Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association

Executive Committee

FHPCA is proud of our dedicated and outstanding Executive Committee, we feel honored to have such a talented group of people leading our organization.

2023 Officers and Committee Chairs:

Chair
Peggy Pettit, Executive Vice President
VITAS Healthcare

Peggy Pettit has been with VITAS Healthcare since 1983, having started as a field nurse (RN) in the Broward program. Over the years, Peggy served in numerous operational roles, as well as VP of Patient and Family Services, Compliance Officer, and, from 2002-2011, Chief Operating Officer. Currently an EVP, Peggy reports to the CEO and represents the company with academic partners, community organizations and Boards.
Chair 2023    Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association
Chair 2023    California Hospice & Palliative Care Association

Previous Board roles:
CHAP Community Health Accreditation Partners
Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life
Fuqua School of Business HSAC
National Black Nurses Assoc. Roundtable (also lifetime member)
National Alliance for Grieving Children
Florida Council on Aging (Trustee)
Treasure Coast Food Bank
FAU College of Nursing Board

Peggy has been certified as a trainer for ELNEC and EPEC.

Vice Chair of External Affairs 
Pauline Taylor, President
Haven Hospice

Pauline Taylor RN, MHA is President of Haven Hospice after serving as Executive Director and Administrator at AdventHealth Hospice Care Central Florida (formerly Hospice of the Comforter). She holds a Master’s degree in Health Administration and is a Registered Nurse. She has worked in the hospice field since 1998 and has held positions in nursing, sales, and business development and operational leadership.

Pauline maintains Advanced Certified Hospice Executive certification administered by the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH). The accreditation demonstrates advanced competencies for strategic positioning, financial management, and legal compliance issues.

In 2014, while serving as VP of Business Development at Hospice of St. Francis, FHPCA awarded Pauline with The Catalyst Award which recognizes an individual in any role within an organization who has consistently demonstrated leadership in forging the collaboration that makes hospice unique.

Vice Chair of Internal Affairs 
Susan Ponder-Stansel, President & CEO
Alivia Care | Community Hospice & Palliative Care

Susan began her career with Community Hospice (then known as Hospice of Northeast Florida) as a volunteer clinical social worker for the nonprofits new St. Augustine office in 1985, having just earned a master’s degree in social work from Florida State University. She became the organization’s first staff social worker in 1986.

She became Executive Director in 1988 and was named president and CEO of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida in April 1991. During her tenure, Community Hospice has grown from serving 60 patients a day with a staff of 35 to an organization of approximately 850 full- and part-time staff serving approximately 1,200 patients each day.

In addition to serving as president of the Junior Service League of St. Augustine from 1993-94, Susan has served on the Board of Directors of United Way of St. Johns County; the Advisory Board of the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board; the Trustees of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce; and the Jacksonville Women’s Network. 

Treasurer
Ben Eby, Vice President and Administrator Halifax Hospital Port Orange & Hospice Administration
Halifax Hospice

Ben Eby joined Halifax Health in 2015 as the Director of Finance for Halifax Health Hospice and Palliative Care and assumed the Executive Director of Hospice and Palliative Care in 2020. 

Ben Eby has been with Halifax Health Hospice since 2015.  He started as Director of Finance and was promoted to Director of Hospice in 2019 and then to Executive Director of Hospice and Palliative Care in 2020.  Prior to relocating to Florida in 2013, he had eight years of progressive management experience with a Toronto-based international healthcare company. 

Ben holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State University in New Jersey and a Masters of Business Administration, Healthcare Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.  In addition, Ben holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) license through the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.  Prior to relocating to Florida in 2013, he had eight years of progressive management experience with a Toronto-based national healthcare company.

Immediate Past-Chair
Jaysen Roa, President & CEO
Avow Hospice

Jaysen Roa joined Avow as President & CEO in 2015. During his tenure, Jaysen has overseen the growth of Avow Hospice, Avow Palliative Care Services, Avow Foundation and the Avow Kids children’s grief and loss program. Under his direction, Avow programs, services, facilities and resources for patients, their families and the community at large have grown significantly, serving more adults and children than ever in the company’s almost 40 year-history.

Jaysen’s hospice experience include developing innovative patient-centered approaches to providing care, facilities and outreach in an ever-changing health landscape. His efforts include public policy advocacy both nationally and at the state level to advance hospice, palliative care and post-acute, home-centered care.

Jaysen is the Florida hospice representative serving the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Council of States and a member of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation.

Prior to joining Avow, Jaysen served as Executive Director at Good Shepherd Hospice based in Lakeland, Florida. He also held executive positions at HPH Hospice and began his hospice career at Hospice of Citrus County, all based in Florida.

Jaysen has completed numerous industry certifications in hospice and fundraising management. He holds a master’s in business administration and master’s in health administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from University of South Florida in Tampa.

Secretary
Andrew Molosky, MBA, FACHS, CHPCA President & CEO 
Chapters Health System

Andrew Molosky is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chapters Health System. As a routinely engaged consultant, speaker and mentor, Andrew is modeling and leading innovation across several industries concurrently. 

Andrew has served in executive leadership for the more than 20 years spanning an array of geographies and organizations including publicly traded, privately held, and not-for-profit.

Andrew completed his undergraduate degree cum laude at the University of Toledo, with a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Exercise Science and Cardiac Rehabilitation. He received his Master of Business Administration from the Ken Blanchard College of Business at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. He holds his Fellowship from the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator. In addition, he has certifications from the Duke University Palliative Care Partnership and the Hospice Education Network.

Committee Chairs:

Chair, Research & Innovation Committee
Tarrah Lowry, Executive Director
Trustbridge

Tarrah Lowry joined Trustbridge as Chief Operating Officer in August 2021.  Ms. Lowry brings more than a decade of progressive health care leadership to this role.  Prior to joining Trustbridge, she served in a number of senior leadership roles, including President and Chief Executive Officer at Sangre de Cristo Community Care in Pueblo, Colorado. 

Tarrah brings considerable energy, vision and expertise in hospice and palliative care on a state and national level having served on both the National Association of Home Care and Hospice and Hospice & National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization board of directors. She has built and expanded palliative care programs and has significant experience with value based care and outcome based payment models. Tarrah is a tireless advocate for quality care in the home and protecting and expanding benefits for those who need them most.

Chair, Quality & Regulatory Affairs Committee
Jackie Kendrick, President & CEO
Treasure Coast Hospice

Jackie Kendrick, CHPCA, President & CEOleads Treasure Coast Hospice’s comprehensive hospice care and grief support services in Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties. An accomplished executive, Ms. Kendrick joined Treasure Coast Hospice in 2019, bringing more than 15 years of experience in the hospice field to her position.  As CEO, she is responsible for the strategic direction and overall operations of a nonprofit organization that cares for more than 3,000 patients a year, a staff of more than 350 and a volunteer force of 175.  Ms. Kendrick also provides oversight for the organization’s many enhanced offerings, including three Inpatient Units, a specialized pediatric hospice and palliative care program, and an array of complementary therapies – music, massage and aromatherapy.

Dedicated to patient care, Ms. Kendrick is passionate about the organization’s mission to provide the highest quality of care to patients at the end of life and support for their families. Leading with compassion and a “hospice heart,” Ms. Kendricks’ vision is to continue to improve access to quality hospice and grief counseling services by continuing to develop strong community partnerships and recruiting talented staff and volunteers who share her commitment to patients and families.

Prior to joining Treasure Coast Hospice, Ms. Kendrick served as executive director of HPH Hospice, a Chapters Health System affiliate, in Pasco County. She began her career at Legacy Hospice in Tyler, Texas and then served as the Executive Director at Heart to Heart Hospice in Lufkin, Texas. Under her leadership, the start-up organization developed into the largest hospice in the area.

Chair, Public Policy Committee
Jonathan D. Fleece, Esq., President & CEO 
Empath Health

Jonathan D. Fleece, Esq., began serving as President of Empath Health in early 2021 after the merger of Empath Health and Stratum Health System. He became President and CEO of Stratum Health System / Tidwell Hospice in 2018 after serving as President/CEO and a shareholder of Black Walters, P.A., in Bradenton and Sarasota.

As a former long-term board member of Tidewell Hospice and Stratum, Fleece has been instrumental in the success of both organizations. He promotes the use of industry innovations and collaboration while maintaining focus on one-on-one customer service. Fleece serves on the board of the Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association and is a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and of HomeCare 100. He received his J.D. Degree and Certificate in Health Law Studies from Saint Louis University School of Law and his B.A. from Emory University. Fleece is a former Florida board-certified health care attorney and the co-author of The New Health Age: The Future of Health Care in America, with David Houle. Fleece and Houle are co-founders of New Health Age Advisors, and Fleece is the founder of tobe4HEALTH.