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Lisa L. Cover is a mission focused Healthcare Executive serving non-profit healthcare organizations in the United States and abroad. Lisa’s expertise and experience focus on organizational strategy; new business development, both domestic and international; and operations management. After serving more than 20 years in a variety of healthcare leadership roles at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, Lisa started Bridging Borders Consulting to serve the global community.
“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love. Mother Theresa. ”
Mary T. Agoglia Hoeltzel brings a wealth of experience to the HOSTS for HOSPITALS board. Mary serves as the Senior Vice President Tax and Global Chief Accounting Officer of Cigna Corporation. She has served in a variety of senior leadership roles in finance and accounting throughout her career at Cigna, General Electric, Melville Corporation and KPMG. Mary attended Marymount College and Pace University Graduate School of Business. Mary has received numerous awards including winner of the Executive Management Award by Smart CEO Magazine and Most Powerful and Influential Women on Pennsylvania’s National Diversity Council. She was also nominated as CFO of the Year by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
“Hosts for Hospitals is a wonderful organization uniquely positioned to match a family’s housing needs with various lodging options in our communities. The ability to promote access to needed healthcare without financial barriers by connecting local hosts and housing opportunities with a family’s particular needs to is so important.”
Megan is a social work leader in pediatric medical social work holding several leadership roles across Social Work and Patient and Family Services at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia over the last 17 years. Megan first encountered Hosts for Hospitals as she began her career in healthcare social work, supporting families of patients undergoing surgery and transplant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Now Senior Manager of Social Work at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, she leads teams supporting patients under the care of CHOP specialists across inpatient and ambulatory care settings. Megan is passionate about building connections with resources to support patients and families so they may access quality healthcare and understands first-hand the value of local housing resources for families pursuing healthcare at any of our healthcare institutions in the Philadelphia area.
John is a dynamic healthcare leader with diverse experience across the healthcare ecosystem including provider delivery systems, payers and private equity.
“I’ve seen first-hand how challenging it can be to navigate the healthcare system. This is especially true when you’re going through a health crisis or treatment. Hosts for Hospitals offers crucial support to patients and their families. I am honored to be part of an organization doing such important work.”
Diana is an accomplished and strategic communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare field. She’s skilled in everything from media relations and crisis comms to social media and crafting executive messages. She currently serves as the Manager of Corporate Communications at Independence Blue Cross. Before that, Diana handled media relations at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Her diverse skill set and demonstrated success make her a valuable addition to the Hosts for Hospitals Board of Directors. Diana resides in Philadelphia and is a proud graduate of La Salle University. She enjoys volunteering in the community, hiking with her dog Millie, spending time with family and friends, and traveling as often as possible.
“Hosts for Hospitals is an awesome organization providing a valuable service to those families with housing needs while receiving healthcare. The Philadelphia region has best-in-class healthcare and it’s great that those outside the region can benefit as well. I am excited to continue to drive awareness to this great cause.”
Our Staff
We’re here to help you and your family.
Michael Aichenbaum
Executive Director, Board Member
Mike Aichenbaum has a multi-faceted educational and employment background. Prior to 1989 when Mike received a bone marrow transplant as treatment for Leukemia, he had received a law degree from the University of Michigan, lived in Israel and served as President of Colonial Lamplighters, an outdoor yard lighting firm located in Detroit, Michigan; subsequent to his recovery he has been a buyer at Boscov’s Department Stores in Reading, Pennsylvania, received Masters degrees in Jewish Education and Jewish Studies from Gratz College in Philadelphia, PA and served as Educational Director of Congregation Or Shalom in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. He has directed HfH since its founding in 2000.
Barbara Schiff
Patient-Family Placement Specialist
Barbara joined HOSTS for HOSPITALS in July of 2017 and is proud to be working for an organization that makes a meaningful impact in the Greater Philadelphia medical community. Barbara received her bachelors degree at University of Delaware and has worked in a variety of industries, including sports & entertainment, telecommunications and a global testing company. She is a skilled project manager and her ultra-organized attention to detail helps her excel in her role for the organization. Barbara was born and raised in Philadelphia and currently lives in Wayne, PA with her husband and 3 children.
Jeff Weiand
President
Jeff first heard about Hosts for Hospitals ten years ago and knew when the opportunity was right, that he would not only become a host, but serve in any capacity that the organization needed. Jeff became a host in 2018 and joined the Board in 2019. As President of RTD Financial in Center City Philadelphia, Jeff has been passionately providing fiduciary financial planning and investment advice to individuals and families since 1985. A resident of Center City Philadelphia, Jeff enjoys walking to the office whenever possible. He is passionate about sports, working out, skiing, the Jersey shore and frequenting some of the great restaurants/BYOB’s this city has to offer. Jeff’s corporate life and volunteer life are aligned with both having the goal of helping others alleviate stress and so they can focus what really matters – living a healthy and fulfilling life.
Lisa L. Cover, M.H.A., C.H.E.
Secretary
Lisa L. Cover is a mission focused Healthcare Executive serving non-profit healthcare organizations in the United States and abroad. Lisa’s expertise and experience focus on organizational strategy; new business development, both domestic and international; and operations management. After serving more than 20 years in a variety of healthcare leadership roles at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, Lisa started Bridging Borders Consulting to serve the global community.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts with emphases in public health and management from Central Michigan University School of Public Health and a Master of Health Administration from Washington University School of Medicine.
The Cover Family has been hosting patients and their families receiving tertiary and quaternary care at Philadelphia area hospitals since 2010. Lisa is proud to serve on the Hosts for Hospitals Board and looks forward to serving the broader HfH community.
Mary T. Agoglia Hoeltzel
Treasurer
“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love. Mother Theresa. ”
Mary T. Agoglia Hoeltzel brings a wealth of experience to the HOSTS for HOSPITALS board. Mary serves as the Senior Vice President Tax and Global Chief Accounting Officer of Cigna Corporation. She has served in a variety of senior leadership roles in finance and accounting throughout her career at Cigna, General Electric, Melville Corporation and KPMG. Mary attended Marymount College and Pace University Graduate School of Business. Mary has received numerous awards including winner of the Executive Management Award by Smart CEO Magazine and Most Powerful and Influential Women on Pennsylvania’s National Diversity Council. She was also nominated as CFO of the Year by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Megan Bowers
Board Member
“Hosts for Hospitals is a wonderful organization uniquely positioned to match a family’s housing needs with various lodging options in our communities. The ability to promote access to needed healthcare without financial barriers by connecting local hosts and housing opportunities with a family’s particular needs to is so important.”
Megan is a social work leader in pediatric medical social work holding several leadership roles across Social Work and Patient and Family Services at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia over the last 17 years. Megan first encountered Hosts for Hospitals as she began her career in healthcare social work, supporting families of patients undergoing surgery and transplant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Now Senior Manager of Social Work at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, she leads teams supporting patients under the care of CHOP specialists across inpatient and ambulatory care settings. Megan is passionate about building connections with resources to support patients and families so they may access quality healthcare and understands first-hand the value of local housing resources for families pursuing healthcare at any of our healthcare institutions in the Philadelphia area.
John Morris
Board Member
“During my childhood, my mother was ill for extended periods of time. Each time she needed specialty care she would be transferred to a facility that was prohibitively distant. For nearly a year during one episode we were only able to see mom on weekends.
Today, I believe that for a life to be truly full, four dimensions must be nourished: career, health, family and contribution. After moving back to Philadelphia, I was looking for an opportunity to leverage my healthcare career experience to give back to my community. When I learned of Hosts for Hospitals, I thought what a perfect opportunity. I can only imagine what it would have meant for my own family!”
John is a dynamic healthcare leader with diverse experience across the healthcare ecosystem including provider delivery systems, payers and private equity.
John spent his early career leading go-to-market strategy and execution for several organizations targeting healthcare payers across all 50 states. John then pivoted into supporting health systems, academic medical centers, medical schools, and physician groups for much of the past decade. John holds a BA in International Business from Southwestern College and an MBA in Global Business from Thunderbird School of Global Management. When not working John, likes spending time with his three rescue dogs and traveling internationally.
Diana Quattrone
Board Member
“I’ve seen first-hand how challenging it can be to navigate the healthcare system. This is especially true when you’re going through a health crisis or treatment. Hosts for Hospitals offers crucial support to patients and their families. I am honored to be part of an organization doing such important work.”
Diana is an accomplished and strategic communications professional with more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare field. She’s skilled in everything from media relations and crisis comms to social media and crafting executive messages. She currently serves as the Manager of Corporate Communications at Independence Blue Cross. Before that, Diana handled media relations at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Her diverse skill set and demonstrated success make her a valuable addition to the Hosts for Hospitals Board of Directors. Diana resides in Philadelphia and is a proud graduate of La Salle University. She enjoys volunteering in the community, hiking with her dog Millie, spending time with family and friends, and traveling as often as possible.
Drew Hatton
Board Member
“Hosts for Hospitals is an awesome organization providing a valuable service to those families with housing needs while receiving healthcare. The Philadelphia region has best-in-class healthcare and it’s great that those outside the region can benefit as well. I am excited to continue to drive awareness to this great cause.”
Drew is a transformational CFO and Finance leader with over 25 years of diverse experience across a variety of leadership roles in the Fintech, Payments, and Banking / Financial Services industries with large, global Fortune 500 companies, including Bank of America, Amazon, and Barclays and also with private equity-backed firms. He also has international experience, including an assignment in Tokyo, Japan for three years with his family in 2019. He received a BS in Finance from Penn State and an MBA in International Business and Finance from the University of Delaware. Outside of work, Drew enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, traveling (both to Ocean City, NJ and any international trip), playing golf and tennis, and is passionate about all sports, specifically professional and college football.
Laura Kepich
Board Member
Laura joined Hosts for Hospitals in October 2024, bringing extensive experience in senior leadership roles in finance and accounting from her tenure at Elsevier, Ricoh, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Currently serving as the Vice President of Finance for Elsevier’s Global Health Markets division, Laura was drawn to Hosts for Hospitals due to its commitment to addressing housing insecurity as a critical social determinant of health. She firmly believes that individuals should not have to compromise their access to healthcare in Philadelphia due to housing affordability concerns.
A native of the Philadelphia suburbs, Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, with a dual major in Accounting and French. In her leisure time, Laura enjoys traveling with her husband, embracing outdoor activities, and caring for their rescue dogs.
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We celebrate Greater Philadelphia’s medical excellence and cherish our
Healthcare Partners
We celebrate Greater Philadelphia’s medical excellence and cherish our
collaborations with medical providers in helping patients and their families.
Primary Healthcare Facilities Served
We accept Guests associated with patients receiving treatment at any medical facility within the area of Greater Philadelphia, including as far south as Wilmington, Delaware and as far north as Princeton, New Jersey. We accept Guests associated with patients receiving care at all Greater Philadelphia medical facilities, including as far south as Wilmington, Delaware and as far north as Princeton, New Jersey.
Abington Hospital
Bryn Mawr Hospital
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital
Crozier Chester Medical Center
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Canine Partners for Life
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Cooper University Hospital
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Jeannes Hospital
Lankenau Hospital
Magee Rehab
Bryn Mawr Hospital
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital
Crozier Chester Medical Center
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Canine Partners for Life
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Cooper University Hospital
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Jeannes Hospital
Lankenau Hospital
Magee Rehab
Methodist Hospital
Moss Rehab
Paoli Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital
Penn Presbyterian Hospital
Princeton Medical Center
Renfrew Foundation
Rogers Behavioral Health
Shriners Hospital
Temple Medical Center
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Vincera Institute
Wills Eye Hospital
Moss Rehab
Paoli Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital
Penn Presbyterian Hospital
Princeton Medical Center
Renfrew Foundation
Rogers Behavioral Health
Shriners Hospital
Temple Medical Center
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Vincera Institute
Wills Eye Hospital
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From 20 years of experience, we can guide you
Consulting
From 20 years of experience, we can guide you
in creating your own Host-home program
Host-home programs may be created as part of:
- a community group independent of any medical facility or hospital-hospitality facility
- a medical facility, enabling more patients to receive medical care from that facility
- a multi-family hospital-hospitality facility, allowing the facility to lodge patients and families which they otherwise would need to turn away
Among the areas in which we offer training are:
Host Recruitment, Training and Support
Patient-families’ needs vary greatly. We’ll share best practices for creating a Host-home network that offers lodging to meet each patient-family’s specific lodging needs. We’ll help you involve your community in recruiting the many types of Host-homes and Host-families needed. You’ll learn successful techniques to recruit, train and support Host-families in ways that will maximize both the Host and Guest experiences.
Patient-Family Referrals and Ongoing Hospital Relations
A Host-homes program functions best when it works in collaboration with medical departments to involve a minimum of hospital staff time. We have refined best referral practices so patients, in a timely manner, may effectively learn about the option of lodging at a volunteer Host-home.
Guest Placement and Lodging
Training will address Guest eligibility requirements, rules for when patients may be guests, factors to take note of in developing the Guest profile, time-effective procedures for identifying Host-home options for particular patient-families, and more.
Other Areas for Which We Offer Consultation
Obtaining nonprofit status, options for organizational structure, creation and management of board of directors, budgeting and financing, lodging needs assessment; record keeping, marketing, etc.
We welcome discussing with you the best way to set up your own Host-home program, given the dynamics of your community.
As a first step, please call 484-380-2999 or send us a message below.
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We identified a huge need to help patient-families in Greater Philadelphia in 2000
One evening in 1988, Michael Aichenbaum returned home from work utterly and totally fatigued.
Our History
We identified a huge need to help patient-families in Greater Philadelphia in 2000
& we continue our dedication.
A Partnership through Experience
One evening in 1988, Michael Aichenbaum returned home from work utterly and totally fatigued.
He stared for a long time at his two sons, 2-1/2 year-old David and 8 month old Josh.
In resignation and defeat, Michael finally mumbled to his wife Ruth:
“The older one is David… I can’t remember the other one’s name.”
The next day Michael was diagnosed with an advanced case of leukemia – he was 33 years old.
Doctors told the Aichenbaums that two courses of chemotherapy could be given to Michael—
if the disease was not brought into remission, there would be nothing else which could be done for him.
The courses of chemotherapy failed.
Michael was then transferred his hospital in Michigan to Sloan-Kettering Memorial in Manhattan.
Ruth along with Michael’s mother Lil went with Michael to provide support.
By necessity the two boys were with them as well.
Lodging was found at an apartment across the street from the hospital.
Michael was a patient at Sloan-Ketttering from New Year’s Day through mid-June.
The new chemotherapy he received brought the disease into remission,
and thereafter Michael successfully received a bone-marrow transplant, his brother being his donor.
Throughout this period his family lived in the apartment across from the hospital,
at an eventual cost totaling over $45,000 in today’s dollars.
After Michael’s recovery the Aichenbaums moved to Philadelphia. Almost a decade later Michael
learned about the Boston based Hospitality Program, a nonprofit organization which since 1983 has been
providing zero or low-cost lodging for hospital families through a network of volunteer-Host homes.
In 1999 Michael met Nancy Wimmer, who herself in 1988 had traveled out-of-state
to undergo a bone-marrow transplant as treatment for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Nancy’s family had to bear a numbing expense for lodging as well.
When Michael told Nancy that he was thinking of establishing a volunteer-Host home program
to service hospitals in the Greater Philadelphia area, she urged him to do so.
Together, in March 2000 they established HOSTS for HOSPITALS.
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We’ve supplied answers to the most commonly asked questions below. If you have
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve supplied answers to the most commonly asked questions below. If you have
any questions or concerns not covered in this section please call or email.
How does Hosts for Hospitals' service differ from others?
Hosts for Hospitals provides lodging through volunteer-hosts who have a spare bedroom in their homes. This service is available to all potential guests regardless of a patient’s age or illness.
Who are the hosts?
Our hosts are ordinary people in all walks of life. At the same time they are extraordinary in that they are willing to share their home with people in need. The host homes range from apartments to brownstones to single-family homes. Before being accepted into the program, Hosts for Hospitals screens each host and conducts an on-site inspection of the host’s home. Hosts are also trained to be sensitive to guests’ feelings of stress and concern for their loved ones. Hosts know to respect the privacy of their guests and thus will not expect you to socialize with them unless you wish to do so.
What services do the hosts provide?
Your hosts will provide you a comfortable place to sleep, a clean bathroom and a feeling of home. Hosts provide all sheets, towels, blankets and the like, as well as directions to the host home, to your hospital, to grocery stores and public transportation. Hosts, though, are not required to provide meals or transportation–these are the responsibility of the guests. Many hosts, however, are happy to help out in these and other areas, such as by making their kitchen available at least for light meals. Whatever additional services your host wishes to provide will be explained to you when you first communicate with your host by phone or email.
Which hospitals does Hosts for Hospitals provide service to?
We accept guests associated with patients receiving treatment at any medical facility within the area of Greater Philadelphia, including Southern New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware.
Do guests pay for this service?
To help cover the costs of our program, there is a $20/night/per-family service fee. The fee is not a charitable donation.
How do I apply to be a guest?
An application form needs to be filled out. This is usually done through a short phone call to our office–though hospital personnel often have application forms available which may be completed and sent to us. You may also email us for the application. On the application we will ask your specific needs as a guest, so that we may then match you with a host-home that best meets your needs.
What is involved in the screening process?
We require a personal character reference for each guest age 18 and above. This reference person is usually a physician or other health care provider from the guest’s home community. We need to know that the guest is considerate, reliable, responsible and able to manage independently within the host’s home. The rule of thumb is: would I invite this person to stay in my own home? In addition, it is important that all potential guests be free of alcohol or other substance dependency, and, be without threatening mental health problems.
How soon are guests placed once the application/referral process is completed?
Once the referral process is complete, we will immediately review our network of hosts for a host-home where your needs may be best met. Once we confirm that that host-home is available, we will then contact you with the host’s name and contact information. Though we ask that we normally be given a number of days to place a guest at a host home, often the entire process can be completed upon the same day upon which we first receive the referral, assuming that we are able to reach the person providing the personal character reference for the guest.
What happens next after I am given the name and phone number of my host?
Once we notify you of your host, we ask that you contact the host within 24 hours to coordinate arrangements for your stay. At this time you and your host will discuss any house guidelines regarding hours, meals, habits, use of phone, etc. We also ask that you confirm your stay with your host 48 hours before you are expected to arrive at your host’s home. As your host will be expecting you at the agreed upon day and time, we ask that if there is a change in your plans, you alert both your host and our office. Courtesy in this regard is greatly appreciated. Please note that any additional guests who have not gone through the screening process will not be able to stay at the host-home until a reference check is completed for them.
What do I do when I arrive at my host’s home?
When you arrive your host will provide a liability release form which all adult guests must sign. You will also receive a guest brochure, guest survey and return envelope. After you leave, please send us this survey so that we may evaluate our program.
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Introducing via any group forum the opportunity
Outreach Throughout the Community
Community Groups
Introducing via any group forum the opportunity
to become part of our helping patient-families.
Outreach Throughout the Community
About Our Program
Think about how many book clubs, music venues, school programs, community fairs, speakers series, holiday gatherings, organization and neighborhood association meetings which you, your family & friends take part.
Each of these types of venues are wonderful opportunities to let people know how through they may help relieve the stress, anxiety and financial burdens of patient-families traveling to Greater Philadelphia for medical care.
Outreach Spotlight
Each year we have exhibitors space at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. At the October 2019 conference over 40 people signed up, together having affiliations with 22 organizations. One was the Philly Charities which subsequently gave us a $15,000 grant. Five people are becoming Hosts, and “Lunch and Learn” meetings are already scheduled with associates at a number of the companies.
“When I’m hosting I get to be the type of person I want to be.”
– Long-time Ardmore Host Bill Wilkinsky
– Long-time Ardmore Host Bill Wilkinsky
How you may help build an inclusive community
- Arrange with us to present to community groups with which you have a connection.
- Arrange for our information table at community group venues.
- Arrange for information about HOSTS for HOSPITALS to be listed on community group websites.
- Nominate individuals from community groups to our Board of Directors.
No community gathering is too small, for just one new host will make a world of difference to the patient-families whom they Help.
As a first step, please call 484-380-2999 or send us a message below.
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Collaborating so patient-families may know
Medical Partners
Collaborating so patient-families may know
of the option of lodging at a Host-home.
Proactive Patient-Patient-Family Support Program
To save patient-families great expense and needless anxiety about where they will be staying,
we work with medical department staff to make the Host-home lodging option
effectively known to patient-families
as close in time as possible to when a medical trip has been arranged.
Best Referral Practice
When you or your colleagues know of a patient-family that may benefit from being able to stay at a host-home, we recommend that you tell the family these three things:
1) That you know of a program that may have a wonderful lodging option for them.
2) That if they wish, you will have someone from our program contact them.
3) They will be under no obligation to accept lodging if offered.
With the family’s permission you may then call/email us with the contact information for the family.
From experiences over many years, we know that merely giving out our phone number is not effective, as families often are too overwhelmed by the medical situation to give timely attention to their lodging.
Referral Spotlight:
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Fetal Diagnosis & Treatment Team
Over the last three years, social workers Liz Morris, Jessica Hertzog and their associates have referred 114 of their patient-families to HOSTS for HOSPITALS!
The advantages of Host-home lodging:
• We accept families of patients of all ages
• We allow families to make advance reservations
• We do not have a distance requirement,
(e.g., that the patient lives at least 75 miles away)
• We accept families associated with all types of illness,
(e.g., cancer or transplant)
• There are no restrictions on patient-family size or length of stay
• Families will not lose their “spot” at a Host-home if they need to leave
for a few days
• We accept families of patients of all ages
• We allow families to make advance reservations
• We do not have a distance requirement,
(e.g., that the patient lives at least 75 miles away)
• We accept families associated with all types of illness,
(e.g., cancer or transplant)
• There are no restrictions on patient-family size or length of stay
• Families will not lose their “spot” at a Host-home if they need to leave
for a few days
Additional support for hospital staff.
• Printed brochures are available upon your request.
• In-service presentations may be arranged at your convenience
• We are happy to have our information table at any patient-attended functions or conferences
• Our guest-application is available in English, Spanish and Mandarin versions here.
We strive to make interacting with our program as easy as possible,
as we are deeply appreciate of your time and dedication
In making the difference which you do.
