New Leader for Hospice at Home
The Hospice at Home Board of Directors recently appointed Melinda Graham of South Haven as Chief Executive Officer of Hospice at Home, a Lakeland HealthCare Affiliate. In this role, Graham will oversee hospice, palliative care, advance healthcare planning, and bereavement services (including Lory’s Place) of Hospice at Home. Graham will report to the Hospice at Home Board of Directors and have a dual reporting relationship with Loren B. Hamel, MD, President and CEO of Lakeland HealthCare.
Graham will replace Linda Beushausen, PhD, RN, who will assume the CEO position at a retirement community and assisted living facility in the Chicago suburbs. Beushausen served as CEO of Hospice at Home for nine years. Following Hospice at Home’s integration with Lakeland HealthCare in 2011, she was named to the new position of Vice President of Life Transitions and Advance Healthcare Planning at Lakeland. She has served as Chair of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Michigan and is CEO/Executive Director/President Section Leader of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association.
“With Linda’s leadership, Hospice at Home has served thousands of patients and families throughout southwest Michigan with dedication and compassion,” said Linda Stanley, MD, Chair of the Board of Directors for Hospice at Home. “Our Board is confident that Melinda is the best leader to guide Hospice at Home through many more years of fulfilling this important mission.”
“Linda has played a valuable part in providing our community with resources for end-of-life situations and grief, particularly Lory’s Place, the Merlin and Carolyn Hanson Hospice Center, and the inpatient palliative care program,” said Loren B. Hamel. “Linda will certainly be missed, but we are grateful to have a leader like Melinda ready to take on this role. Melinda’s experience, vision, and passion for hospice and palliative care will allow us to continue to give southwest Michigan residents hope and healing when they need it most.”
A best wishes event will be held on Wednesday, February 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hospice at Home offices on Health Park Lane in Royalton Township. The community is cordially invited.
A member of the Hospice at Home team since 2006, Graham most recently served as Chief Operating Officer, a role in which she was responsible for all aspects of operations, strategic planning, and development. She has nearly 15 years of experience in fund development, strategic planning, marketing, and business development for not-for-profit organizations.
Graham currently serves as section leader of the Development/Public Relations/Marketing Steering Committee of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and serves on the Finance and Education Committees as well. She is also active as a board member for PACE of Southwest Michigan and the Berrien County Cancer Service.
Graham, a Certified Fundraising Executive, earned her undergraduate degree from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids and the Master of Business Administration from Western Michigan University. She is pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership at Western Michigan University.
About Hospice at Home
Hospice at Home, a Lakeland HealthCare affiliate, provides quality care to people adjusting to living with a serious illness, as well as to people facing death, anticipating the death of a loved one, or healing their grief after the death of a loved one. Services are provided to patients and their families regardless of the patients' diagnosis, treatment choices, or ability to pay. Hospice at Home places an emphasis on the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of those who need care and those receiving support services in Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Allegan counties. Extending this care, Lory’s Place, a bereavement and education center that builds hope and strength for every grieving family, is available to anyone in southwest Michigan or northern Indiana.
About Lakeland HealthCare
Lakeland HealthCare is a non-profit, community-owned health system, which includes three hospitals, an outpatient surgery center, a cancer center, rehabilitation centers, long-term care, hospice, home care services, and physician practices. Lakeland has over 4,000 employees who provide clinical and support services at locations throughout southwest Michigan, and partners with more than 400 affiliated physicians and other providers. For more information, visit www.lakelandhealth.org.
