Dr. Pearlstein

Medical Director

Dr. Pearlstein, Cedar Haven’s esteemed Clinical Medical Director, is a dedicated healthcare professional known for providing unparalleled direct care to the facility’s residents. As the leader of the healthcare team, Dr. Pearlstein oversees the delivery of high-quality medical services, ensuring that Cedar Haven remains at the forefront of healthcare excellence. His unwavering commitment to the well-being of residents has made a profound impact on the facility’s reputation for compassionate and expert care.

Dr. Pearlstein is the driving force behind Suburban Geriatrics, a team of specialized healthcare professionals with a wealth of experience in skilled nursing care. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Cedar Haven, making regular rounds at the facility and being readily available on-call whenever their expertise is needed. Their presence and dedication ensure that Cedar Haven Healthcare Center provides not only exceptional medical care but also a sense of security and reassurance to residents and their families. Dr. Pearlstein’s leadership and the expertise of the Suburban Geriatrics team are vital components of Cedar Haven’s commitment to delivering the highest standard of care in Lebanon, PA.

Jennifer Thompson, NHA

Executive Director

Jennifer Thompson, NHA, is a highly experienced healthcare professional with a background in Long-Term Care. Armed with a degree from Kutztown University, she boasts over a decade of diverse roles in healthcare, including Social Services Director, Admissions and Marketing Director, and Business Development Specialist. Her Nursing Home Administrator license, obtained in 2018, underscores her commitment to delivering top-tier services that exceed industry standards. Outside of her career, Jennifer, a devoted wife and mother, finds solace in the company of her family and three dogs, indulging in outdoor activities such as gardening, hiking, and boating.

In her capacity as the Executive Director of Cedar Haven Healthcare Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, since 2023, Jennifer Thompson shines as a dynamic and compassionate leader. Her unwavering dedication to patient-centered care radiates through her interactions with residents and staff. Jennifer fosters a nurturing, inclusive atmosphere where everyone in the Cedar Haven community feels cherished and respected, thanks to her exceptional interpersonal skills and empathetic nature. Her commitment to healthcare excellence extends beyond Cedar Haven’s walls, as she actively seeks professional development opportunities, ensuring that the facility remains a frontrunner in long-term care. As a champion of compassion, integrity, and innovation, Jennifer Thompson, NHA, holds a distinguished position in the healthcare industry and stands as a pillar of the Lebanon, PA community.

Theresa Simaska

Chief Operating Officer

Theresa has vast experience and knowledge in a variety of areas including customer service, marketing, sales, client relations, and HR. She plays an active role in building professional relationships and effectively communicating with potential staff and community health partners. She has a demonstrated track record in successful positive outcomes in company growth with her positive attitude and ambitious mindset. She is a catalyst for thinking outside the box and finding ways to help Cedar Haven improve quality of care and satisfaction for our residents and staff every day.

Theresa is a 2005 graduate of Abeka Christian Academy. She has a daughter, Starlette and they both reside in the Lebanon area. They enjoy the beach, vacationing, dining out, shopping, spending time outdoors and several after-school activities. Theresa enjoys volunteering and has a strong passion for helping others. She is a member of LCBC Church. 

Jeffrey Beidler, RN

Director of Nursing

Jeff is a graduate of Reading Area Community College. He worked 16 years at Lebanon Good Samaritan Hospital as a Registered Nurse in the Immediate Care Unit and Visiting Nurses, including the Congestive Heart Failure Team. Jeff has worked over twenty years in Long Term Care. Over many years at Cedar Haven he has held numerous positions including Floor Manager, RNAC, Administrative Supervisor, Assistant Director of Nursing and Director of Nursing.
Jeff is married to his wife, Abbey and has four adult children. He is a Lebanon County Native, is a passionate gardener and long distance runner. He is a Lebanon County Penn State Master Gardener. Jeff enjoys stained and fused glass and making a local favorite, opera fudge. Jeff is committed to Cedar Haven because of his passion about the local community. He considers Cedar Haven’s residents, families, and staff an integral part in making a strong caring facility.

Kimberly Santiago, RN

Director of Quality Assurance

Kimberly is currently serving as the Director of Quality Assurance. She is a graduate of Harrisburg Area Community College, where she received an Associate of Science in Nursing. Employed with Cedar Haven since 2004 and over the course of 12 years, Kimberly expanded her knowledge and experience at Cedar Haven and within the nursing field by working in various departments such as dietary, therapy, therapeutic recreation. Kimberly’s nursing career began as an RN Charge Nurse and Administrative Nursing Supervisor. Her continued involvement and dedication to the lives of the residents at Cedar Haven is evident in her performance and character.

Kimberly is a Brooklyn native who is fluent in her native Spanish language. She is married to Mr. Joey Santiago, and they have two sons, Kaiden and Kruz. She is an active member in her church and enjoys spending her time with friends, family, cruising throughout the Caribbean, and taking part in DIY projects.

Sue Bensing, RN

Assistant Director of Nursing

Susan is currently serving as Assistant Director of Nursing at Cedar Haven. She is a graduate of Harrisburg Area Community College, where she received an Associate Of Science in Nursing degree and a graduate of the Lebanon Vocational Technical School for a Licensed Practical Nurse. Employed with Cedar Haven since 1979 she has been a nurse’s aide, LPN charge nurse, RN charge nurse, nurse shift supervisor, wound team member, and unit manager.

Susan was born and raised and lived all of her life in Lebanon County. She has 2 children, a son and a daughter, and 2 grandchildren. She currently helps her parents who are in their 80’s and maintains her own home with her 2 cats. She enjoys reading, needlework, and time at the beach.

Joyce Sitzai, RN

Director of Infection Control

Joyce Sitzai, Cedar Haven’s Director of Infection Control, is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she received a BSN in nursing.  She brings varied nursing experience to Cedar Haven, including a background in med surg nursing, utilization and quality review, community health, and long-term care.  Joyce has worked in long-term care for the past 22 years.  She has experience working as a supervisor and in administration, where she functioned as the Infection Preventionist for the last 8 years prior to joining the team at Cedar Haven. Additionally, she has received both APIC certification and wound care certification.

Joyce and her husband have worked with hurting people most of their marriage and often ministered to them together.  She enjoys spending time with family and church life, including volunteering and attending small groups.

Crystal Arment, LPN

Director of Care Management

Crystal has been with Cedar Haven since August 2018 and has been an LPN since 2008. Having worked in Admissions for many years, Crystal brings a wealth of knowledge to this department. She lives in Manheim with her husband Brian. Together they have two children and love playing with their dog Bob. She enjoys traveling, spending time at the bay, outings with her family and hanging out with friends. 

Kelly Gehman

Therapy Program Manager

kelly_gehmanKelly Gehman, COTA/L, is the Therapy Program Manager at Cedar Haven Healthcare Center.

She has been a Licensed, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2002 with a degree from Penn State University. Kelly has continued to grow and expand her knowledge with continuing education in areas such as Fall Prevention strategies, Fall Related Brain Injury in older adults, Dementia Staging, Continence Management, Independence and Mobility as it relates to ADLS, CMI and Medicare Changes, and Documentation in Long Term Care

Prior to joining the team at Cedar Haven in 2005 Kelly’s experience included long term care and post-acute rehab at Reading Hospital. Since joining the Cedar Haven Therapy team, she has moved from Staff Therapist, to Assistant Manager, to Program Manager. Kelly has now been the Program Manager for almost 9 years, managing a large and diverse staff, organizing all therapy services, ensuring open lines of communication between therapists/family/staff/physicians, providing therapy education in-services within the facility to residents, families and staff, and serving in the community with admissions as a liaison for Cedar Haven at Health Fairs, Sr. Centers and community events. Kelly also provides supervision of students from Penn State and Central Penn College Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs, and has assisted in data collection for Elizabethtown College Occupational Therapy program research projects.

Kelly is married to her husband Brian. Together they have 2 sons, Hank and Grant. She volunteers as a coach for their sons’ little league baseball teams. She also enjoys bike riding, fishing, sports, shopping, singing and crafts.

Melinda Peiffer

Director of Human Resources

mindyMelinda Peiffer has been employed at Cedar Haven for 17 years as the Director of Human Resources. During her employment at Cedar Haven she has been involved in several in-house committees such as the Safety Committee and Advisory Committee for the Nursing Assistant Trainees.

Melinda graduated from Mansfield University and was a member of the field hockey team. In her spare time she enjoys staying active and spending time with family and friends.

Gary Lehman

Director of Finance

gary_lThe Director of Finance of Cedar Haven Healthcare Center is Gary Lehman who has been overseeing the business operations of the Facility since 1983; having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Lebanon Valley College that same year. He has witnessed and been a part of many changes over these 32 years – not just in the Facility but also in government regulations which affect nursing home reimbursement. When not at work, he may be seen gardening at his home in South Lebanon Township. He enjoys listening to “the oldies”, especially the Beatles, and solving the most challenging Sudoku puzzles. He has been happily married for 31 years to “his better half” Kim, and has 2 lovely daughters, Breyana and Erika who live and work in the Washington D.C. area.

Mary Hullihan

Business Office Manager

Mary Hullihan joined the Cedar Haven Team in June 2018 as Business Office Manager.  She received her Master’s Degree in Community and Economic Leadership in 2012 from Alvernia University and her undergraduate in Business Management from Albright College in 2004.  She has worked in Corporate Finance for the past 20 years and is enjoying the change of pace working with the residents and their families.

Mary lives in Lykens with her husband and two children.  In her free time, she is the Music Director at her church, where she directs 3 choirs.  She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking/baking, summer camping trips and backyard campfires.

Alicia Dugan

Director of Talent Acquisition

Alicia Dugan is a seasoned professional in the field of talent acquisition, serving as the Director of Talent Acquisition at Cedar Haven Healthcare Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. With a career rooted in connecting exceptional individuals with meaningful opportunities, Alicia brings a wealth of expertise and passion to her role. Her commitment to nurturing talent has played a pivotal role in the success and growth of Cedar Haven Healthcare Center. Alicia’s approach to talent acquisition goes beyond qualifications; she seeks individuals who share the center’s dedication to providing top-quality healthcare and compassionate service. Her unwavering dedication to assembling a skilled and compassionate team reflects her belief in the power of people to make a difference in the healthcare industry.

Outside of her professional life, Alicia finds joy in spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors, and participating in community initiatives. As a leader in talent acquisition, she continues to shape the future of Cedar Haven by attracting and retaining the best healthcare professionals in the field, ensuring that the center remains a beacon of excellence in Lebanon, PA, and beyond.

Frank Seidle

Director of Social Services

Frank Seidle, our Director of Social Services, has thirty years of experience working in the human service field as well as a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Penn State University. He has led teams who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness, people experiencing homelessness, guardianship, and seniors.

Frank has developed a keen sense to a person-centered approach when applying compassionate care for some of society’s most vulnerable people. He is committed to ensuring people are living a life that is safe and of their choosing. When he is not at Cedar Haven, you can find Frank reading a good book or at the movies.

Shalani Colon

Director of Therapeutic Recreation

Shalani joined Cedar Haven as the Director of Therapeutic Recreation in December of 2022. She has over 6 years of experience working with older adults in various settings including skilled nursing facility, and adult day care centers. Shalani received her Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Temple University and is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). Shalani is bilingual as well. She is from inner city Reading and has relocated to the Ephrata area.

Outside of Cedar Haven, Shalani enjoys being a realtor, travelling, painting, music, and spending time with her family and friends. She gets a thrill out of implementing new projects and making people smile.

Kathy Carpenter

Director of Central Supply

Kathy Carpenter has worked at Cedar Haven for the past 20 years. Her employment began in the Therapeutic Recreation department, where she worked for 3 years before transferring to the Maintenance Department. After 11 years in Maintenance, Kathy moved to Central Supply, where she has made significant contributions to the success of Cedar Haven.

Kathy has been married for 42 years. She has 3 sons and 6 grandchildren, as well as 2 dogs. Her spare time is spent enjoying the outdoors with her grandchildren. Her family particularly enjoys fishing, kayaking, hiking, and vacationing in the mountains.

Debra Muraira

Director of Health Information

debra_mDebra Muraira has been employed at Cedar Haven for 40+ years because of the loyalty and pride that she has for the facility. She is currently the Director of Health Information. Prior to this position Debra worked in the Medical Records and Central Supply Departments.

She has two sons, Colton who will be entering his last year of law school in August 2015 and Slade who is a Crew Chief with the USAF stationed in South Carolina. Debra also has a grandson, Shawn.

Debra has lived in Lebanon County all of her life and is a member of the Avon United Methodist Church where she has various responsibilities. She enjoys being active and is an avid cyclist.

Derek Hartranft

Director of Buildings and Grounds

Derek Hartranft joined Cedar Haven in January 2019. Derek has over 15 years of experience working in the nursing home field. Derek’s began his career in skilled nursing as a dietary assistant, then went on to being a maintenance assistant and was promoted to maintenance director, the title he has held for the past 7 years. Derek is a hands-on leader who you will see throughout Cedar Haven, assisting his department. In Derek’s spare time, you can find him training/coaching at the gym, as he is also a certified powerlifting coach. Derek enjoys spending time with his family, dogs and enjoys being outdoors or riding his motorcycle.

Theresa Adigwu, NP

Clinic Providers, Mental Health

Dr. Stoltz

Clinic Physicians, Optometry

Provides care at our in-house clinics

Eugene Smolens, DPM

Clinic Physicians, Podiatry

Dr. Smolens received his degree as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his Podiatric Surgical Residency at Oxford Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and has practiced Private Podiatric Medicine with a Podo-Geriatric specialty since 1978. Dr. Smolens is licensed to practice Podiatric Medicine in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Jacob Form, DPM

Clinic Physicians, Podiatry

Dr. Jacob Form received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He received his post-doctoral training at the Tri-county Hospital in Springfield, PA. Dr. Form has help hospital staff membership at the Albert Einstein Medical Center, the Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment, the Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital, and Horsham Clinic. Dr. Form joined Lifecare Podiatry in 2006.

Jahangir Habib, DPM

Clinic Physicians, Podiatry

Dr. Jahangir Habib received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, OH. He is board certified by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners and is an Associate of the American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA). Dr Habib is also a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), the Pennsylvania Podiatric Medical Association (PPMA) and the American Academy of Podiatric Practice Management (AAPPM).