richmond-based technology consulting firm, with the specific purpose of building an exceptional place to work. Since then SingleStone has been recognized regularly as a Best Place to Work, in tandem with excellent client satisfaction and community involvement. In 2017, Chris transitioned from the CEO role to consult with other business leaders and organizations who want to improve workplace culture in pursuit of excellent employee and customer experiences. A native of Ireland, Chris has B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Scranton and is a graduate of GE’s Financial Management Program. He has served on multiple non-profit boards, at present the Virginia Institute of Autism and Hospice of the Piedmont. He lives in Charlottesville with his wife Tori and their three children.

Jeanne McCusker

Jeanne McCusker has owned Home Instead Senior Care, which is dedicated to helping seniors remain independent as they age, in Charlottesville since 2003. Ms. McCusker previously worked in the medical technology and information technology fields. Ms. McCusker is a graduate of Leadership Charlottesville and currently also serves on the board of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. She is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s in marketing. An avid nature lover, she loves to hike, ride horses, and garden.

Christopher Murray

Christopher Murray retired in 2014 as the Business Development Director for JABA (Jefferson Area Board for Aging), where he developed affordable housing for seniors. He continued that passion in 2016 developing Carlton House, a 10-room boarding house for extremely low-income persons, engineering the sale of it to Casa Alma (the Catholic Worker House) in December 2021. After 35 years in the private sector, as a product designer in the furniture manufacturing business and holder of three US patents, he ended that phase of his career starting The Children’s Furniture Co where he developed products that enable children’s day care to partner with nursing homes. His current initiative is launching a natural burial ground (or green cemetery) at his family’s Panorama Farms in Earlysville. He has a BA in English from Washington & Lee University and an MFA in furniture design from Virginia Commonwealth University. A life-long Charlottesville resident he is married with two grown children and three grandchildren.

Scott Syverud

MD

Dr. Syverud attended college at Michigan State University and medical school at Syracuse. He trained in Emergency Medicine at the University of Cincinnati and joined the faculty of the University of Virginia in 1992. Dr. Syverud has worked in the Emergency Department of UVA for the last three decades.

Peyton Taylor, Jr.

MD

Dr. Taylor, the Richard N. and Louise Crockett Professor Emeritus, retired from clinical practice in December 2011. Since retirement, he has remained active in the Division. He serves as the Medical Director of the TeleColposcopy Program, is an active participate in the Gyn Oncology Tumor Board, and serves as a professional consultant in Gynecologic Oncology. He completed his Residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology and his Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Virginia after spending two years in Surgical Oncology at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Taylor continues his involvement in East Africa, providing consultation in surgical training programs and investigations related to early detection of cervical cancer. Dr. Taylor was on the original Board of Directors of Hospice of the Piedmont, and rejoined the board in August 2017.

Sandra Thomas

Sandra Thomas is a CPA who currently serves as a fractional CFO with small or emerging companies in industries ranging from software consulting to medical devices to not for profits. Previously, she served as CFO of a NASDAQ-listed company and co-founded a company where she was responsible for all aspects of finance, accounting, and administration. She currently serves on the boards of The Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia and Building Goodness Foundation. She is a past president of the Junior League of Charlottesville and has served as treasurer of the Association of Junior Leagues International. Ms. Thomas spent 14 years with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and holds a B.B.A. from the College of William and Mary.

Judy Tobin

Judy Tobin most recently served as the Executive Director, Martha Jefferson Medical Group, from February 2006 until July 2013. Prior to that role, she was the Director of Martha Jefferson Medical Enterprises since April 1997. She has a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and has held numerous roles in business accounting over the course of her career.