Open Letter From Healthcare Workers Supporting Ayman Soliman

As healthcare professionals—doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, chaplains, and other staff—we devote our lives to standing alongside people at their most vulnerable. Every day, we witness pain, fear, hope, and resilience. We know how much it matters to have someone show up with compassion and steady presence.

That is exactly who Imam Ayman Soliman is.

For years, Ayman has served as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, offering spiritual and emotional support to families facing devastating diagnoses, medical crises, and profound loss. He has walked into NICU rooms where parents were holding their child for the last time. He has prayed over incubators, wept alongside mothers, and found words of comfort in Arabic and English for families who might otherwise have felt utterly alone.

Many of us have had the privilege of working alongside him. We have seen firsthand how he meets each family with gentleness and grace, how he respects every faith and tradition, and how he carries the stories of countless patients and parents with reverence.

That is why his detention by ICE is not just alarming—it is heartbreaking.

Ayman came to this country fleeing persecution and torture. He was granted asylum because the United States recognized he needed protection. Here, he found a community to serve and families to support. Here, he became an essential part of our healthcare team.

Now, the same country he trusted to keep him safe has put him behind bars.

We worry for him, for his family, for the patients who still need him, and for the message this sends to every immigrant and refugee who dares to hope for safety and belonging here.

So we raise our voices together:

• To ICE and the Department of Homeland Security: Release Ayman Soliman immediately. Halt deportation efforts and honor the asylum protections previously granted so he can continue the critical work of caring for patients and families.
  
• To our elected officials: Advocate for Ayman. Intervene to protect someone who has devoted himself to serving this community with compassion and integrity. Work to repair an immigration system that too often fails people who have already endured more than enough.
  
• To our colleagues in healthcare and neighbors across Greater Cincinnati  and beyond: Join us. Speak out. Contact your representatives. Stand up for Ayman, and for every person who deserves safety, dignity, and the chance to keep giving back to their community.
  

What makes a community strong is how we care for each other—especially those who are vulnerable or afraid. Ayman has shown us what it looks like to accompany people through their darkest nights. Now it is our turn to stand with him.

We support Imam Ayman Soliman. We call for his immediate release. And we commit ourselves to building a community defined not by fear, but by compassion and justice.

Sincerely,

Dr. Diana Pandey, MD; Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Chaplain Marc Zumhagen; Chaplain

Shelley Goldman, MS, BSN, RN, LICDC-CS, C-IAYT; RN Care Manager

Dr. Jennifer Hester, DNP, APRN; Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

Andrew Allan, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC; Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

Kimberly Jackson; Senior Clinical Research Coordinator

Stefanie Meyer, RN, APRN, GCNS-BC; Palliative Care APRN

Colleen Bass, FNP-BC, ACHPN; Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

Lisa Turner, MSW, ACHP-SW; Palliative Care Social Worker

Amanda Borchik, MDiv, BCC; Researcher

Yisroel Kaufman, MSW, LSW; Chaplain and Executive and Clinical Director

Abby Schymanski, CNP; Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

Lisa Von Bargen, RN, MSN, AGNP-BC, ACHPN; Nurse Practitioner

Hannah Mason; Behavioral Health Specialist

Isaura Diaz, MD; Pediatric Intensivist

Mark D. Kroeger, RN, BSN; Oncology/Hematology

Rev. Dr. Katharine L. Steele; Campus Pastor

Katie Shea, MSW, LISW-S; Social Worker, Inpatient Psychiatry

Rev. Bethany Busby, MDiv, BCC; Hospice Chaplain

Rynita Bohler, MD; Family Medicine/Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Dr. Sara Maples, MD; Palliative Care Physician

Dr. Cameron Price, MD, MPH; Pediatric Palliative Care

Tonya Schneder, BSN, RN, CPN, CCM; Neurobehavioral Care Manager

Jenavieve Schneder; Discharge Coordinator

Dr. Jessika Boles, PhD, CCLS; Child Life Specialist and Developmental Psychologist

Andrea Jaramillo, DO; Palliative Medicine and Hospice Fellow, University of Cincinnati WC

Marlene Feagan, MA, BSN, RN-BC; Health Ministries Coordinator

Rev. Liesebet Gravley; Assistant Chaplain

Rev. Dr. Patricia Anderson Cook; Retired, Chaplain

Dr. Kirsten Koch, MD; Family Medicine Outpatient Doctor

Dr. Hillary Mount, MD, FAAFP; Hospitalist and Family Medicine Professor

Dr. Emily Furnish, MD; Palliative Medicine Physician

Shannon Najdek, MSW, LISW-S; Palliative Care Social Worker

Rev. Zachary Wheat, MDiv, BCC; Pediatric Chaplain

Rev. Christopher Breen, MDiv, MA; Chairperson

Lisa Clark; Palliative Care Support Staff

Katherine McKeown, MSN, FNP-C, CNP, RNC-NIC, WTA; Registered Nurse at Cincinnati Children's and FNP-C at Mobile Wound Care

Shelby Baugh, NP; Nurse Practitioner

Rev. Kathleen M.W. Hatlevig, BCC; Palliative Care Chaplain

Andrea Webster, BSN, RN; Endoscopy Nurse

Allison Ng, MD; Family Physician

Angie Mason, BSN, RN; Hospice Nurse

Dr. Sara Maples, MD; Palliative Care Physician

Rev. Angela R. Meeks, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain

Leann Linam, MD, FAIUM; Pediatric Radiologist

Kristi Vanvranken; Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Rev. Amy Simpson; Clinical Director

Susan Jelinek, MDiv, BCC; Pediatric Chaplain

Ruth Alpers, MAHL, BCC; Chaplain

Dr. Bryan Hambley, MD; Leukemia Physician

Cierra Carr, MPH, RN; ICU Registered Nurse

April Martin; Social Worker

Zeynab Mancini, MS, MDiv; Chaplain and Schwartz Rounds Coordinator

Rev. John Betz; Executive Director

Rev. Rachel Rigdon, MDiv, BCC; Manager, Spiritual Care

Rev. Ian Cullen, MDiv, BCC; Palliative Care Chaplain

Rev. Madison McAleese; Executive Director

Chaplain Katelyn Melcher, MDiv; Chaplain

Rachel Mousie, MSW, LISW-S; Pediatric Oncology Social Worker

Tara Neary, RN; RN Care Manager

Rev. Matthew Dimick, MDiv, MSW, BCC; Behavioral Health Chaplain

Lewis Stoffel, RN; Infusion

Karen Day, MSN, RN-BC; Pediatric Oncology Care Manager

Grace Olson, MDiv; Chaplain Resident

Sydney Sloan, APRN, MSN, CPNP-AC; PICU Nurse Practitioner

Rachel Hendrich, M.Ed, SHRM-CO; Director, Organizational Development

Sandra De Jesus, DMin; Chaplain

Brandi Sauerwein, LPCC; Emergency Department’s Psychiatric Clinical Counselor

Lauren Peters, MSSA, LISW-S; Social Worker

Jenelle Vincent, BSN, RN; Oncology Infusion RN

Richard W. Bauer, BCC, MSW; Chaplain

Madeline Aeschbury, BSN, RN; [Title Missing]

Rev. Claudia L. Dorsch, BCC; Hospital Chaplain and Ethics Chair

James Lavoy, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain and Therapist

Rev. Ben Floyd; Staff Chaplain

Rev. Ellen L. Keyser, MDiv, BCC; Pediatric Chaplain and Ethics Fellow

Rev. Alice Tremaine, MDiv, MSL, BCC; Advance Care Planning Manager

Rev. Mandi Rice, MDiv, BCC; Supervisor of Pastoral Care

Crystal Black, MM, MT-BC; Music Therapist

Rabbi Shirah Kraus; Pediatric Hospital Chaplain

The Rev. Jana Troutman-Miller, MA, BCC; Director of Spiritual Care

Rev. Jenny Anticoli Urbanski, MDiv; Senior Chaplain

Ricki Gilbert, MSW; Behavioral Health Specialist (Crisis Social Worker)

Chaplain Susan L. Buchanan, MDiv, ACPE; Manager of Pastoral Education

Rev. Christina Shu, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain

Rev. Dr. Robert Macauley; Palliative Care Pediatrician and Episcopal Priest

Rev. Dr. Sue Magidson; Chaplain

Rev. Dr. Steven Chewning, DMin, BCC; Hospice Chaplain & Bereavement Coordinator

Anita Fischer, MA, BCC; Chaplain

Ashlyn Miniat, RN, BSN; Pediatric ICU Nurse

Krista Long, LISW-S, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor(TM); Social Worker/Mental Health Therapist

Angela J. Pruett; Certified Phlebotomist

Rev. Alyssa Peterson-DeWitt, MDiv, BCC; Spiritual Health Clinician

Rev. V. Ruth Schulenberg, MDiv, PhD Candidate; Director, Spiritual Care & Clinical Pastoral Education

Rev. Sara Reynolds, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain

Rev. Jennifer Prior, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain Specialist

Rev. Jennifer Shawker, RN; Director of Spiritual Care

Rev. Dana Moulds, MDiv/MACE; Chaplain

Rev. Lindsay Bona, MDiv, MPH, BCC; Vice President, Mission and Spiritual Care

Rev. Debbie Handkins; Chaplain

Dr. Desiree DiBella; Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Pediatrician

Chaplain Mira Abou Elezz; Oncology Chaplain

Sara Prewitt, BSN, RN; Unit Manager

Pamela Dodson, BSN, RN; Nursing Instructor

Rev. Donna Schreiber, MDiv, BCC; Pastor

Denise A. Schwaberow, SCC, CDP, MT; Spiritual Care Coordinator

Priscilla J. Callos, MDiv, BCC (ret.), CT; [Retired Chaplain]

Shelby Johnson, BCC, MDiv; Chaplain

Rev. John E. Nelson, MDiv, BCC; Hospice Chaplain, Retired

Rev. Christine Haider-Winnett, MDiv, BCC; Palliative Care and Inpatient Hospice Chaplain

Amanda Chiapa, PhD; Pediatric Psychologist

Chaplain Beverly Beltramo, DMin, BCC; Director of Spiritual Care (Retired)

Dr. Hannah Sutton-Adams, PhD, BCC; Board-Certified Chaplain

Courtney Webb, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain Manager

Chaplain Katie Mayo Smith, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain

Valerie Goins, MDiv; Hospice Chaplain

Dawn Christiansen; Chaplain

Rev. Ian Cullen, MDiv, BCC; Palliative Care Chaplain

Katrina Fiebig, RN, BSN; Pediatric Psychiatry Nurse

Karen Manter, RN, BSN; Outpatient Psychiatry RN Support

Rev. Andrew Karlson, MDiv, BCC; Hospital Chaplain and Spiritual Care Manager

Annie Wilcher, BSN, RN; Registered Nurse

Kimberly Griggs, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain

Rev. Topher Elderkin, BCC, LSW; Hospital Chaplain

The Rev. C. Brent Hoy-Bianchi; Chaplain

Chaplain Ilisia Kissner, BCC; Chaplain

Rev. James Clarke, MDiv; Community Chaplain

Guy Keplinger, MSN, RN, CHPPN; Nurse Coordinator

The Rev. Frederick K. Neu, BCC; Retired Chaplain

Nikki Hauser, BA, NRP, CPTS; Operations Supervisor/Paramedic

Natalie Lanocha, MD, FAAP        Pediatric Palliative Care Physician

Rev. Nate Schweigert; Hospital Chaplain

Anna Baxter, LPC; Licensed Professional Counselor

Emily Popler, MD; Peds/Adolescent Medicine

Rev. Brent Watson, MDIV, BCC; Chaplain

Keith Quist, BSN, RN, SANE-A/A; ECT Nurse

Rev Dr Emily Viverette, ACPE Certified Educator; Director, Chaplaincy & Education

Brigid Montieth, MEd., MBA, MHSA; Chief Quality and Compliance Officer

Zayna Bakizada, MD; Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellow

Elizabeth Giver, RN, MSN; Pediatric Registered Nurse

Rev. Samantha Nichols, BCC        ; Staff Chaplain (ED/Trauma)

Angela Parkinson, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain

Sarah Friedland, MD; Pediatric Palliative Fellow

Riley Napoleon, CLS; PICU Child Life Specialist

Bess Johnson LISW; Social worker

Rev Elizabeth Jackson-Jordan, MDiv, EdD; ACPE Ceritfied Educator

Sarah Bergstrom; Chaplain

Rev. Clare McElaney, Mdiv; Pediatric On-call Chaplain

Kristin Drouin, LICSW, APHSW-C, FT; Clinical Social Worker

Camille Graham MD FAAP; Pediatrician

Adrienne Fink, MDiv, BCC; Chaplain

Dr. Kylie Mena, MD, FAAP; Neonatology Fellow

Rev. Marsha Sumner, MDiv, BCC        

Denise Smith, RN; Psychiatric Registered Nurse

Brea Lauer, PhD; Pediatric Psychologist

Julie Biroscak MDiv, BCC; Chaplain

Anna Zeisel; Chaplain Intern

These signatures were gathered and reviewed by Rev. Elizabeth Diop, BCC.

July 20, 2025