Lead by example” is a motto Ava Hancock followed each day in her position as Executive Director of Grace Hospice of Oklahoma. Grace Hospice is the largest independent hospice in Northeastern Oklahoma. Hancock recently celebrated 15 years as part of the Grace Hospice team. She previously served as Director of Psychosocial Services, QAPI and Compliance. She was promoted to Executive Director in 2010. She currently leads a staff of more than 80 employees.
A family experience with hospice care drew Hancock into the healthcare field. Earning a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work at the University of Houston, her professional calling providing social services, supervision and consultation to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, dialysis clinics, senior health centers, home health and hospice care lead her to Grace Hospice. Her areas of expertise include social services, bereavement support and volunteer programs for the hospice.
“One of my proudest accomplishments at Grace Hospice is the Bereavement Program,” explains Hancock. Practically building the curriculum from the ground up, the program now provides four bereavement staff members, two full time support groups, community education, several classes and gratis counseling to families at large.
“Since Grace Hospice is locally owned, with a local director and administration, we are vested in the Tulsa area,” says Hancock. “We take pride in our community and helping people. So we want to give back.”