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.

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.

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.

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.

Board of Directors

Min An, RN, BSN, ARNP
COO, Kline Galland in Seattle

Anne Anderson, RN, CHPPN
Nurse Coordinator, Palliative Care, Seattle Children’s Hospital in Seattle

David Brunelle, MD, FAAP; Vice President
Providence Hospice of Seattle in Tukwila

Christine Cofer, MD
Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care in University Place

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

Marie Eaton, PhD
Community Champion, Palliative Care Institute, Western Washington University in Bellingham

Sharmon Figenshaw, ARNP, ACHPN
Co-Chair, Washington POLST Task Force; Consultant, Honoring Choice Pacific Northwest/POLST and Serious Illness Program in Winthrop

Laurie Jackson, MDiv, Masters Certificate in Clinical Ethics; Treasurer
CEO, Tri-Cities Chaplaincy in Richland

Stacey Jones, LICSW, ACHP-SW; President
Providence Hospice of Seattle in Tukwila

Pat Justis, MA
Retired - Executive Director of the State Office of Rural Health/ Rural Health Section, Office of Community Health Systems, Washington Department of Health

Kathy Katzenberger, DNP, RN, MN, CHPN; Past President
Manager, Evergreen Hospice & Palliative Care in Kirkland

Ryan Larsen, MHA
CEO, Harbors Home Health & Hospice in Hoquiam

Cheryl Medawattage, RN, BSN, BC: Gerontology, CHPN, ACHE, CPMN; Secretary
Executive Director – Hospice, EvergreenHealth in Kirkland

Heather Rice, RN
Clinical Director, Horizon Hospice in Spokane

Hope Wechkin, MD
Medical Director, EvergreenHealth, Hospice & Palliative Care in Kirkland

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