DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS

Marylee Bytheriver, Executive Director

Ms. Bytheriver became the Executive Director of Hospice of Humboldt in 2006. Previously she worked as the Development Officer of the Open Door Community Health Centers, a group of 10 primary care clinics in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. Ms. Bytheriver also worked as a researcher and writer for a healthcare consulting firm, and as the Director of Children’s Services for Project Amigo, a nonprofit based in Colima, Mexico. Previous to those positions, Ms. Bytheriver worked as a paralegal specializing in information management for complex litigation.

Ms. Bytheriver received her BA, with Honors, from Mills College, Oakland, California, and has done graduate studies with the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California.

As Executive Director Ms. Bytheriver ensures that Hospice of Humboldt remains focused on our mission. She is responsible for overall agency management and she assists the Board of Directors in strategic Planning.

Dr. John Nelson, Medical Director

Dr. Nelson graduated magna cum laude with a BA in philosophy from Loyola University in New Orleans and attended medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. He did his residency in Family Practice at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Nelson has been the Medical Director at Hospice of Humboldt since 2003, and continues to work part-time as a hospitalist at Mad River Hospital. Previously he worked for the United Indian Health Services, in the Mad River Hospital emergency room, and as the Medical Director of the Six Rivers Medical Clinic in Willow Creek.

Dr. Nelson oversees all of the medical services provided by Hospice of Humboldt to our patients, in coordination with the patient’s own attending physician. He also provides professional training for our clinicians, and consults on pain management issues.

Vacant, Director of Nursing

Linda Kamenetzky, Director of Social Services

Ms. Kamenetzky, MSW, began working for Hospice of Humboldt in 2004 as the Director of Social Services. She brought to that position eight years of hospice social work experience. Ms. Kamenetzky received both her BS in Health Sciences and Master of Social Work degrees from Western Michigan University. She has worked previously with the Hospice of Northern Virginia, and other social service agencies on the east coast.

Ms. Kamenetzky supervises the Medical Social Workers and chaplains. She monitors the quality of care provided by her staff, and advises them on difficult psych-social issues involving patients, families and community members. She also oversees bereavement services provided to families and friends of our patients, and to the community.

Dianne Vallee, Director of Finance

Ms. Vallee has been working for Hospice of Humboldt since 2001. She brought to the job experience in bookkeeping and office management, and strong organizational and administrative skills. She previously worked for private medical practices.

Ms. Vallee oversees all of our patient billing, accounts payable and receivable, and payroll functions. She is responsible for strict compliance with the complex state and federal regulations of the health care reimbursement system. Ms. Vallee works closely with the Board of Directors’ Budget and Finance Committee to prepare our annual budget and monitor revenues and expenses.

Christine (Christy) Burton, Director of Human Resources

Ms. Burton began working for Hospice of Humboldt as the Director of Human Resources in 2003. She brought to Hospice twenty years of experience in Human Resources in acute care, hospital, and clinic environments.

Ms. Burton is responsible for recruitment of both employees and volunteers, training, benefits administration, and compliance with all labor laws.

Rebecca Simone, Director of Quality

Ms. Simone began working for Hospice of Humboldt as the Director of Quality in 2007. Previously she worked for St. Joseph Hospital in a variety of capacities including Safety Officer, Director of Facilities, Director of Education and Director of Cardiopulmonary Services.

As Director of Quality Ms. Simone is responsible for our Quality Assurance, Performance Improvement program. She also serves as our Compliance Officer, Safety Officer, Risk Manager, Infection Control Officer, and Privacy Officer.

Barbara Garza, Director of Outreach

Ms. Garza started working with the Hospice of Humboldt as the Outreach Director in 2008. Previously, she was the Executive Director locally at the Arcata Economic Development Corporation and the Humboldt Arts Council. She has had marketing experience at Cox, Rasmussen and Company, as well as, Fair, Issac and Company in the Bay Area