PALS Leadership Bios

Hanan Abdul-Hameed
Hospital Orientation Coordinator

Hanan Abdul-Hameed provides HUP hospital tours for PALS who have completed PALS training. She has a strong passion for children and maternal wellness. Hanan has served as a doula for many years, and plans to study midwifery in the future. She enjoys learning different languages, hiking, sketching, gardening, and community engagement. 

Kate Elise
Training Coordinator 

Kate Elise (she/her) is a full spectrum doula, Childbirth Educator and Breastfeeding Councilor. She’s been with PALS since March 2018. She also works and volunteers with Nursing Mothers Alliance, and does community doula work and social justice work. She’s the homeschool mom of a precocious kiddo Aliyah Isis. Kate looks forward to supporting more people through their training process to become doulas and support our community. 

Loretta Kane
Prenatal Match Coordinator

NaDea Mak
Administrative Coordinator

NaDea Mak is the Administrative Coordinator for PALS. As part of her role, she oversees the on call calendar, collects PALS documentation, and schedules meetings. NaDea holds a master’s degree in Public Health and is passionate about healthcare disparities. NaDea is a trained doula through DONA International, and enjoys reading and traveling in her spare time. 

Dawn Star Sarahs-Borchelt
Website Coordinator

Dawn Star Sarahs-Borchelt is a professional doula and childbirth educator, certified through Birthing From Within. She has been a member of PALS since 2013, when she moved back to Philly after a decade + outside DC. Raising and homeschooling four kids and another full time job doesn’t allow a lot of time for volunteer births but Dawn Star is happy to be able to contribute to the essential work PALS does by maintaining the website to help people find us.

Kinbrae Sperstad
Membership Coordinator

Kinbrae Sperstad has been a PALS member and doula since spring 2018.  In her role, Kinbrae onboards new PALS members after they complete PALS training. Kinbrae is a Minnesota native but has lived in Philadelphia for five years. She is a preschool teacher in South Philadelphia and training as an infant feeding specialist.