Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

Patient and Family Advisory Council

Appointment New Patient Appointment or 214-645-4673

Patient Family Advisory Council

At Simmons Cancer Center, we build cancer care around the wide-ranging needs of our patients and their caregivers. The Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) was created and developed with generous support from Kim and Jeff Chapman. Our vision is to identify and address needs throughout the entire patient experience and to create mutually beneficial partnerships among patients, families, and health care providers.

To be a member of the PFAC, we ask that you:

  • Be a current or former Simmons Cancer Center patient, caregiver, or family member
  • Represent all patients, caregivers, and family members
  • Commit to a two-year term
  • Complete orientation and all required documentation and forms for your membership file
  • Each term year, attend eight of the 12 monthly meetings — currently meetings are virtual
  • Engage in at least one additional opportunity to improve the patient experience such as an institutional committee, focus group, special project, etc.

Examples of PFAC involvement include:

  • Informed design of new building, including art curation
  • Reviewed education materials, including website and acute care clinic marketing materials
  • Collaborated with the CRO on letters to communicate status of ongoing trials
  • Presented to medical school students, nursing students, and advanced practice fellows
  • Monthly presentations at new employee orientation
  • Representation on IRBs
  • Collaboration with Community Outreach, Equity, and Engagement Office
  • Completion of extensive patient and caregiver survey
  • Collaborated with Imerman’s Angels to offer peer mentoring

Get Involved

Applications are reviewed twice yearly, in June and December. The mid-year application period closed on June 30. Please check back in December 2024.

Feel free to email SCCCSupport@utsouthwestern.edu or call Alex Huffman, LCSW, OSW-C, Assistant Director of Supportive Care, at 214-645-2742 with questions.

Leadership

Kim Chapman, Founder

Jason Fleming, M.D., FACS, SCCC Deputy Director for Clinical Affairs

Kyle A. Taylor, M.H.S.A., CPHQ, SCCC Associate Vice President of Clinical Programs

Susan Chacko, PharmD, RPh, BCOP

Judy Devlin, M.S.N., APRN, ANP-C, AOCNP

Alex Huffman, LCSW, OSW-C, Assistant Director of Supportive Care

Abigail Jones, RN

Christie Nichols, BSN, RN, BMTCN

Patient and Family Advisory Council Members

Hope Aguilar

Suzette Boese

Judy Bokhart

Nichelle Boyland

Ramsey Breaux

Peter Brookhart

Taffie Lynn Butters

Valerie Cano

Wendy Casper

Kim Chapman

Sharron Coffie

Sam Farina

Mary Ellen Garland

Linda Garner

Jimmy Graham

Debbi Haacke

Danna Hightower

Elgrie Hurd

Melissa Irek

Rebecca Jenkins

Sharie Kimball

Alexandra Kirkpatrick

Mike Land

Annette Leslie

Stephanie Lovely

Patrick Makarewich

Maria Martinez-Cosio

Caryl Meeks

Leta Nelson

Reema Patel

Lauren Polichetti

Alexis Prochnow

Mollie Ripple

Susan Ratz-Thomas

Mary Beth Watson

Connie Webb

Daniel Weinstein

Misty Woodhall

Felicia Young Whisenhunt

Katy Yost