Hospice in the News 

Note: image of Flint D. Besecker available at:

http://www.hospicebuffalo.com/ /content/images/flint_besecker_highres2.jpg

FLINT BESECKER APPOINTED

CEO of THE CENTER FOR HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE

Cheektowaga, NY Oct. 14, 2010 - Flint D. Besecker has been named the new chief executive officer of The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC). The Center's Board of Trustees appointed Mr. Besecker on Oct. 13.  Prior to his new role, Mr. Besecker served as interim CEO of CHPC following the recent resignation by former CEO, William E. Finn. Mr. Besecker has served in various leadership capacities for CHPC's Board since 1994, most recently serving on the Board's Executive Committee.

"The Board of Trustees is enthusiastic about our appointment of Flint Besecker as Hospice's next CEO," stated Louis A. Izzo, Jr. CHPC's Chairman of the Board. "Flint's extensive national experience in health care, strategic planning and finance are combined with his 14 years of service as a member of CHPC's board.  We are confident that he will continue to invest in and expand CHPC's clinical operations and elevate the community's awareness of the rich benefits of Hospice and its related palliative services." 

"I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to lead The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care family of staff and volunteers," said Mr. Besecker. "During the last six weeks, serving as the interim CEO, I have witnessed firsthand compassionate care delivered by gifted and dedicated individuals working together to provide exceptional care and support to patients and families in need.  Hospice is truly an extraordinary place and its philosophy of care offers such benefit and value to our health care delivery system.  Having served on Hospice's Board of Trustees for more than 14 years has been most rewarding. I am excited and looking forward to sharing my professional experience and working with the talented team of professionals at Hospice."

Mr. Besecker, 44, is a Canisius College graduate. He has held a number of nationwide executive positions in the healthcare industry, including founding Care Investment Trust (CRE-NYSE), a healthcare focused Real Estate Investment Trust and founding CIT Healthcare (CIT-NYSE) where he served as its President. Prior to 2004, Mr. Besecker held a variety of national leadership positions in the healthcare industry including GE Healthcare Financial Services (GE-NYSE), Heller Healthcare Finance (HF-NYSE) and Healthcare Financial Partners (HCF-NYSE).

He resides with his wife, Jeannette, and their three children in the Town of Orchard Park. Mr. Besecker received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and has received numerous local and national recognition awards for his contributions to the healthcare industry. Mr. Besecker has also held a variety of board director positions on healthcare companies throughout the United States.

As CEO, Mr. Besecker oversees The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care's corporations including Hospice Buffalo, Inc., providing medical care, emotional and spiritual support to children, adults and families in their home, hospital, adult home/nursing facility, or other home-like residence; Home Care Buffalo, a certified home health agency; Life Transitions Center, a provider of grief counseling and support groups concerning grief, loss and coping with serious illness; Caring Hearts Home Care, a licensed home health agency; Hospice Buffalo House and St. John Baptist/Hospice Buffalo House, the Hospice Foundation of WNY, the Center for Excellence in End-of-Life Education, Research & Practice, and the Palliative Care Institute, a new collaborative with the University at Buffalo. In addition, CHPC recently added Gilda's Club WNY as an affiliate further expanding its continuum of services.

The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care is one of the nation's largest hospice and palliative care organizations, serving more than 750 patients a day. CHPC employs 550 individuals and utilizes 1,400 active volunteers.

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