Allied Health Workshop Course Directors

Carolyn Lefkowits, MD, University of Colorado

Dr. Lefkowits is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado-Denver, where she practices both Gynecologic Oncology and Palliative Care. Dr. Lefkowits is passionate about integrating palliative care into the care of women with ovarian cancer, in order to provide an extra layer of support and optimize quality of life throughout the disease course. She trained at Harvard (Medical School/Masters of Public Health), the University of California San Francisco (Ob/Gyn residency) and Magee Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (fellowships in both Palliative Care and Gynecologic Oncology and Masters of Science in Medical Education). Her focus as a medical educator is teaching communication skills; she believes that good communication is central to good patient care and that communication skills, like all clinical skills, improve with practice! Her research interests focus on the intersection of palliative care and gynecologic oncology, including provision of palliative care concurrently with cancer treatment by both oncology providers (primary palliative care) and palliative care specialists (specialty palliative care).

Christalyn Schmidt, PA, AHN Western Pennsylvania Gynecologic Oncology

Christalyn Schmidt is Chief Surgical Physician Assistant at AHN Western Pennsylvania Gynecologic Oncology. Christalyn earned a degree in Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from Chatham University in Pittsburgh in August 2007, a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in April 2004 and an Associates in Liberal Arts and Science from Community College of Allegheny County in May 2001. She was appointed chief surgical physician assistant with the department in November 2016. As chief surgical physician assistant, she directly supervises the advance practice providers for the department and oversees their clinical practice. She is responsible for the onboarding and training of new providers. She currently manages patients in the office and hospital as well as first assistant in surgery.

Dana DeMoss, MSN, APN, Tennessee Oncology

Dana is a nurse practitioner at Tennessee Oncology in Nashville, TN with B. Stephens Dudley, MD, with whom she has worked since 1990. Dana works closely with Dr. Dudley in integrating holistic medicine and conventional therapies for their patients. She is responsible for sex education for patients in Tennessee Oncology as well as the medical and radiation oncologists within the practice. Dana is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Master’s of Science in Nursing. Prior to becoming a NP, she was the head nurse of GYN/General surgery at Baptist Hospital where she first became passionate about gynecologic oncology. She is on the Medical Advisory board for Gilda’s Club Nashville and she is a member of the Advanced Practice Provider executive team for Tennessee Oncology.

Course Faculty

Heather Augustyniak
Cadence Health

Sarah Bernstein RN, MSN, AOCN
Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Walter Reed National Medical Center

Bradley Corr, MD
Associate Professor
University of Colorado

Dana DeMoss, MSN, APN
Advanced Practice Nurse
Tennessee Oncology

Elise Kohn, MD
Head, Gynecologic Cancer Therapeutics
National Cancer Institute

Thomas Krivak, MD
Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA

Carolyn Lefkowits MD, MPH, MS
Associate Professor, Gynecologic Oncology
University of Colorado

Joanne Rash, PA-C
Physician Assistant
University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation

Christalyn Schmidt, PA-C
Chief Surgical Physician Assistant
AHN Western Pennsylvania Gynecologic Oncology