Hospice of the Chesapeake recently announced Chief Advancement Officer Shauna Chabot will serve as director of the John & Cathy Belcher Institute for Complex Illness Care in addition to her current role.
The institute was established through the generosity of John and Cathy Belcher to build on the nonprofit’s vision to become a national leader in the positive and transformational change in the fields of advanced complex illness and end-of-life care. A critical part of that change requires changing the hearts and minds of medical professionals, government officials and the general public.
Since its establishment in 2014, the institute has been the driving force behind the creation of a number of outreach, education and advocacy programs and advancements, including but not limited to:
- Courageous Conversations, community-based discussions around the often difficult and taboo topic of death, illness and grieving, hosted by Hospice of the Chesapeake professionals at libraries, senior centers and senior living centers.
- Frequent continuing education and other training opportunities for medical professionals offered where they work – in hospitals, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
- Regional conferences attended by 100s of professionals and community members.
- Opening the Hussman Palliative Care Center and Lovelace Education and Training Center on the Belcher Campus in Pasadena.
Hospice of the Chesapeake’s President and CEO Ben Marcantonio said the organization is continually expanding the reach of the institute’s mission of educating the community on caring for advanced illness. He sees Chabot’s proven record as chief advancement officer as an asset to her additional role as the institute’s director. “Shauna has considerable community acumen that will serve as the perfect tool to recruit allies in our mission to promote a new model of compassionate and comprehensive care,” he said.
To aid Chabot and the institute in its effort to educate the community, the organization has also named Tammy Turner as Community Education Manager for the Belcher Institute. Community groups interested in education on hospice and palliative care may contact Turner at tturner@hospicechesapeake.org.
For more about the Belcher Institute, contact Chabot at schabot@hospicechesapeake.org.
