Patient speaking with reception staff

Staff and Board

Meet Our Team

Hospicare is staffed by approximately 90 skilled and compassionate individuals. Please feel free to contact us or call us and we will direct you to the person who can help. 

If you are interested in employment opportunities, please visit our Careers page.

Our Leadership Team

Your Care Team

The below are just some of the 70+ clinical and support staff members who help care for patients and their loved ones, raise money, manage billing, keep the gardens beautiful for patients and guests, and more.

Hospicare Board of Directors

The Hospicare Board of Directors oversees the financial, clinical and regular operations of Hospicare & Palliative Care Services. Board members are recruited from the community and generally serve a three-year term.

  • President: Kathy Schlather
    Retired Exec Dir
    Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County

  • Secretary: Eliza Mulhern
    CFCU Community Credit Union

  • Kenneth Clarke
    Sr., Dir. Tompkins County Office Of Human Rights

  • Andreia de Lima
    MD, Cayuga Health

  • Mary Opperman
    Senior Vice President and University Secretary
    Syracuse University

  • Kansas Underwood
    BSN, RN, MSM, CNML, CPC
    Chief Nursing Officer/VP of Operations at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center

  • Rebecca Johnson
  • Vice Presidents: Laurie Mante
    Executive Director, Kendal at Ithaca

  • Jane Powers
    Retired, Project Director
    Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
    Cornell University

  • Jerry Dietz
    Owner, C.S.P. Management

  • Betsy East
    Retired Associate Dean, Cornell University
    College of Engineering

  • Alison Smith
    Director of Development
    Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine

  • David Howe

  • Elyse McMillan

  • Hayden Brainard

Hospicare Foundation Board

The Hospicare Foundation Board owns the Hospicare property at 172 East King Road in the town of Ithaca. The Foundation oversees Hospicare’s long-term investments and capital.

  • Loren Gardner
    Chair, Senior VP
    Tompkins County Trust Co.

  • Bonni Voiland

  • Nina Miller
  • Betsy East
    Vice-Chair

  • Joe Mareane

  • Jerry Dietz

Hospice Foundation of Cortland County

The Cortland Hospice Board works to raise funds and awareness for hospice services in Cortland County. Every winter, the Cortland Hospicare Board organizes and hosts the Light of My Life event, a beautiful public lights display that gives people an opportunity to remember and celebrate those they have lost.

Although a separate entity from Hospicare & Palliative Care Services, the Cortland Hospice Board owns the Cortland office building used by Hospicare’s nurses and social workers and is a steadfast booster of Hospicare’s work with patients and families in Cortland County.

  • Julie Vernum
    President, RN, BS, CDMS, Retired NYS Regional Nurse Manager
    Coventry Health Care Services/GENEX
  • Brenda Teeter
    Secretary, Major Gift Officer
    Cornell University College of Human Ecology

  • Chris Cecconi
    MA, retired Speech Language Pathologist
    Clinical Assistant Professor/Clinical Program Director
    Ithaca College Dept of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

  • Jim Povero

  • Evelyn Sammons
    Retired NYS School Administrator

  • Pam Sullivan
    Payroll Manager, SUNY Cortland
  • Gail Van Patten
    Vice President, Retired 3rd grade teacher and Retiree Representative
    Homer CSD

  • Dianne Higgins
    Treasurer, Retired Vice President & Training Director
    Alliance Bank (now NBT)

  • Larry Hayes
    Retired Marathon CSD Superintendent

  • Merle McKown
    BA, Retired teacher and advisor
  • Kathy Rutan
    Retired Teacher, Athletic Director, Coach

  • Julie Vernum
    President, RN, BS, CDMS, Retired NYS Regional Nurse Manager
    Coventry Health Care Services/GENEX

  • Nancy Wainwright
    Retired Elementary School Secretary
    Marathon CSD