Board of Directors - Hemlock Society of San Diego

Janet Hager, BS in Physical Therapy, President and Treasurer

Janet Hager is a retired physical therapist who spent the majority of her career working in geriatric rehabilitation. She is the daughter and wife of veterinarians, so has been exposed to the compassionate ending that euthanasia can provide. These influences along with experiencing her husband’s (David’s) death from pancreatic cancer after he had obtained, but was unable to utilize California’s End of Life Option Act medications led her to Hemlock.

Faye Girsh, EdD, Founder, Chair, Right-to-Die Film Series

Known as a “star of the right-to-die movement,” Faye has been leading HSSD for over 36 years. She practiced as a clinical and forensic psychologist in San Diego for 18 years, and founded the precursor of the Final Exit Network.

Christie Golemb, Vice-President

In 2021, Christie took her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, to Switzerland for Voluntary Assisted Death. She feels strongly that no one should have to leave California to achieve a peaceful death. Christie is a well-respected REALTOR® in San Diego and for fun she plays on various tennis teams and indulges in her passion for fresh powder by going heli-skiing. Travel is in her blood and she loves exploring new places.

Donald Moore, MD

Donnie Moore is a San Diego-based physician who specializes in Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine. His practice, Eumoria Health, provides medical aid in dying (MAiD), VSED, palliative care, and assistance with end of life planning and decision making. He completed a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Care at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Moore is committed to expanding access and awareness of options that allow everyone to achieve what they consider to be a good death.

Chris Palmer, MPA

Chris Palmer is an end-of-life activist and a trained hospice volunteer. He frequently gives presentations and workshops to community groups on aging, death, and dying issues. He founded and leads an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village and serves on the board of several nonprofits focused on end-of-life issues, including Montgomery Hospice and Prince George’s Hospice, Final Exit Network, Funeral Consumers Alliance, and the Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight. He has written ten books — the latest, to be published by Bloomsbury on October 1 this fall, is Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life. To learn more, visit www.ChrisPalmerOnline.com. Proceeds from all his books fund scholarships for American University (AU) students. Chris Palmer served 14 years on AU’s full-time faculty as Distinguished Film Producer in Residence. He holds advanced degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School (in Public Administration) and University College London (in Marine Engineering). Before becoming involved in end-of-life issues, he spent forty years as a wildlife and conservation filmmaker.

Pamela Harper, RN, MBA

Pamela Harper is a nurse who has worked in hospice, clinical research, teaching, oncology, and home health care. She has a passion for educating herself and others about end-of-life options and how the choices we make can help us achieve a good death. Pamela is engaged in her own life review activities, reflecting back on the big events in her life: marriage, divorce, raising four children, and the newest stage of living alone. Pamela believes that Hemlock Society meetings provide excellent opportunities to learn and socialize with a diverse and engaging group of people.