In June 2021, the PFAC selected Jean Hochron as the volunteer PFA co-chair, a position Steve Bokat held for the past five years. Jean serves alongside PFAC staff co-chairs LeighAnn Sidone, Suburban’s vice president of nursing/chief nursing officer, and Kris Hakanson, director of the Office of Patient and Family Experience.
Jean became a patient and family advisor and PFAC member in January 2017. She earned a bachelor’s degree at The Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Jean completed a 40-year career in health policy, with a focus on ensuring access to health care for those with limited resources, including individuals experiencing housing instability. She served for 15 years as the director of the federal government’s Health Care for the Homeless program and, locally, spent seven years as senior administrator for Montgomery County’s Office of Health Care for the Uninsured.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Jean has served on the board of directors of a number of local and national nonprofit organizations. She served as secretary to the board of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless and as board president of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. She is the founding president of North Bethesda Village, which provides support and assistance and fosters social connections for adults ages 55-plus who live in the 20852 ZIP code.
Jean says, “A passion for health care equity and access has always been in my blood.” The child of immigrants, she has led the effort to recruit patient and family advisors who are representative of the diverse community served by Suburban Hospital. “Everyone deserves a voice,” she says.
Jean is an avid swimmer and hiker, and spends one day each week working in the soil, planting and harvesting organic vegetables at Red Wiggler Community Farm, where people with and without developmental disabilities come together to work, learn and grow healthy food.
◄ Previous article (Welcome Jessica Melton)
► Next article (PFAs Staff Suburban Vaccine Call Center)
