Medical Staff
Hospice care is specialized medical care for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease runs its normal course. Palliative care includes hospice care and extends the specialized expertise to patients with severe illnesses and a longer prognosis.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) formally recognized the physician subspecialty of Hospice & Palliative Medicine in 2006 with specialty fellowship training programs accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) beginning in 2008. The subspecialty grew from the clinical experience and research by physicians working first in hospices, then hospitals, and now in ambulatory outpatient and home settings. A physician subspecialist in hospice and palliative medicine in the United States must first complete four years of college, four years of medical school, 3-5 years of residency training in one of nine specialties (internal medicine, family medicine, surgery, physical medicine & rehabilitation, pediatrics, psychiatry, neurology, anesthesiology, obstetrics & gynecology, or radiology), then subspecialty training in hospice & palliative medicine.
The Elizabeth Hospice medical staff is comprised of dedicated subspecialist physicians in collaboration with nurse practitioners who have completed their course of subspecialty study, practice, and certification.
The Elizabeth Hospice cares for patients in San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County. In addition to adult hospice care, we offer pediatric hospice and palliative care, perinatal care and adult palliative care. Each has a team physician and nurse practitioner who work collaboratively with the nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors – and volunteers who care for our patients.
Medical Staff Members
Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD
Medical Director
Dr. von Gunten trained in medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, followed by residency training in internal medicine and subspecialty training in Hematology/Oncology at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago. He has served as a hospice medical director for over 30 years. He spearheaded the efforts to officially recognize the new subspecialty of hospice & palliative medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialties, and the subspecialty training curriculum for fellows by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. He was Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Palliative Medicine from 2001-2023. In 2015, he was named a ‘top doctor’ by Newsweek Health. He co-edited the Textbook of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, now in its 3rd edition. He joined The Elizabeth Hospice in 2023 as its Chief Medical Officer. He holds the academic rank of Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego Medical School.
Laurence Boggeln, MD
Associate Medical Director
Dr. Boggeln trained in medicine at St. Louis University School of Medicine, followed by residency training in family medicine at the Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. He is board-certified in Family Medicine and the new subspecialty of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He has practiced in the Temecula area for more than 35 years. Dr. Boggeln has extensive experience as a hospice medical director and as a consultant in palliative medicine in both the hospital and home settings. He has spoken widely on hospice and palliative care topics and has been faculty for medical students and family medicine residents for many years. He holds the academic rank of clinical assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the Western University School of Medicine. He served as Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Board of Governors of Temecula Valley Hospital.
Frank D. Ferris, MD
Medical Director, Education
Dr. Ferris trained in medicine at McMaster University in Canada, followed by residency training in internal medicine and radiation oncology at the Wellesley Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. He then pursued specialty training in hospice and palliative medicine. He has extensive experience as a hospice medical director over the past 30 years. He received a Golden Jubilee Award from Queen Elizabeth II, received both Canadian and American National Leadership Awards, and has been involved in multiple projects, including the Education for Physicians in End of Life Care (EPEC) project based at the American Medical Association, and Leadership Development for the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is a cherished mentor of physicians around the world. He has published and spoken widely on clinical care, education, and program implementation. He holds the academic title of Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSD.
Shannon Bagnasco, NP
Nurse Practitioner Bagnasco trained in nursing at San Diego State University, followed by a master’s degree in nursing from the California State University San Marcos and certification as a family nurse practitioner from California State University Dominguez Hills. She has extensive experience in hospital, outpatient and home settings in both hospice and palliative care.
Kimberly Bower, MD
Nurse Practitioner Bagnasco trained in nursing at San Diego State University, followed by a master’s degree in nursing from the California State University San Marcos and certification as a family nurse practitioner from California State University Dominguez Hills. She has extensive experience in hospital, outpatient and home settings in both hospice and palliative care.
Daniel Given, MD
Dr. Given is a geriatric medicine specialist, he trained at Northeast Ohio Medical University and completed residency training at Scripps Green Hospital in San Diego. He has extensive experience in outpatient, home, nursing home and hospice settings.
Dannie Julio, NP
Nurse Practitioner Julio received her nursing training at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, followed by specialty training as a family nurse practitioner at Azusa Pacific University in San Diego. She has extensive experience in neonatal and pediatric care and currently works with the pediatric team.
Lutetia Li, MD
Dr. Li is originally from Shanghai, China, she received her baccalaureate training from the University of California, Berkeley. She received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University and completed her residency in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. While completing her Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship at UCSD, she found a passion for hospice care and is excited to join The Elizabeth Hospice!
Matt Mason, MD
Dr. Mason completed his medical school training at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA before moving to San Diego for residency. He completed a four year Emergency Medicine residency at UCSD, then a one-year Hospice and Palliative Care fellowship at UCSD & Scripps. His clinical interests include safe and effective pain control in patients with advanced illness and combining the efficient can-do attitude of the ER with the kind and holistic care philosophy of palliative care.
Aric Mayer, NP
Nurse Practitioner Mayer received his nurse practitioner training at Columbia University in New York City. He subsequently worked in clinical research at the NIH and then in specialist pain management before moving into serving medically complex patients at home, including the provision of hospice and palliative medicine.
Silvia del Riego, MD
Dr. del Riego received her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Medical School. She completed a family medicine residency in Bakersfield, California, with subsequent fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at the Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care. She has subsequently practiced primary care and hospice & palliative medicine in the San Diego region.
Alana Lucas, NP
Nurse Practitioner Lucas received her undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees from San Diego State University. She is an Adult-Geriatric Nurse Practitioner board-certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and a Clinical Nurse Specialist. Alana has experience working in the ICU, vascular care and recovery rooms.
Kristyn Pellecchia, PMHNP
Kristyn Pellecchia is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specializing in hospice and palliative care. Guided by a deep commitment to supporting patients and families, she helps individuals embrace the best possible quality of life—regardless of diagnosis or prognosis.
As a valued member of our palliative care team, Kristyn provides compassionate and innovative mental health support tailored to each person’s unique needs. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from California State University, Long Beach, completed the San Diego Hospice and Institute for Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program, and holds a Palliative Psychiatry ASKP3 Ketamine Certification.