Lisa Balster has served as a geriatric social worker in hospice for 32 years, with oversight of the psychosocial, complementary care, and bereavement aspects of hospice care for 20 of those years. She holds an MA in Gerontology, an MBA in Organizational Change, LSW, and certifications in Bioethics and Thanatology.

David Hargrave has worked in a variety of roles with at-risk youth and their families over the last 22 years in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Ohio. David is a licensed social worker and received his trauma certification from The Institute of Trauma and Loss in Children in 2013. David is a certified grief counseling specialist and ordained clergy. David was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 2002. He has a passion for supporting the bereaved, law enforcement and Veterans.

Valerie Houseknecht is a board-certified general adult psychiatrist who has been working with individuals to improve their mental health and wellbeing for more than 15 years. She has cared for a myriad of patients in the Dayton area in a variety of settings prior to joining Pure Healthcare in 2018. She is passionate about reducing the suffering caused by mental illness and strives to improve the wellbeing of all patients and staff by providing collaborative care to bridge physical and mental health.

Holley Faulkner, Jr. serves the northern panhandle of West Virginia and bordering Ohio counties as a grief services coordinator. He is a graduate of Marshall University (BS, Zoology), Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity) and Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry – Ministry to Marriage and Families). Holley is certified as a grief recovery method specialist. He is ordained clergy, having pastored churches throughout West Virginia for 31 years. Holley is passionate about supporting those who are making the journey through grief.

Mark Curtis began his career as a licensed practical nurse, obtaining his undergraduate nursing degree from Wright State University and his graduate degree from The University of Cincinnati. He is board-certified as both a psychiatric clinical nurse Specialist and Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. Mark has more than 20 years of experience in private practice psychiatry. He is past co-chair at The Center for Disaster Mental Health and served on the Greater Dayton Area Domestic Preparedness Coalition. Mark is currently working with the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) Palliative Nursing Summit Pain Initiative.