Deborah Sills, Ph.D., a professor in the Religion Department at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks from 1990 to 2006. Sills' work at California Lutheran University focused on the studies of women, religion and issues relating to American popular culture. She taught courses in Jewish studies, women's studies, and religious traditions of the world. She was a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion. Sills lost her long battle against cancer in 2006.

Dr. Lois M. Ramondetta is a board certified gynecologic oncologist now beginning her tenth year at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and specialized in gynecologic oncology at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Lois is the chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Lyndon Baines Johnson General Hospital, Harris County Hospital District and holds a full time Associate Professor position in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She has a BA in Religion and a BS in Biology from Emory University, has completed a Lay Chaplaincy program, and continues to focus her career in resident and fellow training on clinical trials as well as improving spiritual and communication in oncology patient care.

Dr. Ramondetta presently co-chairs the Harris County Hospital District Cancer Committee. She has recently completed a large survey exploring the attitudes of gynecologic oncology physicians towards end-of-life situations and factors influencing these approaches. During her career, she has noticed a wide variety of psychological/spiritual responses to the diagnosis of cancer and end of life situations both from the caregiver's view point and the patient's view point.