Patient and Family Advisory Council Members

Get to know the members of the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus! These dedicated volunteers collaborate with hospital staff and administration to influence policies, procedures and activities that will improve the quality of care we provide and the patient experience.

Fred Van Looy

I was born in Zurich, Switzerland and completed my education there. In 1965 I emigrated to the US, sponsored by my uncle who was very close to both of my parents. I worked in the passenger bus industry from 1965 in Lakewood, until 1983, when I guided our company through bankruptcy procedures. My employment continued in the same industry until 1993. Then I became a transportation consultant, a very small bus company owner, which ended in 2004. I became a Real Estate agent and worked in that field until 2007, when my late wife became ill with multiple myeloma. I took care of her needs until 2012 when she died.

My involvement in community affairs started early in my life, both in Switzerland and then the US. I became a Trustee of the Paul Kimball hospital in Lakewood in 1980 and served in that capacity until 2019 when I decided that it was time to make room for a younger representative from the Lakewood area. I am now a member of the Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus Performance Improvement Committee, serve on the Medical Policy Committee and was the driving force to establish the PFAC here in Lakewood. That Committee became a reality almost three years ago. I am very pleased with our progress and believe that PFAC has a very important responsibility in excellent patient care. I am retired and live in an adult community in Jackson. My partner and friend Barbara and I walk and/or exercise daily, like to read and visit with our community members and are active in our church, subject to the current COVID-19 restrictions.

Rachel Halfant

I lived in Brooklyn for my first 39 years then moved to Cranford, New Jersey and lived there for another 30 years or so. As my retirement was close, we moved down to Toms River and have been in this area for the past five years. I was raised in a community of people who truly cared about humanity and I was taught that being active for social justice is an expected and normal part of life. I believe we are here on earth to help each other. In the 60s and 70s I was involved in the Civil Rights and Peace movements. In my mid-20s I decided to go to college at night. I worked full time as a secretary and within a year or so was working full-time and going to school (Brooklyn College) full time at night.

After graduation from undergraduate college I enrolled in Brooklyn College's School Psychologist Advanced Degree Program and doing it this way took me 15 years to complete my all degrees. Long haul, so worth it — I started my New York City Board of Education job at 39 and retired at 66. I am a school psychologist who worked for the New York City Board of Education for almost 30 years. Over the years I developed areas of specialization in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) — I was the TBI Coordinator for Staten Island. I was also the coordinator and evaluator for special Board of Education programs developed for children with Autism ranging in levels of high to lower functioning; lower functioning meaning less language and some behavioral difficulties.

I retired from full-time work about four years ago but continued working for the NYC Board of Education part time for another year or so. I was and remain very passionate about the work I do however in NYC, as in many cities I'm sure, often cost became more pressing an issue than children's needs so it was time for me to go.

After the pandemic is under control I hope to find a part-time job working with parents and children with the above disabilities. When we moved down here I was lost. I was used to working long hours most days. Part of me was enjoying not working 24/7. The first time I felt anything positive was one morning waking at 5 a.m., hearing torrential rainfall and thought ... I'm here in my warm bed instead of being on the Garden State Parkway, which is where I would have been at that hour had I not retired! I decided to volunteer in places that meant something to me. First was the Ocean County Animal Shelter, then Jon Bon Jovi's JBJ Soul Kitchen, joined a gym, started taking classes in Osha Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers (OLLI-RU) and became a Better Health Member.

It was through Better Health that Kelly Deleon and Claire Verruni, the wonderful women who run that program, asked me to consider joining PFAC. Not really understanding what a PFAC was, when I was accepted onto the team I did not think twice about joining — it was to improve the community in which I lived. The volunteers and staff with whom I work in PFAC are kind, supportive, empathetic people with whom I am proud to be associated. They epitomize the values with which I was raised.

John Boyle

My father was a military officer who remained in the service after World War II. He was transferred often, and I spent the first twelve years of my life living in many different places. In 1960 my father retired from the Air Force and we settled in his hometown of Brooklyn, NY. I attended Brooklyn Preparatory High School and Brooklyn College. After I received my degree in history in 1973, I became a salesman eventually owned and operated an independent industrial sales agency. I retired in December of 2020.

I have been married to Joan (also a member of PFAC) for 45 years. We have three grown daughters and two grandchildren. My interests are the Bible and golf. I have a degree in Biblical Counseling and serve as an associate pastor in a church in Toms River, NJ.

I served as the first chairperson of PFAC at MMCSC. Leading a group of people, both volunteers and hospital staff, seeing them come together, and work harmoniously to solve problems has been a true joy to observe.

Joan Boyle

I recently moved to Four Seasons in Lakewood and have been a resident of New Jersey for 42 years. A teacher of the visually impaired and blind for the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for 15 years, I am currently a Supervisor in the Education Unit. I received a master’s degree in Education in 2008. I am also the mother of three daughters, a Special Education Teacher; a nurse who works at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus; and a speech-language pathologist. I am the grandmother of three – one granddaughter, one grandson and one foster granddaughter.

I serve on our church’s worship team at Calvary Chapel Living Water where my husband serves as one of the pastors. I have been a PFAC member for about 2 years. And as a patient who was hospitalized at MMCSC for COVID-19, I experienced the ultimate in care and treatment for which I am very thankful.

I have been a member of PFAC at Southern Campus since its inception. I am a retired Registered Nurse and found PFAC a way to continue to contribute to excellent patient care. I have found this to be a fantastic outlet to apply my experiences both as a patient and as a nurse. My career included years in hospitals, education, and the care of people with Developmental and Intellectual disabilities. I am the mother of 3 men and grandmother to 6. I enjoy reading and knitting for my family.

If you have any questions or know someone who is interested in becoming a PFAC member, please call (732) 886-4600.