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Orange   |   Rockland |   NEAR NYC

Thought Leadership   |   News   |   Events

Orange   |   Rockland |   NEAR NYC

(845) 634-4974

Thought Leadership   |   News   |   Events

about UH | key personnel

Key Personnel

United Hospice is very proud of our staff and key personnel. We appreciate the dedication and commitment to excellence they show every day. With our offices in Goshen and New City, our Joe Raso Residence, and home care providers, we have a growing team of experts ready to assist our patients and their families. Many of our key personnel have advanced degrees specializing in caring for patients at the end of their lives.

Allow us to introduce ourselves!

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Cara Pace Chief Executive Officer
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David Chmielewski, MD Medical Director
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Adam Huron Chief Operating Officer
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Greg Essenpreis Chief of Staff
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Darren Gamma Director of Performance Improvement and Special Initiatives
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Arthur Klepper Director of Finance
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Diane Ingenito Director of Clinical Services
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Rogia Rosemberg, FNP-BC, ACHPN Director of Nursing
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Domenic Monaco, MD Palliative Physician
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Gerard Christophers Director of Patient Access
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Peter Duda Director of Business Development & Advancement
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Lacy Rugaber-Williams Director of Business Development & Advancement
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Frances Spiegel Director of Development
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Gamaliel Delatour Hospice Liaison
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Joan O’Brien Office Manager
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Cara Pace Chief Executive Officer

Cara Pace joined United Hospice’s Executive Team in 2019 as Chief Operating Officer and was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in June 2020. She currently serves as a member of the Legislative/Regulatory Public Policy Committee for the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State (HPCANYS). She has more than 27 years of experience working in the nonprofit, healthcare and government sector. Cara has served in key executive leadership roles in nonprofit organizations successfully managing large, complex and diverse portfolios. During her career, Cara has developed more than $100 million in new business revenue for the organizations she has served totaling more than $1 billion in contracts. To date, she has secured $1 million in grant revenue for United Hospice to expand end-of-life care to Hispanic/Latino and underserved communities.

Ms. Pace consistently receives high recognition from her partners in government and the private sector for her innovative and compassionate approach to serving communities in need. She is a well-respected leader in the Greater New York Metro Area nonprofit community and has strived to achieve the highest standards throughout her professional career.

Ms. Pace received her undergraduate degree from Rockefeller College, State University of New York at Albany and earned her Master of Public Administration at the Marist College School of Business. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the State University of New York at Albany, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and previously served on the Advisory Board for Marist College School of Business. In addition, Ms. Pace has also taught graduate courses at the Marist College School of Business.

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David Chmielewski, MD Medical Director

Dr. Chmielewski is Board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. After completing his BA in Theater and English at Brandeis University and his MA in Education at Columbia University Teachers College, Dr. Chmielewski embarked upon a career change and earned his MD from SUNY at Buffalo. There he received the David K. Miller prize in Medicine, “for demonstration of Dr. Miller’s approach to caring for the sick—competence, humility, humanity.” He completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at NYU Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center, and then completed his fellowship in Hospice & Palliative Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
Dr. Chmielewski has lectured in New York City as well as at the local, state, and national levels on his areas of professional expertise and interest, which include the management of pain and other physical symptoms, the medical management of emotional and psychosocial symptoms in the seriously ill, provider-patient-family communication, biomedical ethics, and end-of-life care.

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Adam Huron Chief Operating Officer Adam Huron joined United Hospice in 2021 continuing a career of health and human services management that has ranged from evaluating youth services in Maine to overseeing the provision of services to formerly homeless aging veterans in New York City. Adam has a passion for working with teams that are goal-oriented and mission-focused. He holds a BA in Philosophy from Haverford College and a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University.

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Greg Essenpreis Chief of Staff

Greg is the Patient Experience Program Director for United Hospice. He also serves as coordinator of the organizations’ volunteer program. Greg holds a BA from Eastern Illinois University.

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Darren Gamma Director of Performance Improvement and Special Initiatives

Darren serves as the Director of Performance Improvement and Special Initiatives for United Hospice and is the agency Compliance Officer. He is responsible for agency compliance and ongoing quality assurance. Darren earned his MPA from Marist College, a BA from Syracuse University, and AS from Orange County Community College.

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Arthur Klepper Director of Finance

Arthur has over 34 years experience in the home health care industry and has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Scranton. Prior to coming to UH, Arthur was the Chief Financial Officer at Visiting Health Services of New Jersey, Inc. and Passaic Valley Hospice in Totowa, New Jersey. His career there spanned over 29 years and he was responsible for the entire business operations of the organization, similar to his current position at UH. Arthur has also served on the Board of Trustees for two non-profit organizations affiliated with Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey.

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Diane Ingenito Director of Clinical Services

Diane Ingenito began her hospice career in 2012 as a Staff Nurse at the Joe Raso Hospice Residence. In September 2022 she accepted the position as Hospice Administrator at the Residence, and in early 2024 she took on the additional role of Director of Clinical Services. In this capacity, she is responsible for daily clinical operations of the entire organization with ongoing oversight of the Residence.

Her career ascent included Med Surg, ICU, Case Management, Rehabilitation and Labor & Delivery, but she finds Hospice work the most inspiring of all. Diane’s ability to lead an expert team solely focused on our patients’ peaceful & comfortable transition has been rewarding beyond words. She truly believes that hospice work greatly matters when time matters most.

Diane holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Thomas Edison State University and is Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing.

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Rogia Rosemberg, FNP-BC, ACHPN Director of Nursing

Rogia is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with advanced board certification in Hospice and Palliative care nursing. After completing a BA in Health and Human Services at the University at Buffalo, Rogia pursued a career in nursing obtaining an Associate Degree in Nursing from Orange County Community College, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree from Chamberlain University. As an RN, she has practiced in long-term care, short term rehabilitation, as well as acute care in medical-surgical , orthopedic and emergency room nursing. She obtained a Master of Science degree in Nursing from Dominican College of Blauvelt, has previously worked as an Urgent Care NP, and as a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner at a community hospital. Rogia serves in the role of Director of Nursing, supervising our talented team of community nurses and support staff.

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Domenic Monaco, MD Palliative Physician

Born and raised in Queens, NY, Dr. Monaco attended Holy Cross High School and graduated from Manhattan College with as BS in Biology. His medical training started at St. Georges University School of Medicine, and he completed his Family Practice residency at Jamaica Hospital where he served as chief resident. A stalwart member of the community that we serve, in 1985 Dr. Monaco started in private practice and served as the Chief Medical Officer for both the Clarkstown and Nyack School Districts, team physician for St. Josephs Regional High School, as well as being an Assistant Medical Examiner for Rockland County. Before joining United Hospice in 2023, Dr. Monaco practiced at both Highland Medical Associates and Crystal Run Healthcare.

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Gerard Christophers Director of Patient Access

With two decades of progressive leadership in diverse healthcare settings, Gerard is a dedicated and accomplished healthcare executive committed to driving excellence in patient care and operational efficiency. Possessing a unique blend of clinical insight and business acumen, Gerard seamlessly integrates strategic planning, performance metrics analysis, policy development, and team leadership to foster environments of continuous improvement and success.

Throughout Gerard's career, they have excelled in optimizing healthcare operations by implementing measures that streamline processes, enhance productivity, and elevate patient care standards. Gerard is adept at managing budgets effectively and leading interdisciplinary teams to success. Their approach to leadership emphasizes open communication, collaboration, and a shared vision for impactful change.

Holding an MBA alongside a nursing background, Gerard leverages a deep understanding of healthcare dynamics to develop strategic growth initiatives. Their forward-thinking approach to policy implementation ensures alignment with healthcare regulations, reinforcing their commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

A results-driven leader, Gerard has played a pivotal role in building dynamic teams, enhancing workflow efficiency, and contributing to organizational growth and profitability. Their passion for excellence and ability to inspire those around them make Gerard a transformational force in the healthcare industry.

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Peter Duda Director of Business Development & Advancement

Peter joined United Hospice in December 2024. He has over 30 years of experience working in the health and human services fields in both State and not-for-profit agencies while working with individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health disorders and individuals who were homeless and formerly homeless. He has a BA from SUNY Stony Brook and an MPA from C.W. Post College.

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Lacy Rugaber-Williams Director of Business Development & Advancement

Lacy serves as Director of Pediatric Services and Clinical Education at United Hospice, Inc., where she leads efforts to expand access to community-based pediatric palliative care and strengthen clinical practice through evidence-based education. Lacy has been working in the medical field since turning 18, serving in diverse roles from direct patient care to leadership. She is dually certified in hospice and palliative nursing for both adults and children, being one of less than 250 nurses in the United States who has obtained her Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN) credential. She is an active member of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association where she recently assisted with authoring the CHPPN study guide and is a part of the CHPPN exam development committee.

Lacy is a retired Captain of the United States Army where she served as a combat medic and as a registered nurse. She obtained her BSN from Armstrong State University in Savannah, GA and will graduate in 2026 with her MSN from Empire State University. Lacy's compassion for critically and terminally ill children is evident in her practice and advocacy, and through a special lens she helps these children and their families have the best quality of life possible.

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Frances Spiegel Director of Development

Fran is proud to be raising funds, friends, and awareness for United Hospice. She has over 25 years of experience working for in development for nonprofits, championing causes close to her heart. She is a graduate of Binghamton University.

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Gamaliel Delatour Hospice Liaison

Born and raised in Queens, Gamaliel Delatour has dedicated his career to serving older adults with compassion and expertise. A graduate of Adelphi University with a master's in social work, he has extensive experience supporting the aging population in both community and inpatient settings. Now based in Orange County, he remains committed to patient-centered care, helping individuals and families navigate the challenges of aging, hospice, and end-of-life care with dignity and support.

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Joan O’Brien Office Manager

Joan O’Brien has a BA in Economics from SUNY Purchase. Joan joined UH in 1996. Joan believes in giving back to the community and volunteers with the W.S.H.S, an animal rescue organization. Prior to joining UH, Joan worked for 13 years with Saks Fifth Avenue.