Sarah Bealles, CHPCA
President & Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Bealles is President and Chief Executive Officer with JourneyCare, the region’s premier palliative care and end of life provider, the result of the June 2015 merger of Horizon Hospice and Palliative Care, JourneyCare and Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter. The combined agency is now providing services to patients and their families and caregivers in a 10-county area. Read more
Prior to the merger, Bealles had been President and Chief Executive Officer with JourneyCare since December 2011, after joining the organization in January 2011 as Chief Operating Officer. During her tenure, JourneyCare tripled in size and grew its reserves by 400%, while achieving best in class employee engagement and family satisfaction. Bealles’ background includes leadership experience in healthcare, financial services, and nonprofit sectors, with expertise in cultural alignment, strategic planning, governance, operations, risk management and business development.
In recognition of her leadership skills, in September 2015, Bealles was named Chair of the Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. With more than a decade of leadership experience in hospice and palliative care, Bealles is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Daniel Barron
Vice President of Information Technology
Daniel Barron was named JourneyCare’s Vice President of Information Technology in December 2016. He brings over 20 years of progressive experience in developing IT strategy, along with transforming organizations, their products, services and operations.
Previously, Daniel was Information Technology Director with the American Society of Anesthesiologists in Schaumburg, IL, where he was responsible for all aspects of IT strategy, operations and personnel. Read more
He has also held IT leadership positions with Anixter, the American Health Information Management Association and Chicago Title Insurance.
Daniel earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from DePaul University and currently working on his MBA at the Keller Graduate School of Management.
Kelly Fischer, BSN, CHPN, CHPCA
Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer of JourneyCare, Kelly Fischer leads and manages a comprehensive array of programs and services for the agency, with a focus on fiscal stewardship and providing excellent clinical care to more than 1200 hospice patients, 1100 palliative care patients and 180 pediatric patients daily. Kelly also oversees the evaluation of ongoing programs and the development of new ones as needs and growth of the agency demand.Read more
Previously, Kelly served as a consultant for hospice programs, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, evaluation and revamping clinical practices and programs while assessing strengths and weaknesses and transforming operations. Kelly utilizes innovative approaches to develop both individuals and teams. She also co-founded Bear Courage, LLC in Madison, WI, a statewide pediatric palliative care coalition.
Kelly’s background includes leadership experience in clinical operations and developing collaborative partnerships for hospices, long-term care facilities and nursing homes. She previously was Director of Home Care Programs at Agrace Hospice and Palliative Care in Madison, WI, and Administrator with Sunrise Senior Living.
A native of New York City, Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University (AZ) and a diploma in nursing from Flushing Hospital and Medical Center School of Nursing in Queens, NY. Kelly is dually certified as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) and Administrator. She is an active member of the Hospice and Palliative Care National Association (HPNA) and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Kelly was honored in 2011 with the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Award of Excellence for Pediatric Palliative Care.
Carrie Flock, RN, AAS, CHPN
Vice President of Quality and Compliance
Carrie Flock serves as Vice President of Quality and Compliance, after being promoted from Northwest Regional Director and Director of Clinical Services. Carrie leads the agency’s quality and compliance functions, develops and manages quality assessment and performance improvement plans, and ensures compliance with state and federal law, as well as accreditation standards.Read more
Carrie has over 20 years of nursing experience in cardiac services, ICU, Emergency Room and hospice. At Agrace Hospice and Palliative Care in Madison, Wis., she managed what was at the time the largest senior living team in southern Wisconsin.
Carrie earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Aurora University and associate’s degree in nursing from Elgin Community College.
Julie Glendenning MSN, RN, APN, WCC
Vice President of Learning and Development
Julie Glendenning serves as Vice President of Learning and Development, having been promoted from Director of Learning and Development, a position she held since joining JourneyCare in 2012.Read more
With over a decade of experience in hospice and palliative career, Julie previously was the attending provider for hospice patients on the residence at Agrace HospiceCare in Madison, Wis., and has worked in the acute care hospice area, managing pain and symptoms at end of life.
Julie completed a post master’s certification in nursing at Northern Kentucky University; earned a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin Madison and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wis.
Mark Grzeskowiak, MD, HMDC
Vice President of Medical Services
As Vice President of Medical Services with JourneyCare, Dr. Mark Grzeskowiak oversees an innovative structure of “expertise-focused” medical directors, providing collaborative leadership in inpatient hospice, inpatient palliative care, pediatrics, community hospice and community palliative care and leading the physician teams that provide care in these areas.Read more
Dr. Grzeskowiak joined JourneyCare in 2014 as a Medical Director and has provided medical leadership to field teams, as well as the Hospice CareCenters in Barrington and Woodstock.
Specializing in Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Care and Occupational Medicine, Dr. Grzeskowiak previously was a family practice physician with Mercy Health System, Lake Geneva Center and Family Practice Clinic in Chicago. He also served as Medical Director with Hospice Advantage in Burr Ridge.
Dr. Grzeskowiak earned his medical degree from the Medical University of Warsaw (Poland) and completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson University at Underwood Memorial Hospital, Family Medical Center in Woodbury, NJ. He earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from Indiana University.
Leslie Horwitz, RN, BSN
Vice President of Access
As Vice President of Access, Leslie Horwitz oversees all patients’ entry into the agency’s hospice, palliative care and pediatric programs, while promoting and strengthening hospital partnerships and ensuring access to JourneyCare programs and services. The Access team includes Intake, Admissions, Crisis Care, PRN Registry and 24/7. Read more
With over 20 years of experience in nursing, administration and business development in hospice, home healthcare, ales, marketing, physician house calls and staff development, Leslie was Vice President at Transitions Hospice LLC prior to joining JourneyCare in 2013.
Leslie earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Northern Illinois University.
Jim Marshall, RN, BS, CHPN, CHPCA
Vice President of Clinical Services
Jim Marshall was promoted to Vice President of Clinical Services with JourneyCare in March 2016. For the past 15 years, Jim has held key clinical leadership positions in several areas of hospice, including Regional Director, Director of Inpatient Teams and Director of Access with JourneyCare. Read more
Jim’s extensive experience includes clinical, educational and marketing roles, ranging from a Charge Nurse at Victory Memorial Hospital in Waukegan to Vice President/Regional Manager of Bayard Advertising. Prior to joining JourneyCare, he was a Senior Hospice Care Consultant with Seasons Hospice. Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Arts from the University of St. Francis and a Nursing Degree from Elgin Community College.
Joseph Matty
President, JourneyCare Foundation
Joseph Matty, together with the Foundation team, helps ensure that JourneyCare keeps one of its most important promises: to never turn anyone away because of an inability to pay. From high-profile fundraising events such as the Galas and Decades Dance, to the annual appeal campaign and direct one-to-one donor relationship building, Joseph oversees the Foundation’s many successful initiatives. Read more
Joseph joined JourneyCare following more than 14 years at Northern Illinois University, where he most recently served as CEO of the alumni association and COO of the university’s foundation simultaneously. His experience in achieving long-term funding goals and managing governance for both organizations makes him a great fit to take the JourneyCare Foundation to new levels of excellence.
Mary Pat Scoltock
Chief Business Development Officer
Mary Pat Scoltock was named Chief Business Development Officer with JourneyCare in October 2016. She joined the agency in March 2011 as an Account Specialist, was promoted to Director of Business Development and was named Vice President, Business Development with JourneyCare in June 2015. Read more
With over 23 years of experience in senior living, long-term senior care and assisted living, Mary Pat held leadership positions at Brookdale Senior Living in Chicago and Mather Lifeways in Evanston. She also served as a sales and marketing consultant with Classic Residences by Marriott, Senior Lifestyles and Midwest Senior Living.
Mary Pat graduated from Benedictine University with a bachelor’s degree in business and economics and a certificate in gerontology.
Janice Vaysberg
Chief Financial Officer
Janice Vaysberg joined JourneyCare in October 2016 as Chief Financial Officer. Janice oversees all organizational financial activities, including accounting, finance and business planning operations. Previously, Janice was Vice President of Finance at OptumRx (a subsidiary of United Healthcare Group.Read more
In her 14 years with the organization, Janice was responsible for post-merger integration, strategic initiatives, budgeting/forecasting, process improvement, operational support, pricing/underwriting as well as client-facing relationships. Having been through three acquisitions within a five-year period, Janice has a proven record of leading organization through change, delivering on financial commitments and driving business performance.
Janice earned an MBA in Strategy, Execution and Valuation from DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from DePaul.
Miriam Wallace, SPHR
Vice President of Human Resources
Miriam Wallace was named Vice President, Human Resources with JourneyCare in June 2015. She is responsible for the implementation of HR strategy to support a growing organization in a highly competitive healthcare market and serves as strategic business partner to executive team and Board of Directors. She was charged with redesigning, managing, evaluating and, most recently, integrating all aspects of HR, including recruitment, leadership development, employee relations, talent management, compensation and performance management strategies.Read more
Previously, Miriam was Vice President, Human Resources & Information Systems at Midwest CareCenter for seven years. She oversaw all human resources activities and was responsible for leading initiatives to enhance organizational information systems to provide first-class support to Midwest CareCenter employees.
Miriam has more than 25 years of experience in U.S. and international lead human resources roles. From 2004 to 2008, she managed global and local HR processes at the corporate offices of Fortune Brands, Inc., a global consumer brands company, and at Beam Suntory, which was a Fortune Brands company at the time. She also served in a number of progressive HR roles in the U.S. and Ireland over 14 years with Accenture, a global IT consulting and outsourcing company. She began her career at Guinness PLC., London, U.K.
Miriam completed a Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) Certification in 2014. She earned a post-graduate diploma in human resource management from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and a bachelor of arts degree in history and education from the University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate College, Ireland.
Sarah Bealles, CHPCA
Mary Pat Scoltock
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