Our Team

Lisa Simms Booth joined Smith Center for Healing and the Arts following a nearly thirty year career in media, politics, community organizing, and advocacy. Lisa has always had a servant’s heart and has aspired to do work that improves the lives of others or empowers them to advocate for positive change. She has previously worked at FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute, Biden Cancer Initiative, LISTEN, Inc., The Alliance for Justice, Time Dollar Institute, Children’s Defense Fund, Democratic National Committee and the National Rainbow Coalition. As Executive Director, Lisa is responsible for strategic oversight, fund development, administrative and financial management, and community building. In addition to her work at Smith Center, Lisa is a member of the Professional Oncology Navigation Task Force (PONT), the American Cancer Society’s Leadership in Oncology Navigation (ACS LIONTM) Advisory Council and Cancer Support Community’s Cancer Policy Institute Advisory Board. She also serves on the Boards of Commonweal, the Microbiome Alliance for Disease Prevention and the National Organization of Arts in Health.

Ms. Clermont has served as Deputy Director since 2006. In 2017, Michelle also served as Acting Executive Director during Founding Executive Director, Shanti Norris’s retirement. Besides being a senior member of the organization’s leadership team, Michelle oversees operations and finance for Smith Center, manages human resources and all legal/business activities and is also a member of the development/grant team.

Michelle has worked in the integrative health and nonprofit industry for over three decades and has broad experience in all aspects of nonprofit management including strategic planning; senior leadership, vision and strategy; financial management and sustainability; staff development and team building; grant management, and board communication. Prior to Smith Center, she managed a local international nonprofit that works to integrate healthcare by educating healthcare providers in mind-body medicine, integrative cancer care, and nutrition. Prior to her nonprofit work, she helped to integrate, manage, and grow two DC metro area healthcare clinics after starting her career in the mental health field.

Michelle graduated from George Washington University with a BA in International Affairs with a Latin American Studies concentration, a secondary field of Psychology, and a minor in Spanish. She grew up in a family of ten children, seven of whom were adopted internationally, and her family hosted over thirty international medical foster children during their care in the US. Michelle studied ballet for over thirty-eight years, has extensive experience with yogic philosophy, energy medicine, nutrition, crystal healing, living a holistic lifestyle and is passionate about creating great-tasting, healthy, allergen-free, vegan foods. She is also an 18-year cancer survivor and has successfully lived with a chronic connective tissue disorder since childhood. Michelle and her husband Dan live in Northern Virginia with their son Jamie.

Julia Rowland, PhD, FAPOS, FASCO, is a developmental/clinical psychologist, long-time clinician, teacher and broadly published researcher in the area of psychosocial aspects of pediatric and adult cancer. She trained in psycho-oncology and was on staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for 6 years. While there, she co-edited with Dr. Jimmie Holland the groundbreaking Handbook of Psychooncology . Upon moving to Washington, DC, in 1990, she became Director of the first Psycho-Oncology Program at Georgetown University and the Lombardi Cancer Center. In 1999 she was recruited by the National Cancer Institute to become the first full-time Director of the new Office of Cancer Survivorship where she spent 17 years championing research examining and clinical care addressing the growing population of cancer survivors. Since October 2017, Julia has served as Smith Center’s Senior Strategic Advisor pursuing her passion to bring the science of whole person care for cancer survivors and their caregivers to the community.

Erin Price, MSW, LICSW, OSW-C was driven to help others facing cancer shortly after her own breast cancer diagnosis when she was 27. Since then, she has become a leader in the DC cancer community, with a special interest in advocating for and providing support to young adults diagnosed with cancer. She believes in the power of community and strives to help those faced with cancer connect to other survivors so that no one has to go through it alone. Erin’s work at Smith Center began in 2012 and currently includes running the DC Young Adult Cancer Community programming, and providing group and individual support to cancer survivors, serving as an Integrative Patient Navigator, and managing Smith Center’s Integrative Patient Navigation Training. Erin also has a background in non-profit development, fundraising, and marketing. She provides support and resources to young women diagnosed with breast cancer across the country through volunteer work with the Young Survival Coalition. Erin is a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Project LEAD scientific research advocacy training, an experienced Grant Reviewer for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, and a member of the Georgetown Breast Cancer Advocates.

Kiersten has served as the Cancer Support Program Director for Smith Center since 2014. Before coming to Smith Center, she had the privilege to serve individuals and families living with cancer at Wellness House of Annapolis. Kiersten aims to offer programs to reduce stress and help participants to see the world we live in from different perspectives. She thoroughly enjoys facilitating yoga, visual arts, and writing programs at Smith Center and encourages gentle movement and creativity in the healing process. Kiersten is a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance and also has her YCAT (Yoga Therapy in Cancer and Chronic Illness) Professional Certification through the Integral Yoga Academy. She has completed Patient Navigation training through Smith Center’s Institute for Integrative Oncology Navigation and has also completed the Commonweal Healing Circles: Advanced Cancer Support Training. Kiersten is also certified in CLIMB® (Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery) a program that aims to build upon the strengths of children and increase his/her ability to cope with stress associated with a parent’s illness; Compassion Cultivation Training – CCT™ an 8-week program developed at Stanford University, with insights and techniques from psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative practice; Mind Over Matter a 5-session program that uses evidence based strategies to help decrease feelings of anxiety and depression and increase a sense of well-being, and she is also a certified herbalist and holds her Reiki Level One certification. She believes in a holistic approach to healing, human relationships and is grateful for each and every day. In her spare time, you may find Kiersten laughing with friends, cycling, taking art classes, practicing yoga and spending time with her husband Shane, son Liam, dogs Pablo and Beans, and turtle Chip.

Peg Hacskaylo is the Grants Manager and Writer at Smith Center. She is a Social Work professional with more than 30 years of experience providing services in nonprofit innovation, fundraising, program development, and community organizing. Previously, Ms. Hacskaylo was the Founder/CEO of Safe Housing Alliance (formerly the National Alliance for Safe Housing), and its parent organization, DASH (the District Alliance for Safe Housing), where she oversaw multiple innovative programs providing safe housing options for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their families. She also served as a Grant Program Specialist at the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, and as Program Director of the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed a certificate in Organizational Development from Georgetown University, where she also completed advanced studies in Business Administration.

Laura has been the Office Manager at the Smith Center for over 5 years. With a Bachelor’s in Business and Accounting from University of Maryland, she has over 20 years of versatile management and administrative experience with a focus on finance. After 8 years with Metro as Payroll and Office Manager, she wanted to do more to Support and work in an environment that helped the community in a more direct capacity. She believes in the concept of true community service as an integral part of her daily life. Her time at the Smith Center has been life altering as she watches and experiences the Life affirming work done each day to support our mission and the many that pass through our doors. She is veteran that gives back by volunteering with the USO, the Girl and Boy Scouts. She enjoys the simplicity of vacationing in the mountains with family, communing with nature, reading, writing and fishing.

Olivia Gonyea has been active in the cancer community for over 15 years as a childhood cancer survivor. She is also the founder of her own nonprofit organization that she created to support young people affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses at home in Buffalo, New York. Olivia never forgot the way that arts and creativity supported her during her experience with cancer and this inspired her to become involved with Smith Center. Olivia received a degree in Public Health and International Studies from American University in DC and came on as a full-time staff in July 2022. Outside of work, Olivia loves to listen to live music, travel, and spend time in nature.

Olga Juarez Martinez is a development professional who believes in the healing power of creativity, community, and compassionate care. Having lost loved ones to cancer, she brings a personal understanding of how essential supportive, hope-filled spaces are for those facing illness.

With over 5 years of experience in fundraising, donor stewardship, and development operations, Olga approaches her work with heart, equity, and authenticity. She is especially passionate about fostering meaningful connections with donors, partners, and communities, ensuring they feel seen, valued, and part of something purposeful. 

In her spare time, she loves spending time with her dogs, exploring the hidden corners of Washington, DC, and cooking for the people she loves.