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Lynn Behar, PhD, FAOSW | Oncology and Palliative Care Social Work
IPOPC Co-Founder and EAB Board Chair
Dr. Lynn Behar is a two-time alumna of the University of Washington School of Social Work, MSW (’86) and a PhD (’99). As the co-founder of the Center for IPOPC Research and Practice, Dr. Behar is deeply committed to advancing psychosocial and palliative care for individuals impacted by cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. Dr. Behar co-edited the definitive book on psychosocial care for people with cancer, "The Handbook of Oncology Social Work," published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Behar currently chairs the External Advisory Board (EAB), working with a group of national experts to guide the center's strategic growth.
Jesse R. Fann, MD, MPH, FAPOS, FACLP | Psychiatry and Oncology
Medical Director, Psychosocial Oncology, Fred Hutch Cancer Center
Jesse Fann, M.D., M.P.H., is a board-certified psychiatrist, medical director of Psychosocial Oncology at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, a UW professor and health services researcher in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and an adjunct professor of Epidemiology and Rehabilitation Medicine. Dr. Fann holds the Mark N. Tabbutt Endowed Professorship for Education in Brain Health and directs the Clinician Scientist Training Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. As an EAB member, Dr. Fann will bring his expertise in psychiatry, psycho-oncology, healthcare delivery, and his clinical leadership role at Fred Hutch to support the mission of IPOPC.
Susan Hedlund, LCSW, FAOSW | Oncology Social Work
Director, Supportive Care Initiatives, Biller Family Foundation
Associate Professor, OHSU School of Medicine and PSU School of Social Work
Susan Hedlund, LCSW, has been a social worker in the health care field for more than thirty years and has extensive experience working with individuals and families facing life-threatening illness and loss. Until joining the Biller Family Foundation, she was the Director of Patient and Family Services at the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU. Susan Hedlund currently serves as an associate professor at the School of Medicine at OHSU and the PSU School of Social Work. She is the first editor of the Oxford textbook "Oncology and Palliative Care Social Work: Psychosocial Care for People Coping with Cancer."
As an EAB member, Ms. Hedlund will bring her extensive clinical and program management expertise in oncology social work to support the mission of IPOPC.
Barbara L. Jones, PhD, FAOSW | Pediatric Oncology
Dean and Professor, Boston University School of Social Work
Dean Barbara Jones, PhD, MSW, FAOSW, is one of the nation’s top scholars in the field of psychosocial oncology and palliative care. In addition to co-editing three acclaimed books in oncology and palliative care and publishing more than 120 articles in top-tier journals, Jones is a past recipient of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers "Social Worker of the Year" award and was inducted into the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare in 2020. She was the first social worker to receive the American Cancer Society’s Pathfinder in Palliative Care Award. She is a distinguished scholar and fellow of the National Academies of Practice and a 2023 fellow of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, as well as the Association of Oncology Social Work. As an EAB member, Dr. Jones brings her expertise in pediatric oncology, palliative care research, and academic social work to support the mission of IPOPC.
Randy A. Jones, PhD, RN, FADLN, FAAN | Oncology Nursing
Jeanette Lancaster Alumni Professor of Nursing, University of Virginia School of Nursing
Dr. Randy Jones is a Professor and the Associate Dean for Partner Development and Engagement at UVA’s School of Nursing, as well as the Faculty Assistant Director of the Community Outreach and Engagement Core at UVA’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on health disparities, decision making, cognitive impairment, palliative care and leveraging technology to improve cancer care and other chronic diseases. He has received funded research grants from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Cancer Society, and the American Nurses Foundation. As an EAB member, Dr. Jones brings his expertise in oncology nursing, academic nursing, and health equity in cancer to support the mission of IPOPC.
Peggy Maguire, JD | Philanthropy and Palliative Care
President and Board Chair, Cambia Health Foundation
Peggy Maguire, JD, is the president and board chair of Cambia Health Foundation. Throughout a multi-faceted career, from defense litigator to chief of staff to her current role as President of Cambia Health Foundation, Peggy balanced empathy and strategic focus to drive exceptional results. This approach prioritizes people and creativity to resolve pressing business and community needs. Melding an empathetic mindset with analytic aptitude has enabled Peggy to navigate multiple complex challenges and achieve revolutionary, sustainable solutions. As a result, Peggy has led a 10-fold growth in the Foundation’s corpus even as they drove a 20-fold increase in grant awards. As an EAB member, President/Chair Maguire will bring her expertise in philanthropy, healthcare, palliative care, and national leadership to support the mission of IPOPC.
Alice Cagampang Ryan, LICSW | Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Assistant Teaching Professor, University of Washington School of Social Work
Alice Ryan began her social work career 27 years ago working in community mental health and interpersonal violence work. She transitioned to healthcare social work practice and has worked for different health care organizations where she held a variety of positions, including managing Seattle Children’s bereavement program for child loss and childhood grief. Her work has focused on loss and separation and end of life, with an emphasis on the experience of complicated grief through the death of a child. Alice is particularly interested in finding ways to increase access to culturally responsive grief support for all communities.
As the director of the Carol LaMare Scholars Program at IPOPC, Alice serves as an Ex Officio member of the EAB.
J'May Bertrand Rivara, LICSW | Chronic and Life Limiting Illness
Associate Teaching Professor Emerita, University of Washington School of Social Work
Senior Advisor to the Director, Center for IPOPC Resarch and Practice
J’May Rivara was first appointed Lecturer-PT at the UW School of Social Work in 1985, when she was the Associate Director of Social Work at the UW Medical Center. She served as the primary Health Care Practice Instructor for the Concentration until 2007. Between 1975-95, J’May had worked in health care settings in four states as a clinician, manager, and researcher, also serving as a field instructor with 3 Schools of Social Work. In 1995, she joined the Office of Field Education as a full-time Lecturer, serving as Liaison for hundreds of MSW students in health and mental health practice settings over the next 30 years. She was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2017 and Associate Teaching Professor in 2019 until her recent retirement in June of 2025. Between 2010 and her retirement, J’May co-directed the Carol LaMare (CL) Scholars Program, was Seminar Co-Instructor, Field Faculty lead, liaison for all students in the CL program completing their advanced practicums in oncology, palliative care, and life-limiting illness. J’May received the UW Distinguished Legacy award, a UW Alumni Award based on nominations from her students, in June of 2025.
With her recent appointment in a volunteer capacity as senior advisor to the director, J'May serves as an Ex Officio member of the EAB.
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