CACCC Appoints Two Co-Executive Directors

Cupertino CA – May 13, 2026 – The Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care (CACCC), an award-winning coalition – the nation’s first coalition devoted to addressing the end-of-life concerns of Chinese Americans, since 2005 – announced after 15 years, founder Sandy Chen Stokes, RN, MSN, has stepped down as executive director on December 31, 2025, Ms. Stokes will continue her volunteer work and focus on program and curriculum development, volunteer, patient and caregiver support. Going forward, Ms. Stokes will serve as CACCC Senior Advisor to the leadership team and board.

Furthermore, CACCC appointed two board members as co-executive directors to its executive leadership team: Alex Tsao, PhD and Cynthia X. Pan, MD, FACP, AGSF, effective January 1, 2026.

In a volunteer capacity, Dr. Tsao and Dr. Pan will lead and support the coalition’s mission and vision to build a community in which Chinese Americans are able to face the end of life with dignity and respect, as well as oversee the coalition’s renowned services and programs through collaborations and partnerships with community-based organizations (CBO) serving the Chinese American community and the healthcare professionals who serve them.

As Co-Executive Director of CACCC, Alex Tsao, PhD will oversee the implementation, fulfillment and impact of community grants and funding received, utilizing CACCC’s core and new programs in collaboration with coalition partner organizations and CBOs. Dr. Tsao is also the lead for the Speaker’s Bureau and Suicide Prevention and is a faculty member for Mindful Self-Care and Poetic Medicine for Grief. Retired, he has worked in the technology industries for more than 30 years. He has been active in community volunteer work as a member of Alzheimer’s Association’s National Board of Directors. He is an advisory board member for the Chinese Health Initiative at El Camino Health in Mountain View and New Hope Chinese Cancer Care Foundation in Milpitas. Dr. Tsao is also a Tzu Chi Foundation He Xin Group (Leadership Board) member in San Jose.

Cynthia X. Pan, MD, FACP, AGSF, is Co-Executive Director of CACCC. Dr. Pan brings expertise in palliative medicine content, grants and development, and operational implementation. Dr. Pan is Chief of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine and Director of Graduate Medical Education at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens (NYPQ), and Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell. She founded NYPQ’s Palliative Care Program and mentors fellows and interdisciplinary teams. Her grants focus on culturally sensitive goals-of-care communication training, Asian cancer patient support, and early palliative care referrals. She has led quality initiatives on NIPPV at end-of-life, feeding tube appropriateness, and Age Friendly Care. A national and international speaker, Dr. Pan advocates for geriatrics and palliative care awareness. She speaks English, Mandarin, and Spanish, and is the author of Exit Strategies: Living Lessons from Dying People.

“I am grateful for Alex and Cynthia’s commitment and leadership,” said CACCC Founder and Senior Advisor Sandy Chen Stokes. “They both bring immense expertise, compassion and a wealth of experience which will serve the coalition well.”

“We are truly honored to be appointed co-executive directors for CACCC,” said Cynthia Pan, MD and Alex Tsao, PhD. “CACCC’s culturally appropriate programs and services, provided at no charge, to the Chinese community and to the healthcare professionals who serve them is invaluable.”

“We are grateful for the generosity of community grantors, foundations, funders, sponsors, individual donors and fundraising events that make it possible for CACCC to fulfill its mission and vision,” added Dr. Tsao.

“I believe that CACCC embodies the Chinese proverb: 活到老，學到老, which means the spirit of lifelong learning. I have learned so much from Sandy, Alex, and the entire CACCC team. I feel blessed to have this courageous learning community, tackling sensitive conversations together, helping one another,” Dr. Pan states.

About CACCC

The Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care (CACCC), an award-winning coalition, is the first coalition devoted to addressing the end-of-life care concerns of the Chinese community and the healthcare professionals who serve them, since 2005. Recognized globally as an educator, an innovator, a leader in end-of-life education, CACCC provides community life programs in Advance Care Planning, hospice and palliative care, mindful self-care, loss and grief, Doctor Talk, Spiritual Talk, Heart to Heart Café Facilitator training, Suicide Prevention, Poetic Medicine for Grief, and Mental Health. For more, visit caccc-usa.org or email info@caccc-usa.org, or call Warmline: (866) 661-5687.

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Media contact:

Jeanne Wun; jeanne@caccc-usa.org; 408-896-7366