ASHLAND – The Award of Excellence recognizes the licensed professional who is outstanding in his/her field. This nominee must have at least three years of experience in home care or hospice patient care (past or present position) and must be currently employed by a member agency.

Hospice of North Central Ohio (HNCO) announced that Kathy Wantland, BSW, LSW, is the 2022 winner.

Wantland is currently bereavement coordinator with Hospice of North Central Ohio. She began working with Hospice of Knox County in 2000 and continued her work when Hospice of Knox County merged with Hospice of North Central Ohio in 2014. Over the years, she has worked in the home as a social worker for hospice by assisting with admissions, performing psychosocial assessments, and supporting the families emotionally through the end of life. She later transitioned into the bereavement coordinator role and has done an exceptional job helping bereaved individuals navigate through the stages of grief. Her demonstration of compassion and care is exemplified as she meets every individual where they are during their stage of grief in an environment that is most comfortable for them. She believes grief support is essential to all those grieving in our community.

Hospice of North Central Ohio has served thousands of families with compassionate end-of-life and palliative care, bereavement programs and services since 1988. Headquartered at 1021 Dauch Drive in Ashland, Hospice of North Central Ohio serves more than 200 patients daily in Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Morrow, and Richland counties living with chronic and terminal illnesses.

Additionally, free continuous bereavement services are provided for hundreds of families of hospice patients and to anyone in the community experiencing grief. HNCO also operates the What Goes ‘Round Thrift Shoppe in downtown Mansfield. Call 800-952-2207 for more information. HNCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with decades of experience and a United Way of Ashland and Knox County community partner.