Sarah House Board of Directors

Sarah House Board of Directors - Established December 2007

Kimberly (Kim) Marcum-Mercier, R.N. - Previous Past Chair and Founder, Sarah House; Registered Nurse, Home Health Care and StarShine Hospice of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Founded The Sarah Zepernick Foundation in 1999, following the death of her daughter, Sarah, to childhood cancer. The foundation raised funds for continued childhood cancer research at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Kim changed the mission of Sarah's Foundation in February 2006 to the Sarah House project, after seeing such a great need for "medically fragile children and their families" for a place like Sarah House while working as a nurse in private duty, home health and StarShine Hospice at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

A graduate of the Institute of Medical Technology and Miami University School of Nursing, Kim has been working in the clinical care setting for over 20 years in Cincinnati.

As an advocate for childhood cancer awareness, Kim has been to Washington, DC on two different occassions during the war against cancer marches, meeting with congressmen to insist on additional government funding for childhood cancer research.

Past steering committee member of the Cincinnati Chapter of The Compassionate Friends from 1999-2005, and is currently involved in several committees within Cincinnati Children's Hospital to better child health.

Amy Simpson - Co-Founder and Nominating Committee Chair, Sarah House; Chaplain, Fetal Care Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Amy first met Sarah while working as the Director for the Children's Ministry at Groesbeck United Methodist Church. After Sarah's death, Amy partnered with Sarah's mother, Kim Marcum-Mercier in creating The Sarah Zepernick Foundation. With the help of Kim and a team of people, Amy organized the annual 5K run/walk which raised money for childhood cancer research. Through the interaction with Sarah and the encouragement of Sarah's family, Amy pursued chaplaincy through Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Facilitator for the Cincinnati SIDS support group

A graduate of Bethel Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree

Norbert Weidner - Co-Founder, Sarah House; Medical Director, StarShine Hospice; Medical Director for Daniel's Care-Pediatric Hospice Program of Northern Kentucky; Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Board-certified pediatrician and anesthesiologist.

Member of the Sarah House Medical Advisory Board.

Fellowship in pediatric anesthesia/critical care/regional anesthesia in Melbourne, Australia for one year.

In 1988, Dr. Weidner joined the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's Department of Anesthesia. In addition to his staff duties as an anesthesiologist, Dr. Weidner was an attending staff in the pediatric intensive care unit for approximately two years.

To incorporate the fellowship training he received in Australia, Dr. Weidner began the pain management group at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. He has participated in the pain management group both in the care of acute post-operative pain as well as chronic pain management.

In 2004, Dr. Weidner received board certification with the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Weidner has been affiliated with the hospice service at Cincinnati Children's Hospital since it's inception.

Dr. Weidner is passionate about partnering with families to offer a range of comprehensive, family-centered care to children with chronic, complex or life-threatening conditions. His vision to address the needs of this patient population resulted in the development of the Pediatric Palliative and Comfort Care Team known as (PACT) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Dr. Weidner serves as the director of this consulting service.

Norita Aplin - Retired, Community Volunteer

History Teacher in Skokie, IL; Arlington, VA; and Cleveland, OH

Foster Care work in Fairfax County, VA

School Psychologist in Clermont County and Indian Hill Exempted School

Director of Pupil Services at Indian Hill -developed new programs for hearing and sight impaired
children; learning disabled children; emotionally and behaviorally impaired children; and gifted and
talented children. Also supervised guidance programs and health services and psychological services
with the opportunity to establish goals and improve services.

Director of Curriculum at Indian Hill - led work to design basic skills curriculum; gifted education
curriculum; reviewed and refined English, Social Studies, Math, and Science programs. Developed
first teacher evaluation program for the system.

Principal, then Executive Director at Springer School and Center - developed quality control
systems; teacher evaluation system; doubled enrollment; created endowment; established summer
school for non-Springer students, and more.

Community Service - State Representative to National Council on Education for Gifted and
Talented Students; May Festival Board Trustee; member of Advisory Council to the Dean, College
of Education; member of Advisory Council to Juvenile Court; Trustee at the Children's Home of
Cincinnati: chaired Strategic Planning for Program and Finance and served as vice-president.

B.S. in Education, M.Ed. and Ed.D in Education, University of Cincinnati
Thomas (Tom) A. Brennan - Partner, Graydon, Head & Ritchey, LLP, Attorneys at Law
Business Law and Transactions
Health and Elder Care
Human Resources and Employee Benefits
Manufacturing, Distribution and Technology General corporate lawyer with a major emphasis on conducting negotiations for clients in several different areas of corporate practice. In 2008, received the Ruth W. and Robert I. Westheimer Award for Continuous Leadership by United Way of Greater Cincinnati. In 2001, awarded the New Century Award for "Improving Our Community" by United Way of Greater Cincinnati.
Member, Board of Governors and former Chairman of Greater Cincinnati Foundation; former Chairman, United Way Foundation; former Vice Chairman, United Way J.D., Ohio State University, College of Law, 1966
Barbara (Bobbie) Ford - Chairwoman of the Board, Sarah House; Community Volunteer
Barbara is a lifelong Cincinnatian who has been an active volunteer in the community for all of her adult years. Her academic background is in French Literature, but she has been involved in a wide variety of community Boards and organizations. Professional: Graduate Assistant, University of Cincinnati; French teacher, Lotspeich Elementary School; Associate, Keys & Simpkinson Financial Services. Community Boards and Volunteer Experience: Docent, Cincinnati Art Museum; President, Cincinnati Country Day School Parents' Association; Vestry, Church of the Redeemer; President, Junior League of Cincinnati; Vice-Chair, Greater Cincinnati Bicentennial Commission; President, Sister Cities Association of Greater Cincinnati; Member and Steering Committee, Leadership Cincinnati; Trustee, International Visitors Council; Vice-Chair, Tall Stacks Cincinnati; Trustee, Hyde Park Center for Older Adults; Member of Development Board of Directors, StarShine Hospice of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Spiritual Care and Inpatient Unit Volunteer, Hospice of Cincinnati. B.A., Smith College; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
Kevin Kane - Vice Chairman of the Board, Sarah House; Senior Portfolio Manager, US Bank
23 years of investment and financial industry experience

Previous experience at Wachovia Bank in the Wealth Management Group working with high net worth individuals and families

Equity Specialist on the trading floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange

Manages investment portfolios for high net-worth individuals and families, foundations and endowments.

Provides customized asset allocation strategies and financial planning
Incorporates client's investment objectives and tax situation

Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio Rebecca (Becky) Stringer - RN, CHPN Resource Nurse, Hospice of Southwest Ohio; Parent Advocate

Becky is a Cincinnati native. She graduated from The Christ Hospital School of Nursing in 1978. After 13 years of working with the elderly in long term care, she began a career in hospice nursing. She has been an adminstrator, a regional director, and has opened hospice programs in Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, and Georgia. She is certified as a Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse.

In 2001, Becky's only child, Rachel Sarchet, a junior at Lee University was in a rafting accident. She suffered a brain injury due to a lack of oxygen and was hospitalized for five months at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Rachel was transferred home, and Becky cared for Rachel until her death in February, 2003.

Lisa Weber - Secretary/Treasurer, Sarah House; CPA; Associate Controller, University of Cincinnati Foundation

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Amy Ferguson - Legal Advisor, Sarah House; Partner, Cuni, Ferguson & Levay