About Us

The Washington State Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (WSHPCO) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing serious illnesses through compassionate, accessible end-of-life care.

Our mission is to ensure that everyone receives quality care, whether at home, in a nursing facility, or in any setting they call home. Since 1983, we have taken a leadership role in advocating for hospice as the preferred model of care, collaborating with care providers, legislators, and agencies to improve access and uphold care standards across all environments.

Our Objectives To achieve our mission, WSHPCO focuses on several key objectives:

  • Unite hospice and palliative care providers across Washington State to address shared goals and challenges.
  • Educate and empower our members through the exchange of knowledge and resources.
  • Advocate for the widespread adoption of hospice and palliative care standards across the state.
  • Represent Washington's hospice and palliative care programs in regional and national forums.
  • Influence policies at the state and national levels to improve end-of-life care.
  • Develop guidelines that reflect our commitment to compassionate, quality care.
  • Ensure equitable, non-discriminatory access to hospice and palliative care for all residents.
  • Support research initiatives that enhance hospice and palliative care services and outcomes.

We strive to promote competency among hospice and palliative care professionals and advocate for accessible, appropriate end-of-life care for all. By working closely with healthcare providers, we share knowledge, promote best practices, and influence policies that enhance the quality of life. Our goal is to foster a caring community where everyone feels supported, informed, and valued during life's most challenging times. Governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, WSHPCO is committed to expanding the dialogue around end-of-life care and championing the needs of all Washington residents.

By focusing on these objectives, we continue to strengthen hospice and palliative care throughout Washington State, ensuring a community-centered approach to end-of-life care. While we do not provide direct patient care services, we are dedicated to promoting and maintaining quality, compassionate care for those facing life-threatening illnesses. We achieve this by offering information and referral services to the public and providing professional support to Washington State’s hospice and palliative care programs.

WSHPCO BOARD OFFICERS

David Brunelle, MD, HDMC; President

Hospice Volunteer with Providence at Home with Compassus

Heather Rice, RN; pro tem Vice President

Chief Nursing Officer, Horizon Hospice in Spokane

Min An, RN, BSN, ARNP; Treasurer

COO, Kline Galland in Seattle

Zoe Diaz, MBA; Secretary

COO, Director of Standards & Compliance, Tri-Cities Chaplaincy in Richland

Kathy Katzenberger, DNP, RN, MN, CHPN; Past President

Manager, Evergreen Hospice & Palliative Care in Kirkland

WSHPCO BOARD MEMBERS

Anne Anderson, RN, CHPPN

Nurse Coordinator, Palliative Care, Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle

Christine Cofer, MD


Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care in University Place

Marie Eaton, PhD

Community Champion, Palliative Care Institute, Western Washington University in Bellingham

Sharmon Figenshaw, ARNP

Education Liaison, Washington POLST Task Force; Medical Communication Consultant; Senior Faculty, VitalTalk; Consultant, Known Wishes, LLC

Erica Gaertner, RN

Executive Director, Eden Hospice of Whatcom and Snohomish County

Adie Goldberg, PhD, LICSW


Consultant - Washington State DOH Rural Palliative Care

Laurie Jackson, D Min

CEO, Tri-Cities Chaplaincy in Richland

Paula McPoland, MD

Director - Pediatric Track, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Associate, Program Director - Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, Assistant Professor - Bioethics & Palliative Care Program; Seattle Children's Hospital in Seattle

Cheryl Medawattage, RN, BSN, BC: Gerontology, CHPN, ACHE, CPMN

Executive Director, Eden Hospice of King County

Dawn Meicher, ARNP


Columbia County Health System - Population Health Provider Champion in Dayton

Christine Nidd, CPHQ, PMP, MSW

Manager of Quality and Compliance, Hospice of the Northwest in Mt. Vernon

Hope Wechkin, MD

Medical Director, EvergreenHealth, Hospice & Palliative Care in Kirkland

WSHPCO Leadership

Barb Hansen, MA, RN

Executive Director

Leslie Emerick, MPA

Director of Washington State Public Policy & Outreach

Larlyn Fitzpatrick

Financial Analyst

Meg McCauley

Director of Association Management & IT Manager