Council Advisory Group
Meet the Council Advisory Group
The Council Advisory Group (CAG) is NMDPSM advisory group. The CAG is your direct line of communication to our NMDP leadership. Members of this board-level advisory group come from within our Network of partners facilitating unrelated transplants. They’re passionate about working with you to answer questions, facilitate improvements and always put the needs of patients and donors first.
The CAG members serve as your liaison between NMDP and the Network. The members meet regularly with NMDP leadership to review questions, issues and recommendations from Network members.
Watch this short video to learn how the Council Advisory Group can help you.
Each member of the Council of Advisory Group represents a part of the Network – transplant centers, contracted donor centers, operated donor centers, cord blood banks, apheresis centers and collection centers. They are nominated for two-year terms and can serve up to two consecutive terms.
- Cindy Albert, BS, Council Advisory Group Chair
- Megan Lubitz, MS, RN, Council Advisory Group Vice Chair
- Kimberly Kasow, DO, Collection Center Representative
- Deborah Wells, MA, CHTC, Transplant Center Representative
- Jill Kendall-Erb, BA, Contracted Donor Center Representative
- Patricia (Trish) Hankins, BSN, RN, CCRC, Transplant Center Representative
- Luis Hernandez, CQIA (ASQ), Cord Blood Bank Representative
- Rick Morse, BS, Operated Donor Center Representative
- Cara Peterman, RN, BSN, OCN, CCRN, Apheresis Center Representative
Council Advisory Group member interviews
Council Advisory Group webinars
As the Network constantly evolves, the Council Advisory Group is dedicated to identifying best practices with the patient and donor in mind.
- Confidentiality: Learn about changes to the NMDP Confidentiality Policy, along with how it affects communication between NDMP and Network partners.
- Time Matters: Learn about the importance of a patient’s timeline to transplant, cancellations and postponements, how these delays impact the donor, and what each center can do to influence change. Peers will also share how the efforts Network members are making today are contributing to a lasting impact.
Submit a question, suggestion or comment
If you have questions, suggestions or comments for the CAG, please email cag@nmdp.org. The Council Advisory Group and NMDP meet monthly and will review the latest questions and comments at the next scheduled meeting. If you would like to submit a question anonymously, please email the CAG Chair at cindy_albert@dfci.harvard.edu or the CAG Vice-Chair at m.lubitz@dodmarrow.org.
Here are topics, questions and comments that were previously submitted by Network members: