New CEOs Tapped at Adory, Montgomery, Prince George Hospices

Adoray Home Health & Hospice Announces Interim CEO

Wisconsin-based Adoray Home Health & Hospice has named Mary Aaby as its new interim CEO. She will step into the role this June.

Aaby succeeds Amanda Gustafson, who has held the position for nearly seven years. Aaby previously served as CFO from 1998 to 2017 at the hospice, home health and palliative care organization. She joined Adoray shortly after the nonprofit’s establishment in 1995, and helped to shape its mission and values.

“Mary’s exemplary stewardship, her extensive background with Adoray and her commitment to the Adoray mission make her the ideal choice for this interim appointment,” Eilidh Pederson, Adoray’s board of directors chair, said in a statement. “The board of directors is concurrently engaged in a strategic process to appoint a permanent executive director for the Adoray organization. Until such an appointment is made, Mary will lead the organization to ensure operational sustainability and culture is maintained.”

Adoray provides care to urban and rural communities across six counties in western Wisconsin. The nonprofit is a subsidiary of Western Wisconsin Health and St. Croix Health. The hospice and palliative provider also offers grief support and services to help address patients’ unmet pet needs.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as the Interim CEO and work with the Adoray team that has provided excellent home health, hospice and palliative care in our communities for almost 30 years,” Aaby said.

CEO Takes Helm at Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice

In July, Karen Brubaker Miller will become the new CEO of Maryland-based Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice.

Brubaker Miller is a licensed clinical social worker and brings more than 25 years of experience in the hospice industry. She has served as COO at Virginia-based Good Samaritan Hospice since 2022 after joining the organization as chief strategy officer two years prior to that.

“After a nationwide search, we are delighted to welcome Karen to the Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice family and to our community,” Diane Kuwamura, Esq., board of directors chair, said in a press release. “Her comprehensive hospice executive experience, strategic thinking abilities, strong financial acumen, coupled with a passion for the work and the people who do it, aligns perfectly with our organization’s strategic direction, mission and vision.”

Brubaker Miller has held other c-suite positions at Hospice of the Golden Isles, the Georgia Hospice & Palliative Care Organization and United Hospice, among other organizations.

Brubaker Miller was “instrumental” in the operational development and establishment of a recent de novo of Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice. The new 30,000 square-foot inpatient hospice facility features 16 patient beds and is set to open in October, the organization told Hospice News in an email.

Established in 1981, the hospice provider operates another 14-bed inpatient hospice dubbed Casey House and also operates Palliative Medicine Consultants of Greater Washington. Montgomery Hospice & Prince George’s Hospice other services include grief support and spiritual counseling, veteran services and pediatric hospice care.

“Hospice has been my professional passion for 30 years, and I look forward to bringing my energy and experience to serve this legacy nonprofit hospice organization,” Brubaker Miller said in the press release. “Hospice cares for some of the most vulnerable residents of our community, and I will collaborate with our hospice team and community partners to promote timely access to hospice and ensure expert, compassionate care for all who need us.”

Care Synergy’s New Chief Medical Officer

Care Synergy has appointed Dr. Pradeep Rai as its new chief medical officer.

Rai will lead clinical operations across all of the Colorado-based hospice collaborative’s affiliated organizations. Care Synergy is a group of nonprofit hospice, home health and palliative care providers that launched in 2021. Its affiliates include The Denver Hospice, Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care, Pathways Hospice and the Colorado Visiting Nurses Association (CVNA).

“We are honored to welcome Dr. Rai to the leadership team here at Care Synergy,” Care Synergy President and CEO Tim Bowen said in an announcement. “His leadership experience, commitment to clinical excellence and compassionate care uniquely qualifies him to lead our exceptional team of physicians and nurse practitioners.”

Rai will also oversee medical operations at Care Synergy’s new Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program, anticipated to launch in the fourth quarter of this year. Additionally, he will serve as medical director of The Denver Hospice.

Rai previously served as medical director of organizations such as Denver-based Wound Care, Magnolia Medical Group and Team Select Home Care. He was also the owner of both ProHealth One and Forte Health & Wellness.

Hospice of the Chesapeake Appoints New Executives

Maryland-based Hospice of the Chesapeake has made two recent c-suite moves.

The hospice and palliative care organization has named Monica Escalante as its new chief strategy and information officer. Escalante in August will step into the newly-created position and currently serves as CEO of Coastal Hospice.

“As Maryland’s largest independent not-for-profit hospice organization, we take our role of providing expert, compassionate care to all who need it very seriously,” Hospice of the Chesapeake CEO Rebecca Miller said in a statement. “Monica’s expertise and experience will allow us to further achieve our mission of bringing hope and healing to those experiencing advanced, serious illness.”

Hospice of the Chesapeake has also appointed Brian Berger as its new COO, who previously served as its vice president of care continuum at hospice. Berger is a licensed clinical social worker in hospice and palliative care with more than 20 years of experience across multiple organizations.

Hospice of the Chesapeake’s service region spans four counties along the west coast of Maryland. The nonprofit has provided hospice and supportive care to more than 59,000 patients since its establishment nearly 45 years ago. Last year, the organization cared for upwards of 3,900 hospice patients and roughly 2,200 palliative/supportive care patients.