Workshop #4

Jose R. Martinez-Escudero, MD
Associate Director of Transitional Care
JASA

Dr. Jose R. Martinez-Escudero is the Associate Director of Transitional Care for JASA at Maimonides Hospital. In this role, he and his colleagues help underserved older adults navigate the complexities of the healthcare system in New York City. He is deeply committed to working with patients and empowering them with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to manage their health and thrive within their communities.

Dr. Martinez-Escudero completed his medical training at the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico City, followed by a Master of Science degree focused on research in Parkinson’s disease and the basal nuclei.
Working alongside underserved New Yorkers has profoundly shaped his perspective on patient care. He is excited to share some of these “aha” moments—insights that highlight the essential role social determinants of health play in the lives of all patients—and hopes that his experiences will be valuable to fellow providers across disciplines.

Kristine Hoschler, LMSW
Program Director, Palliative Care Supportive Services
JASA

Kristine Hoschler, LMSW, is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Program Director of JASA’s Palliative Care Supportive Services, an initiative of UJA-Federation of New York. Her role includes direct service provision and supervision within the Long Island Center for Dignity and Support and the EmblemHealth partnership program. Kristine works closely with patients, families, and care teams supporting individuals living with serious, advanced, and life-limiting illness, as well as those coping with grief and loss. She also oversees an interdisciplinary team, including social workers, nursing staff, and interns, ensuring coordinated delivery of palliative care services. Her work centers on advanced care planning, goals of care conversations, psychosocial support for serious illness, caregiver support, and collaborative, team-based care.

Kristine earned her Master of Social Work and SIFI certification from Adelphi University and completed advanced clinical training in inpatient psychiatric care and oncology with individuals living with breast cancer. She brings a compassionate, patient-centered approach grounded in dignity, client autonomy, and interdisciplinary collaboration, helping to ensure care aligns with patients’ values, priorities, and lived experience.

Rruhija (Ruthy) Matai-Sanchez, Esq. 
Staff Attorney, Legal Services for Elder Justice
JASA

Ruthy Matai-Sanchez is a staff attorney with JASA Legal Services for Elder Justice. Ruthy serves as one of JASA’s Legal/Social Work Elder Abuse Program (“LEAP”) attorneys, representing older adults in domestic violence, financial abuse, and exploitation cases in Queens and Brooklyn Family and Supreme Courts. She also represents older adults facing foreclosure in Queens Supreme Court. Ruthy graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 2017, where she served as a Notes Editor on the Brooklyn Law Review. After law school, she worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel at the New York City Law Department.

Karen Schmalbach, MD
Senior Director, Health Services
JASA

Karen Schmalbach is the Senior Director of Health Services at JASA, where she leads programs including Care Transitions, Health Home, Medication Adherence, Chronic Disease Management, Social Determinants of Health, and Palliative Care. An International Medical Graduate, Karen earned her medical degree from Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia, and brings over seven years of clinical experience in hospital and outpatient settings, along with prior experience as a Quality Control Auditor at a health insurance company.