Shelley Henry, RN, CPHRM, CHPN is a hospice nurse with over 20 years in the industry, and a commitment to Preserving the Art of Hospice Nursing. She is a strong advocate for hospice and in particular hospice nurses. Shelley exudes an unwavering dedication in all her endeavors whether it be running her business, advocating for hospice nurses, writing hospice documentation guides, creating innovative products for hospice, or lending a helping hand in any way possible to bolster the hospice community and its clinicians. As president of The Amity Group, a staffing firm exclusively catering to hospice, Shelley is resolute in her mission to Deepen Hospice Agencies’ Capacity to Care. She achieves this by offering flexible solutions that enable agencies to retain their staff while also encouraging experienced hospice nurses to rejoin the industry. Shelley’s unwavering commitment to hospice care has earned her a reputation as a trailblazer in the field. Her expertise is highly sought-after and her contributions to hospice nursing have been recognized as instrumental in shaping the future of hospice care. Shelley remains a driving force in the industry, inspiring others to follow in her footsteps. Shelley consistently imparts her wealth of knowledge and experience with fellow hospice nurses through her weekly “Tips for Hospice Nurses” videos, which she openly shares across various social media platforms.
Patrick Harrison serves as NHPCO’s Senior Director of Regulatory and Compliance. Mr. Harrison has worked in the healthcare field for approximately 14 years with an emphasis on health policy, regulation, and advocacy. His years of expertise in developing and implementing effective policies, strategies, and models has helped optimize healthcare outcomes and financial sustainability for healthcare organizations and the patients they serve. Prior to NHPCO, Mr. Harrison served as a Health Policy Director for Applied Policy, a healthcare policy and reimbursement consulting firm. There, Mr. Harrison oversaw the firm’s health services division for clients who generate billions in annual revenue, and delivered strategic guidance to prepare for, respond to, and resolve regulatory and reimbursement issues for healthcare organizations and national trade associations, including coding, coverage, and payment considerations. Mr. Harrison frequently interfaced with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), and helped clients resolve compliance issues with support through Medicare claims audits and compliance review processes. Prior to Applied Policy, Mr. Harrison previously served as Senior Director of Post-Acute Care with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH), where he provided leadership to drive strategic plans and operations for the association’s hospice and post-acute care members. In addition, Harrison previously worked in a skilled nursing facility in a variety of roles, where he managed many regulatory and legislative initiatives, spearheaded dispute resolution efforts in response to state surveys and successfully reduced and mitigated the severity of major findings, and engaged extensively with residents, families, and community stakeholders to improve care coordination and outcomes. Patrick earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the William S. Richardson School of Law and his baccalaureate degree in anthropology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. In his free time, Harrison enjoys hiking, writing, traveling, and spending time with his wife and family.
With over 10 years of healthcare experience as a Nurse Practitioner, Alicia specializes in acute and chronic wound care, pain management, and palliative care. Holding certifications in Wound Care Certified (WCC), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Registered Nurse (RN), her expertise encompasses palliative care, rehabilitation, advanced wound care, and clinical operations. She is a faculty member for the Home Centered Care Institute and is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and fostering strongteam dynamics, aiming to enhance quality of life through personalized care.
Beth Blankenship, MT-BC is the Hospice Music Therapist Team Lead with Residential Hospice’s Northern Illinois location which serves patients and families in end of life care. As part of the interdisciplinary team, Beth works cohesively with nurses, socialworkers, chaplains and spiritual care counselors, the bereavement team, and the volunteer team. Most recently, Beth has worked with the music therapy team to become an approved National Roster Internship Site with the American Music Therapy Association. With a professional music therapy background of over 14 years, Beth has been fortunate to work with a variety of populations in the music therapy field including: children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, early intervention, and most recently in hospice and end of life care. Beth received her Bachelor of Music Therapy from Illinois State University in 2010. Beth also currently serves as the Clinical Training Chair for the Illinois Association for Music Therapy, provides clinical supervision, and works with music therapy students, interns, and professionals that are completing coursework and internships to become board certified music therapists.
Dr. M. Courtney Hughes is an Associate Professor of Public Health at Northern Illinois Universitywith 23years of research and educational experience. In the past five years, she has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles on serious illness care and family caregiver support and has presented her findings at numerous state and national conferences. She is the 2024 overall winner of the Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success for the 12 Mid-American Conference universities.
Darthula Young, a lifelong Chicago resident, has a rich professional background including executive roles at Lockheed Martin IMS and Maximus Corporation, alongside government positions with the City of Chicago and Cook County. With a BA from Northeastern Illinois University and an MBA from Dominican University, after retiring from her professional career, Ms. Young transitioned to addressing the critical gap in end-of-life planning and care. Recognizing the widespread lack of awareness and preparation, she founded Rooted in Dignity Inc. to educate and assist individuals, families, and loved ones in navigating this challenging phase of life. Offering seminars, consultations, and resources, Rooted In Dignity equips people with essential documents and knowledge necessary for end-of-life planning, care, and asset protection. Ms. Young, certified in end-of-life coaching and doula services by the Conscious Dying Institute, leads a team of experts in various pertinent fields. Their mission is to empower individuals to approach end-of-life matters with dignity, ensuring informed decisions and compassionate support for all involved parties.
Edith M. Moran, LCSW, APHSW-C (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Chicago, IL and is a certified Advanced Palliative and Hospice Social Worker. She currently serves as a Medical Social Worker with Sanctuary Hospice Illinois and has spent the last decade as a social worker, working in end-of-life care and community mental health. Additionally, Edith launched a private psychotherapy practice in July 2023, serving transgender, gender-nonconforming, and queer clients. Through gender- and sexuality-affirming treatment, Edith helps her clients navigate mental health, identity, and sexuality.
Edith holds an MSW from Fordham University (2013) and a BA in Art and Art History from Vanderbilt University (2005). Additionally, Edith is honored to serve on the Diversity Advisory Committee for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the Illinois POLST Committee for the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (IL-HPCO). Edith is professionally passionate about advanced care planning centered in respect and self-determination, the clinical intersection of end-of-life care and advocacy for older LGBTQ folks, breaking down barriers to mental health care for the LGBTQ community at large, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with a focus on organizational and community change.
Ellen Byrne, MPP has extensive healthcare experience and is currently focused on public policy relating to serious illness. She has a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago, Harris School and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Additionally, she completed the University of Chicago, Graduate Program for Health Administration and Policy. Her professional motivation stems from being the caregiver to her husband who was seriously ill with cancer and later died from complication from his treatment. Ellen is the Director of Policy & Government Affairs for the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and serves on that organization’s board, government affairs committee and POLST IL committee (vice-chair). Before returning to graduate school, Ellen worked as a training consultant for healthcare organizations such Pfizer, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and OhioHealth developing and facilitating training programs. She also has a decade of experience as a product representative and manager for Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Company. Ellen’s personal wish is to see all people live as well as possible, on their own terms, for as long as they are able.
Erielle Espina is a clinical Pharmacist for Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services. Prior to working at Optum, Erielle graduated from a Pain Management/Palliative Care PGY-2 residency at UC Davis Health and worked as a pain management pharmacist at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Erielle is a contributing author for ‘Primary Care Pain Management’. A couple of Erielle’s primary focuses include providing expertise in managing patient medications and cost efficiencies.
As the Founder, Expert Nurse Consultant & Compliance Strategist for Home Health & Hospice Care at LLAMBDAAH REGULATORY SOLUTIONS, Inc., Irene Soirassot-Joseph is dedicated to enhancing regulatory compliance and patient care quality. Drawing from experience as a former Joint Commission Nurse Surveyor, Soirassot-Joseph offers innovative solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the home health and hospice sectors. Specializing in supporting CEOs, owners, and leaders committed to excellence, Soirassot Joseph develops custom corrective plans, conducts compliance audits, implements QAPI programs, and provides comprehensive staff training. With a background in Quality Assurance Compliance and Nursing Management, Soirassot-Joseph combines practical expertise with academic credentials, including a Master’s Degree in Nursing Informatics from Wilkes University. Through a commitment to advancing healthcare standards, Soirassot-Joseph aims to inspire and empower Home Health and Hospice Organizations, elevating their compliance and patient care practices to new heights.
Joanna has been a medical social worker since 1995. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, she worked at hospitals in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois before joining Advocate Lutheran General Hospital’s Oncology Unit in 2002. During her more than a decade of service with the Oncology Unit, she developed a strong interest in Palliative Care. In 2015, Joanna joined the growing Lutheran General Hospital/Advocate Medical Group Palliative Medicine Team where she is currently the inpatient and clinic Palliative Medicine Social Worker. Joanna is grateful for her multi-disciplinary team and the privilege of supporting patients and families on their journey with serious life limiting illness.
Julie Roskamp has been a Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse for 30 years. She has practiced across the care continuum in acute care, skilled nursing facilities, home health and hospice. She was the founder and president of Twin City Wound & Ostomy Associates, a private practice in Minneapolis until she joined the Wound Company Provider Group leading the care delivery team across the US. She was recently published in STAT highlighting the growing problem of wounds for hospice patients and in McKnight’s Home Care, urging a change in the payment structure for agencies providing complex wound and ostomy care. She is a current member of the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society and participates on a national level with Wound Ostomy Continence Certification Board for the PGP committee.
Lisa Phillipson, a lifelong resident of the metro-east region, started her leadership journey as a young adult by assuming a managerial role at McDonald’s, proudly graduating from Hamburger University. She furthered her education at SIUE, earning a degree in communication. Her career path led her to work with children with speech disorders in the St. Louis Public Schools, followed by serving as the executive director of Easter Seals Southwestern Illinois. For the past 21 years, she has been the Community and Education Director at Hospice of Southern Illinois. Recently, Lisa has launched her own brand, Positively Speaking with Lisa, where she shares insights learned from her leadership career, including the triumphs, setbacks, and invaluable lessons learned along the way. Authentic leadership entails prioritizing transparency and ethics, fostering open communication for informed decision-making, and welcoming input from your team. It involves self-reflection on how your ideas, perspectives, and past experiences influence your leadership approach. Cultivating confidence, rather than striving for perfection, and embodying authenticity and genuineness, nurtures trust in your interactions with those you value and engage with.
Mia Iliopoulos Krings, MM, MT-BC is the Clinical Supervisor with Greater Chicago Music Therapy, Inc. which serves adults with dementia, neurodiversity and disabilities, various neurological disoarders, and end of life care. There, she facilitates individual and group sessions, supervises team music therapists, practicum students, and interns, helps with new program development, and often presents about music therapy in the community. Mia’s clinical work focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease, in addition to end of life care and other neurologic, vocal, and respiratory functionality. She received her BM and MM in music therapy from Western Illinois University and Colorado State University, respectively. Additionally, Mia serves as President of the Illinois Association for Music Therapy and also on the Executive Boards of the regional and national levels of the American Music Therapy Association. She is a frequent presenter at conferences and surrounding Midwest universities on topics including harmonica protocols, various neurological disorders, hospice music therapy, and becoming a new professional.
Nicolle Grasse is an ordained minister in the UCC denomination with a deep commitment to public service and justice. Throughout her career, she has served as an associate church minister, a hospital chaplain and has been a hospice chaplain with VITAS Healthcare for over 30 years. She has many years of volunteer legislative government experience at the federal, state and local levels in areas of healthcare and justice issues. She is co-chair of VITAS’ biomedical ethics committee and a core member of their Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement committee. Nicolle has added to her area of public service the role of elected trustee with the Village of Arlington Heights to bring a healthcare and human service perspective to the board and also serves on the government affairs committee with ILHPCO. Nicolle is married with a young adult daughter.
Patrice Martin has 21 years of experience working in the hospice field, and 9 years of experience in foster care system, facing multiple circumstances when children and families experience separation and loss. Patrice earned her LCSW in 1999 and has provided counseling and clinical supervision to both interns and Social Workers and Counselors since that time. Patrice Martin is currently the Director of Grief Support at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness, which provides a comprehensive grief support program to both hospice and community families before and after a death in the family.
As a Clinical Manager at Enclara Pharmacia, Pooja is responsible to collaborate with clients to establish clinical program goals, focus on key financial and utilization metrics, clinical data, medication initiatives, and provider and nurse education. She has 20 years of experience as a pharmacist in various fields including 10 years of experience as a clinical pharmacist and clinical pharmacy manager in the hospital setting. Throughout Pooja’s career, she has been continuously involved in the education and training of healthcare professionals and students. Pooja earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Pharmacy. She completed a 1-year post-graduate pharmacy practice residency program and maintains certification as a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS).
Rachael Lange serves as a Certified Child Life Specialist at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care. With over six years as a Child Life Specialist, primarily focused on Hospice and Palliative Care for about five years, Rachael has played a vital role in providing support to patients and families. In February 2022, Rachael became Lightways’ first Child Life Specialist and the program quickly proved to be successful. Initially working directly with pediatric patients and their families, as well as children of adult patients referred to her care, Rachael made an immediate impact. Recently, Rachael transitioned into a new role as a remote/hybrid Child Life Specialist, expanding her ability to reach and assist more children and families. Through innovative approaches and the use of technology, Rachael has successfully extended support to a greater number of families.
Tammy is a pioneer in home-based medical care, founded and led Grace At Home for over 14 years, demonstrating her commitment to innovative healthcare. As Director of New Market Launch at Village Medical at Home, she continued to shape the house calls industry. Tammy’s 24-year career, rooted in her role as a physician assistant, reflects her transition from clinician to strategic leader. In 2020, she was named House Call Clinician of the Year by the American Academy of Home Care Medicine. She serves as a faculty member for Home Cantered Care Institute and as a trusted consultant, enriching healthcare practices.
Tony Pederson is a Certified Music-Thanatologist who has been working with the dying since 1993, and with JourneyCare Hospice in the Chicago area since 2003. He studied Psychology, Philosophy, and Religion, and received his BA from Northeastern Illinois University. In a previous life, he spent 6 years on an Alzheimer’s / dementia care unit as a Certified Nursing Assistant. It was there that he first encountered music at the bedside of those in the terminal phase of their illness. He has been the subject of numerous articles and publications, serves on the board, as well as faculty of Accorda Music-Thanatology Institute, and is the past-President of the Music-Thanatology Association International.
