We are a group of physicians and nurse practitioners who are experts in palliative care, and pain and symptom management. Our team is committed to walking our patients through their journey to experience better outcomes.

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.

Dr. Coleman

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.

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.

Nicky Pilgrim, MSN, AGPCNP-C

Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

Nicky Pilgrim is a board-certified adult-geriatric Nurse Practitioner who specializes in providing Palliative care and Hospice care to patients with advanced, life limiting, chronic illnesses. Focusing on quality-of-life improvement by establishing a plan of care that includes guidance on disease trajectory overtime, symptom evaluation and management, and advance care planning. Nicky considers it a privilege to support patients and families who are navigating the challenges of serious illness and symptoms associated with advanced and end-of life disease progression.

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.