Hospice, palliative care and caregiving support organizations across the county have announced changes to their c-suite executive line ups.
Mettle Health Unveils Newly Created Chief Growth Officer Position
Mettle Health has tapped Camille Borgo as its new chief growth officer.
The newly-created position is designed to help strengthen the reach of Mettle Health’s services, which are designed to help families and individuals facing serious and terminal illnesses, according to Borgo.
Borgo is an experienced executive in strategic growth and health care initiatives. She was previously the senior director of network medical affairs and governance at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Health, holding several executive and clinical management roles at its affiliates since joining the health system in 2019. Prior to that, Borgo served as the provider relations manager at Hospice By the Bay, which is now By the Bay Health. She began her career as a youth and family counselor at The Bridge for Youth.
“My role was really developed just to be able to help us get more reach,” Borgo told Hospice News. “We know that there are a lot of caregivers and we know there are a lot of patients who are facing serious illnesses and don’t know that there is this different kind of support that we can offer, which is outside of that health care system. My role is developed to try to help get more partnerships going with other organizations that are like-minded to help us be able to have that deeper reach for people who don’t know that we’re here and available for them.”
Navigating a serious illness can come with significant practical and emotional challenges that need stronger support, Borgo said. Among her responsibilities is to increase awareness about Mettle Health’s supportive services for patients, families, friends and community members affected by a serious or terminal illness.
Mettle Health was established in 2020 by co-founders Dr. BJ Miller and Sonya Dolan. The California-based company provides services nationwide such as advance care planning, bereavement counseling, caregiver counseling and education, assistance with medical decision making, education regarding hospice care, as well as spiritual and emotional care, among others.
Clients pay directly for Mettle Health’s services, which are not covered under Medicare or through private insurance. The company markets itself directly to the consumer, though it does receive referrals. Mettle Health has been building relationships with organizations that provide related services to facilitate mutual referrals, such as advance care planning companies, end-of-life doulas, hospice and palliative care providers and other health care providers and community organizations.
Legacy Hospice’s New CEO
Alabama-based Legacy Hospice has named Elaine Ziegler as its new CEO. Previous top executive Clark Blair has stepped down from the role.
Ziegler was previously a private equity advisor and health care consultant. She has served in president and vice president roles of regional hospice and palliative care divisions at Gentiva, and was also executive director of Odyssey HealthCare prior to its merger with the company. Additionally, Ziegler served as the director of operations at Northeast Georgia Health System’s Cancer Care
“Elaine brings a wealth of experience and a true passion for compassionate care,” the organization stated in a recent social media post. “We are thrilled to have her lead our Legacy teams as we continue our mission to provide high-quality hospice care to patients and their families.”
Legacy Hospice provides services in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
Blair joined the organization roughly 15 years ago. He was CEO of Legacy Hospice for the past six years, also serving in roles such as its COO and director of marketing. He is now pursuing a career break before planning to return to the hospice space, Blair indicated.
“I’ve made the decision to step down and take a short break before continuing my work in hospice as an advisor,” Blair said in a social media post. “I’m proud to have helped lead Legacy through two successful private equity recapitalizations, but what I’m most proud of is our team. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to every member of the Legacy family for allowing me to be part of this journey.”
Islands Hospice Taps New CEO
Patricia Pancner has become the new CEO of Hawaii-based Islands Hospice.
Pancner was previously the regional vice president of operations and senior executive director at Bristol Hospice. Prior to that, she served as the vice president of clinical services at Hosparus Health. Pancner has held similar roles at Kindred at Home, CURO Health Services and SouthernCare Inc.
Founded in 2008, Islands Hospice has cared for more than 10,000 patients and their families across locations in Oahu and Maui. The hospice has more than 200 employees and upwards of 60 volunteers.
The organization provides hospice, bereavement and palliative and concurrent care. Islands Hospice also operates a Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) Supportive Care Program, which offers pain and symptom management, as well as emotional and spiritual support.
Vynca Names New CMO
The health technology and palliative care service provider Vynca has appointed Dr. Jill Schwartz-Chevlin as its new chief medical officer.
Schwartz-Chevlin oversees the company’s clinical strategy and is responsible for guiding the integration of its tech-enabled palliative care services, predictive analytics software and care models. Vynca’s service model is designed to improve outcomes and reduce unnecessary and costly health care utilization.
Schwartz-Chevlin has more than two decades of leadership experience in home-based, value-based care models for medically complex populations. She recently served as chief medical officer for serious illness at WellBe Senior Medical, directing its palliative care strategy and playing an important role in its 40% hospital utilization reduction rate.
Schwartz-Chevlin’s other previous roles include senior medical officer and national palliative care lead at Landmark Health, now part of UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) Optum subsidiary. She also founded a home-based primary and palliative care practice and served as the founding medical director of Greenwood Hospice for more than a decade.
“Access to high-quality palliative care in the community across the country for patients not in hospice care is very limited, despite its proven, positive impact on quality of life and the cost of care,” Vynca CEO Dr. Darren Schulte said in a statement. “Jill’s rare depth across clinical leadership, payer collaboration and operational execution will strengthen Vynca’s ability to deliver earlier, more effective interventions that benefit patients, providers and health plans alike.”
Vynca launched as an advance care planning technology platform and expanded into the palliative care provider space through its 2021 acquisition of California-based Resolution Care. In 2022, the company rebranded as VyncaCare to reflect its broadened scope of clinical services.
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