We are a group of physicians and nurse practitioners who are experts in palliative care, and pain and symptom management. Our interdisciplinary team includes social workers and chaplains committed to walking our patients through their illness’s journey; together, we can help our patients experience better outcomes through social, medical, and pain management.
Shahid Aziz, MD, FAAP
Pediatric Palliative Care Physician
Dr. Aziz is a Director of Pediatric Palliative Care and Hospice programs, and has vast experience in Pediatrics, Clinical Medical Ethics, Palliative Care and Hospice Care. He is Board certified in Pediatrics, Medical Management and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He has served on the clinical faculty at University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins. Teaching being one of his passions, he continues to teach to medical personnel and to general public. Communication and advance care planning in palliative care are his major interests. He is a published author on that subject.
Lissa Y. Berroa Garcia, MD
Palliative Care Physician
Dr. Berroa Garcia completed her Medical degree from Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico, and Internal Medicine residency program at UMMS Baystate Medical Center as part of the Community track in Springfield, Massachusetts. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care, with a Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Care from MedStar Washington Medical Center in 2018. Dr. Berroa Garcia received the award for Top Hospice and Palliative Medicine Specialist in 2022.
Geoff Coleman, MD, MHA
Palliative Care Physician
Dr. Coleman attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He established a community health center in Montross, Virginia, providing primary and preventive healthcare. Since 2007, Dr. Coleman has practiced hospice and palliative medicine exclusively, and has been serving in Montgomery and Prince George’s County since 2009. Dr. Coleman is certified in Hospice & Palliative Medicine and Family Medicine. He considers it a privilege to take care of the seriously ill while helping to alleviate their suffering.
Chris Eliff, RN
Pediatric Registered Nurse
Chris Eliff provides guidance and leadership to the PMC Kids program. She serves as the Clinical Manager for Montgomery Kids and Infection Control Nurse for Montgomery Hospice. Born and raised in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, she attended Slippery Rock University. Prior to becoming a registered nurse, she worked as a teacher during the first fifteen years of her career. Chris has two children, and loves traveling, painting, and photography.
Perpetual Guwani, CRNP
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
Perpetual Guwani’s professional background includes a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Healthcare Systems and Leadership from Chamberlain University, and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She is a certified Hospice and Palliative and Family Nurse Practitioner, and Wound Care Specialist. Her passion is to guide patients in their healing journey by supporting them – through managing their symptoms and having goals of care discussions so that they can make health care decisions that best fit their values and spiritual beliefs.
Ann Lichtenstein, DO
Palliative Care Physician
Dr. Ann Lichtenstein received her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York. She completed her Internship at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She continues to be involved in medical training with Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellows from NIH and Children’s National Medical Center. She is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Chaya Milikowsky, CRNP
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
Chaya Milikowsky received both her nursing and Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner education at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She worked as a nocturnist in the ICU at Medstar Montgomery Medical Center prior to transitioning to the practice of palliative medicine. She is passionate about providing patient and family centered care to those living with serious illnesses. She is on the board of the Orthodox Jewish Nurses Association and serves as the editor of its biannual journal.
Vaishnavi Premkumar, MD
Palliative Care Physician
Dr. Vaishnavi Premkumar is a graduate of Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine residency training at MidMichigan Medical Center in 2021. Dr. Premkumar is board-certified in Family Medicine. After residency, she pursued and completed fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2022.
David Schrier, MD
Chief Medical Director
Dr. Schrier received his medical degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, followed by a fellowship in Hematology-Oncology. He received board-certification in Medical Oncology, establishing a successful practice with a mission to deliver comprehensive medical and emotional care to patients and their families, with emphasis on the whole patient.
