Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey

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Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey Board Members:
Gregory Rokosz, DO, JD, FACEP
Amar Bukhari, MD
Tracy Grafton, LCSW, ACHP-SW
Jessica L.

GOCCNJ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the only network of organizations in NJ working together to make certain that patients with serious illness get the care they need and no less, and the care they want and no more. The Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey (GOCCNJ) was founded in 2018 to better communicate, coordinate and collaborate on issues and activities to improve care for people in our state living with serious illness. We aim to increase access to high-quality, person-centered palliative and end-of-life care by convening stakeholders, identifying unmet needs, advocating for equitable policies and improved health outcomes, and sharing best practices and resources. GOCCNJ is comprised of nearly 35 statewide organizations representing the interests of older adults and people with serious illness, and the diverse group of providers that care for them including the academic institutions in NJ training the next generation of healthcare professionals. Through advocacy, research, and education, our mission is to provide policy makers, healthcare providers, patients, and family caregivers with the information, resources, training, and tools they need to access comprehensive, high-quality, person-centered advance care planning, palliative and end-of-life care. Our member organizations include: Churches Improving Communities (CIC), College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP), Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ), Home Care & Hospice Association of NJ, International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA), Jewish Sacred Aging, Leading Age New Jersey and Delaware, Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ), National Association of Social Workers New Jersey Chapter, New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW, formerly NJ Foundation for Aging), New Jersey American College of Emergency Physicians, New Jersey Association of Health Plans (AHP), New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA), New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI), New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA), New Jersey Long-Term Care Leaders Coalition, New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman, New Jersey Palliative Care APN Consortium, New Jersey State Society of Physician Assistant (NJSSPA), Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, and the VNA Health Group. We also have established strategic alliances with the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (CTAC), the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), and the following academic institutions: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Rowan University School Osteopathic Medicine, Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and the Rutgers School of Public Health. Medical Director: David Barile, MD
Our medical director is a physician board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Israel, MD
Florence Kariuki, MHA, RN, FHELA
Steven Peskin, MD
Jill Schwartz-Chevlin, MD, MBA, FACP
Katherine Taylor, JD, PhD
Yvette Vieira, MMH, HEC-C
Anthony Wehbe, DO, MBA, FACOI

Our board members come from diverse backgrounds with strong roots to New Jersey and a deep commitment to improve care for New Jersey seniors.

What does the specialty palliative care landscape look like in New Jersey?  wants to make sure   is represented in the C...
10/21/2026

What does the specialty palliative care landscape look like in New Jersey?

wants to make sure is represented in the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) Palliative Care Program Inventory, a national initiative to build the field’s understanding of where and how specialty palliative care programs are operating in both hospital and community settings.

Your participation will:
✅ Build a clearer picture of palliative care in our state
✅ Identify where gaps in access remain
✅ Strengthen data for research and advocacy
✅Get you access to national reports that will help you see how your program’s structures compare to similarly situated programs

Participation is free and open to all U.S. specialty palliative care programs: https://www.capc.org/program-inventory/

Palliative Care Program Inventory: building the field's understanding of where and how specialty palliative care programs operate and where gaps remain.

  is excited to welcome the The Supportive Housing Association of NJ (SHANJ) as our newest coalition member!Together, we...
10/19/2026

is excited to welcome the The Supportive Housing Association of NJ (SHANJ) as our newest coalition member!

Together, we share a commitment to helping people live with dignity, independence, and the support they need to thrive in their communities. By bringing together our expertise in supportive housing, serious illness care, and advance care planning, we can help ensure that individuals and families have the resources and support to make informed decisions and have their wishes honored. We look forward to working together to make a meaningful difference in !

What does the specialty palliative care landscape look like in New Jersey?  is encouraging specialty palliative care pro...
10/14/2026

What does the specialty palliative care landscape look like in New Jersey?

is encouraging specialty palliative care programs across the state to participate in the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) Palliative Care Program Inventory.

The Inventory collects data from programs nationwide to build the field's understanding of where and how specialty palliative care programs operate in hospital and community settings, and where gaps in access remain.

Participation from programs across will strengthen our understanding of the palliative care landscape in our state while ensuring NJ is represented in the national picture.

Participation is free and open to all U.S. specialty palliative care programs. Make sure your program is counted: https://www.capc.org/program-inventory/



Palliative Care Program Inventory: building the field's understanding of where and how specialty palliative care programs operate and where gaps remain.

Mark your calendars for December 10th @ 8:30 am for the inaugural Social Connections Conference presented by Samaritan a...
10/14/2026

Mark your calendars for December 10th @ 8:30 am for the inaugural Social Connections Conference presented by Samaritan and the Social Isolation, Loneliness & Connection Collaborative. This half-day conference will give attendees a chance to learn, connect, and mobilize to support New Jersey residents facing social isolation & loneliness. You can learn more about the conference, sponsorship opportunities, and early bird tickets at

NJ conference with keynote speakers, policy makers, and more focused on addressing social isolation and loneliness. CEU credits available.

Please join Atlantic Health for the Perry Root Palliative Care Symposium on October 1st from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Thi...
09/18/2026

Please join Atlantic Health for the Perry Root Palliative Care Symposium on October 1st from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This symposium will bring together healthcare professionals interested in advancing high-quality palliative care and supporting patients and families living with serious illness.

To learn more and register: https://ath.broadcastmed.io/live/54/page/295

Mark your calendars for the New Jersey Palliative Care APN Consortium Annual Conference on Saturday, October 10th, at Sa...
09/17/2026

Mark your calendars for the New Jersey Palliative Care APN Consortium Annual Conference on Saturday, October 10th, at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ!

The conference will feature Brynn Bowman, MPA, CEO of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), as keynote speaker, sharing national palliative care trends, NJ updates, and insights into the evolving palliative care landscape.

Join healthcare professionals for a day of education and connection centered on Whole Person, Whole System Palliative Care. Whether you are new to palliative care or an experienced clinician, this conference will provide practical strategies, current insights, and meaningful opportunities to strengthen the care of patients and families living with serious illness.

Learn more and register: https://njpcapnc.enpnetwork.com/

September 13-19 is National Assisted Living Week! This year’s theme, “Shining Through the Years,” celebrates the stories...
09/16/2026

September 13-19 is National Assisted Living Week! This year’s theme, “Shining Through the Years,” celebrates the stories, memories, and meaningful moments that make assisted living communities special. recognizes the residents, families, caregivers, and dedicated staff who bring connection, compassion, and care to assisted living every day. Thank you for all you do to support residents and make these communities shine!

https://www.ahcancal.org/Education-Events/Pages/NALW.aspx

  is excited to welcome Family Resource Network (FRN) as our newest coalition member! FRN connects individuals and famil...
09/14/2026

is excited to welcome Family Resource Network (FRN) as our newest coalition member! FRN connects individuals and families impacted by disabilities, autism, epilepsy, and developmental differences to the resources and support they need. We're looking forward to working with their affiliate, Caregivers of NJ, who understand that caregiving can feel isolating and no one should navigate it alone. Through support coordination, local caregiving coalitions, and advocacy, they help caregivers connect and find the support they need. Together, we're excited to strengthen support for caregivers and families across our community.

Advance care planning conversations can make a meaningful difference in ensuring care reflects what matters most to pati...
09/09/2026

Advance care planning conversations can make a meaningful difference in ensuring care reflects what matters most to patients.

The ACP Certificate Program gives healthcare professionals practical tools and training to lead these important conversations with confidence.

Learn more and enroll today: acpcertificate.org/

Compassion & Choices

Conversations about serious illness and future care are not always easy, but they are important.

The Advance Care Planning (ACP) Certificate Program helps healthcare professionals build the skills and confidence to support meaningful, values-based conversations with patients and families. Developed in partnership with Compassion & Choices, the program focuses on patient-centered communication, cultural responsiveness, and supporting individuals in making informed decisions about their care. Learn more and enroll today: acpcertificate.org/

Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on relieving the symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illness, with...
09/02/2026

Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on relieving the symptoms, pain, and stress of serious illness, with the goal of improving quality of life for both patients and their families.

In a new episode of GoMo Health's Human Resilience Podcast, CEO/Executive Director, Lori Katz Feldstein, joins Dr. Hamza Habib of the Rutgers Cancer Institute to discuss why one question "What matters most to you?" can change the whole course of care.

Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gJyihBDr

Palliative care is often misunderstood as care reserved for the end of life. In reality, it can provide an essential layer of support much earlier in a serious illness—helping patients manage symptoms, navigate complex decisions, and maintain quality of life while continuing treatment. In this epi...

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P. O. Box 3083
Princeton, NJ
08543

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