ABOUT THE ORG
TAUTIRA FOUNDATION
Our mission is to provide custom palliative care with integrated,
on-the-water therapy programs that put patients and caregivers facing cancer
and terminal illness back in the driver’s seat
WHAT WE DO
While we intend to service the broader Bay Area cancer community, and are particularly interested in doing more for patients and caregivers impacted by a terminal prognosis, we realize that this is only the beginning; there is no telling how this endeavor may take shape. We aspire to remain open-minded in how our water-based outings may grow to include all those impacted by chronic illness
Possible charters include:
Free packages for cancer patients & caregivers
(oncology psychotherapy, support groups, integrated wellness like bodywork/acupuncture, EMDR, respite for caregivers, place of solace to create legacy content, end of life support, etc.)
For-profit packages to offset operational costs of the organization
(ash scatterings, living wakes, fundraising events, etc.)
Board Members &
Volunteer Staff
Founder & Executive Director; Board Member (President)
USCG Merchant Mariner (up to 100 tons), Oncology Patient Navigator, Wilderness First Responder & Academic Program Manager at UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences
Aaron Strout
Board Member (Secretary)
Integrated marketing leader with expertise in paid & earned media within healthcare. Held previous executive leadership roles at Fidelity Investments, WCG, and Real Chemistry
Ibis Teasdale (Wells)
Board Member (Assistant Secretary)
Elementary school teacher with a Masters in education and experience with app development as a startup co-owner; passionate about public health and youth advocacy
Sylvia Aranda
Communications & Media Engagement
A decade of PR and communications experience at pharmaceutical ad agencies helping clients tell inspiring stories. Held previous roles at FleishmanHillard and Ogilvy; currently Group Director, Real Chemistry
WaiMay Cheng & Andrew Yeoh
Branding
Over 20 years of experience in design leading rich media projects and creating motion graphics; co-founders of a multi-disciplinary animation and design studio, Bandit
Joey Sbarro
UX Strategy
Senior user experience designer with 10 years as a visual storyteller, with an interest in AI product design; previous Associate Experience Director at Real Chemistry, current Associate Director of UX at Propeller
Ethan Bliss
Web & Graphic Design
Previous Design Director at American Express and Product Design at Meta; VP of Design at Skipify
Agata Sulczyńska
Legal Advisor
Attorney providing legal services to non-profit organizations with environmental needs; principle consultant at Weiss Associates supporting a diverse portfolio of clients with regulatory compliance strategies
Jennie Sarkodie
Post Production (Motion Video)
Over a decade of experience editing and producing video projects from concept to completion; currently accepting freelance projects, former Video Producer at emotion studios
Kaare Iverson
(pronounced "Cory")
Director + Photographer
Freelancer who shoots outdoor adventure, lifestyle and commercial product photography; owner of Kaare Iverson Photography, Canadian-born and - coincidentally - named after a boat
Matthew Psyllos
Director of Photography,
Videography
Freelance cinematographer (click here for reel) with a BFA from Academy of Art University in San Francisco, specializing in promotional content, documentaries and music video
Silva Rolla
Email Marketing
Over a decade of CRM expertise in a multitude of industries, advising small-to-medium sized companies grow their B2B or B2C business through a simplified, effective approach; owner of Silver Anchor Marketing
Rachel Lerman
Advertising & Print Design
Freelance senior art director and hybrid creative with a superpower for simplifying complex information and creating engaging creative for healthcare communications
Alan Olson
Nonprofit Advisor
Founder of Call of the Sea established in 1984, visionary leader behind the construction of the educational tall ship, Matthew Turner; holds over 60 years of maritime experience, winner of the 2018 Leadership Award from Tall Ships America
Paulo Simas
Fundraising Advisor
Branding and business strategy leader with over 25 years of agency experience; a deep understanding of analytics, Managing Partner at Kadiko and active volunteer for Camp Okizu
Clinical Advisory Board
Board Chair & Psycho-Oncologist
Head of Psychology, Clinical Development & Medical Affairs
at Swing Therapeutics, and former Director of Psycho-Oncology at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center; Dr. Shumay's work is inspired by cognitive behavioral (CBT), acceptance and commitment (ACT) and mindfulness approaches to maximize health and wellness, she also has her own private practice, Psychology Flex
Carol Yarbrough, CCA, CPC, CHC
Insurance Billing & Compliance
Business Operations Manager, Telehealth Resource Center at UCSF Medical Center with 15 years of extensive experience overseeing contracting, credentialing, regulatory and billing compliance, revenue cycle management and clinic operations with various coding and billing demands including government audit investigations
Redwing Keyssar, RN
Palliative Care Educator
Redwing is the Director of Education at UCSF's MERI Center and has over 35 years of expertise as a nurse in oncology, critical care, hospice and palliative care, is a midwife to the dying, author/poet and teacher; additionally, Redwing is a national presenter and contributor to the public debate surrounding palliative care and has been leading Poetic Medicine workshops since April 2020, using poetry as a healing modality
Naomi Hoffer, MA, MCHES
Health Education & Survivorship Specialist
As a cancer journey coach specializing in survivorship, Hoffer is a Masters-level Program Manger at UCSF’s Sheri Sobrato Brain Cancer Survivorship Program and spent 16 years in program development and event planning at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Resource Center
David Bullard, PhD
Clinical Psychologist & LMFT
A private practicing psychotherapist in individual, couples and family psychotherapy for over 40 years in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in trauma/PTSD, EMDR and FlashTechnique; Dr. Bullard consults with staff of the Symptom Management Service (which provides outpatient palliative care at the UCSF Cancer Center), and is a UCSF Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences – Volunteer
Kara Bischoff, MD
Palliative Care Physician
As Medical Director of the UCSF Palliative Care Program, Dr. Bischoff is a Harvard Medical School graduate, former UCSF Chief Resident and recognized emerging leader in palliative medicine; Dr. Bischoff is also UCSF's Associate Division Chief for Outpatient Palliative Care, specializing in symptom management and treating patients with a range of serious illnesses, including neurologic diseases and cancer
Bernardo Diaz, MHA
Community Engagement & Notary Public
Currently the Program Development Manager at UCSF's Patient & Family Cancer Support Center, with over a decade of experience in clinical neuro-oncology and as a social work resource coordinator supporting cancer patients and healthcare administration
TBD
Oncologist TBD
[Short Bio]
TBD
Masseuse/Acupuncturist TBD
[Short Bio]
A special thanks to all who have contributed to the idea of Tautira Foundation since it's inception in 2018 - either directly or indirectly - including but certainly not limited to the above individuals who have donated their time, expertise and continue to put in the work to support of our greater mission.
"We are hoping to foster collaboration alongside other institutions, organizations and professionals who resonate personally with our organization’s mission, and want to work with us to fill the gaps in outpatient care in a multitude of ways. Whether you are a retired oncology nurse, hospice organization, body work/mindfulness practitioner - we'd love to connect with you to discuss how our space might be mutually beneficial the future of outpatient, palliative care."
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Healthcare Institutions
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Hospice Organizations
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Cancer Community Nonprofits
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Private Hospitals
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Pharmaceutical Companies (for digital campaigns / sponsorship matching)
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Private, retired healthcare professionals with oncology experience
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Clinical Research Experts (for future podcast)
PARTNERSHIPS
CANCER IS THE SECOND-LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CALIFORNIA, EXCEEDED ONLY BY HEART DISEASE
“Cancer accounts for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths in California. In 2023, it is
estimated that 59,830 Californians will die of cancer”
American Cancer Society, California Department of Public Health, California Cancer Registry. California Cancer Facts & Figures 2017. Alameda, CA: American Cancer Society, Inc., California Division; 2017.
