Our Team
Meet the People Who Walk Beside You
Caring for a child with complex medical needs can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. Behind every hospital visit, home care plan, and late-night question is a team of people who truly care about your child and your family.
On this page, you’ll meet the doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and social workers who will be by your side. Each of us brings professional expertise, but just as important, we bring compassion, creativity, and the belief that your family’s goals and values come first.

Robert J. Graham, MD
Program Founder & Medical Director
Hi, I’m Dr. Graham. For more than 20 years, I’ve cared for children with complex medical needs and helped families feel confident bringing care into the home. I founded the CAPE and Home Ventilation Programs at Boston Children’s to make sure families don’t feel alone once they leave the ICU.
Fun fact: I love listening to families’ stories—they inspire much of the research I do to improve care for children around the world.
How I can help your family
• Support your child’s transition from the hospital to home
• Ensure your care plan is centered on your family’s goals and needs
• Advocate for better care models that improve quality of life

David Casavant, MD
Pediatric Critical Care Physician
Hi, I’m Dr. Casavant. I’ve worked at Boston Children’s for more than a decade, caring for children in the ICU, CAPE Program, and during medical transport. I started my career as a community pediatrician, so I know how important it is to bridge hospital and home care.
Fun fact: I’m passionate about technology and how it can bring care closer to families through telemedicine.
How I can help your family
• Provide expert ICU and complex care support
• Use telemedicine to improve access and peace of mind at home
• Support families during hospital-to-home transitions

Lauren Perlman, RRT
Respiratory Therapist
Hi, I’m Lauren. I’ve been a respiratory therapist at Boston Children’s since 1983 and part of the CAPE Program since it began. My role is to help families feel confident using respiratory equipment at home.
Fun fact: I love the outdoors and staying active with my family—it helps me stay grounded for the work I do with children and parents.
How I can help your family
• Teach you how to safely use and troubleshoot respiratory equipment
• Share practical tips that make daily care easier
• Offer reassurance and guidance when things feel overwhelming

Julie Shurtleff, RN, CPNP
Nurse Practitioner
Hi, I’m Julie. I’ve cared for children in general pediatrics, intensive care, and complex care. I love working with families to create a plan that works not just for the child, but for the whole household.
Fun fact: I also teach nurse practitioner students at Simmons College—it’s exciting to help prepare the next generation of caregivers.
How I can help your family
• Partner with you to manage your child’s medical and daily needs
• Provide family-centered care planning
• Share practical guidance for navigating technology at home

Kathy Harney, RN, CPNP
Nurse Practitioner
Hi, I’m Kathy. I’ve been caring for children with chronic conditions for many years, starting in stem cell transplant and hematology before joining the CAPE Program. I’m especially passionate about supporting young people with lifelong medical needs.
Fun fact: Teaching is a big part of my life—I also mentor nursing students as an adjunct professor at Simmons College.
How I can help your family
• Support your child’s ongoing complex care needs
• Provide guidance for long-term health and independence
• Advocate for children and young adults with chronic medical disabilities

Yudy F. Muñeton-Castaño, PhD, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker & Researcher
Hi, I’m Yudy. I’m a social worker, psychotherapist, and researcher with more than 15 years of experience helping families of children with rare and complex conditions. My focus is on caregiver well-being and mental health—because your emotional health is just as important as your child’s medical care.
Fun fact: I co-founded Gente del Futuro (The People of the Future) in Colombia, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and families through education and advocacy.”
How I can help your family
• Provide emotional support for caregivers and siblings
• Share coping strategies and connect you to mental health resources
• Help reduce stress through practical and innovative tools like telehealth

Rachel Soroka, LICSW
Clinical Social Worker
Hi, I’m Rachel. For over 10 years, I’ve supported children with medical complexity and their families across many care settings. My approach is strengths-based and trauma-informed, which means I focus on helping families build resilience and feel supported during challenging times.
Fun fact: When I’m not at work, I love reading a good book, playing with my dog, and spending time with family.
How I can help your family
• Support your emotional well-being as a caregiver
• Provide guidance during care transitions and hospital stays
• Advocate for your family’s needs across different systems of care

Jennifer Perez, MD
Pediatric Critical Care Physician
Hi, I’m Dr. Perez. I care for children in the Medical and Surgical ICU and in the CAPE and Home Ventilation Programs. My research focuses on finding better ways to support children with complex medical needs and on preparing care teams to partner with families after the ICU.
Fun fact: Outside of medicine, I love spending time with my young son, DJ, and our goldendoodle, Annie.
How I can help your family
• Care for your child during critical illness and recovery
• Develop care plans that follow your child from the ICU to home
• Advocate for family-centered approaches in both care and policy