Working as One for Families

Supporting families through the challenges of a pediatric brain tumor diagnosis is at the heart of everything we do. At the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, we’ve heard your feedback and are proud to strengthen the ways we stand beside you. Our Mission Support team has been enhanced to ensure you have access to the resources and guidance needed at every stage of your child’s journey. Together, we are more than a support system—we are a cavalry dedicated to navigating this path, turning hope into action every step of the way.

The Mission Experience team at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) is a compassionate and multidisciplinary united group of professionals dedicated to providing comprehensive support for families, advancing meaningful research, and driving systemic change in pediatric brain tumor care. United by both personal passion and professional expertise, this dynamic team brings a wide range of lived experiences and specialized skill sets to every family they serve, ensuring no one faces the journey alone.

On the frontlines of the Patient Family Experience, Heather Held, Director of Family Support, ensures that every service remains grounded in empathy, compassion, and the real-life needs of the families we serve.  Heather leads a strong, connected team that brings this mission to life every day through personal engagement and resource navigation.

Jenn Kelley, Family Support Manager, brings over a decade of frontline hospital experience as a certified Child Life Specialist, specializing in psychosocial care and bereavement support—providing strength to families during their most vulnerable moments.

As the Bilingual Family Support Manager, Alex Henderson draws on both his personal journey as a pediatric brain tumor survivor and his training as a social worker to support and advocate for families—particularly those in Spanish-speaking communities—bridging crucial gaps in care and communication.

Rounding out the team is Kristilee Bass, the Family Experience Coordinator, blends her background in social services with strong organizational and volunteer management skills to create thoughtful, inclusive opportunities that make families feel seen, heard, and connected.

In January the PBTF welcomed Scott Kennedy, as the Vice President of Research and Patient Family Stewardship joined the organization in January and brings nearly two decades of leadership in pediatric cancer research and nonprofit collaboration. His leadership is helping to shape national initiatives that move treatments forward and advance meaningful research.

Mike Henry, Director of Advocacy, is driving systemic change in pediatric brain tumor care. He fuels his work with personal experience as a caregiver and a professional background in policy and fundraising, amplifying the voices of families and working to elevate childhood brain cancer as a national priority.

The team’s newest member, Eileen Stark, serves as the heart of PBTF’s clinical education efforts, bringing over 30 years of experience in pediatric oncology. A seasoned nurse, Eileen offers a wealth of medical expertise paired with a nurturing approach that helps families navigate the complexities of a brain tumor diagnosis with confidence and care.

Together, the Mission Experience team is the backbone of PBTF’s commitment to wraparound care—seamlessly blending clinical guidance, emotional support, advocacy, and community connection to bring hope, strength and dignity to every family’s journey.

Individual team bios are available to learn more about the team members supporting the Patient Family Experience.