Professional Staff

Dr. Dolan provides direction and has overall responsibility for all medical aspects of the Hospice of Hilo patient care program. She is part of the Interdisciplinary Team and elicits the support and cooperation of attending physicians in providing care for the general medical needs of Hospice of Hilo patients as related to their life- limiting illness. She also meets the general needs of the patients to the extent that these needs are not being met by the attending physician.  Some of her duties include:

• Reviewing patient eligibility for Hospice of Hilo services
• Participating in developing and revising patient’s plan of care
• Serving as liaison between Hospice of Hilo and the medical community

Dr. Dolan’s association with Hospice of Hilo began in 1999 and in 2009 she became our Medical Director, guiding our Interdisciplinary Team forward in providing a superior level of comfort care for families facing end-of-life issues. She remains steady and calm, building bridges between hospice professionals and physicians as she holds the hands and hearts of family members who watch their loved ones transition.

Dr. Hopman functions under the direction of the Medical Director and assumes the Medical Director’s responsibilities and obligations in Dr. Dolan's absence.  Dr. Hopman, along with the patient’s attending physician, is responsible for the palliation and management of the life-limiting illness and conditions related to the illness.  Some of her duties include:

• Participating in decisions for eligibility, admissions, initial certification and re-certification
• Making home visits to Hospice of Hilo patients as needed
• Serving as physician member of the Interdisciplinary Team

When you are in a room with Dr. Laurie Hopman, it’s like being in a room with Betty Crocker.  It feels good; it feels warm and safe.  When asked why she became a physician, she says, “I wanted to be a country doctor when I was a little girl in Chicago and became disillusioned because in the city there were no ‘country doctors’. So I went off to college, saw more of the world and realized it was indeed possible to be a country doctor, so I did it.”  She is, indeed, our country doctor and our Betty Crocker.

Brenda oversees and is responsible for the overall daily management and administration of Hospice of Hilo. Under the general direction of the board of directors and in accordance with policies set forth by the board, she has full authority over the approved budget and the hospice program.

Brenda’s exceptional leadership has led our organization from a small agency serving an annual census of 40 patients in 1990, to an organization with an average annual census of 250 patients in 2010.  Under her visionary leadership, Hospice of Hilo will soon operate the first neighbor island in-patient facility. 

Brenda’s genuine warmth and deep desire to help others extends beyond what she does for Hospice of Hilo.  Brenda is currently serving as Vice-Chair of the Hawai‘i Healthcare System Corporation’s East Hawai‘i Regional Board.  She also serves on the board of Kokua Mau (the state-wide Hospice and Palliative Care Organization) and most recently joined the Hawai‘i County Mayor’s Healthcare Sustainability Taskforce.  She is a member of the South Hilo Rotary Club, Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is a long standing Weinberg Association Fellow, graduating from the Weinberg Fellows Program in 1993.

When a leader has clear vision, it is a gift.  When a leader has a warm heart, it is inspiring.  Hospice of Hilo is blessed that Brenda has both.

Misae plans, organizes, and directs the Hospice of Hilo Operations Department and related administrative support services.  She also assists the Chief Executive Officer in formulating and implementing departmental policy and acts for the CEO in the CEO's absence. Some of her duties include overseeing:

• The Quality Assessment Program Improvement Planning
• Facility maintenance
• Contract management
• Special projects

Misae has the amazing ability of seeing things with an open mind and an open heart.  It is this ability that allows her to hold Hospice of Hilo’s vision, while managing the details of daily operation.  She joined Hospice of Hilo because of the phenomenal experience she had while working with us as student and is totally committed to ensuring that those living with a life-limiting illness receive the highest quality of care.

An Thuy Umamoto
Development, PR, and Education Coordinator
anthuyn@hospiceofhilo.orgnthuyn@hospiceofhilo.org

An is responsible for all aspects of the public/professional education, special events and marketing programs, working collaboratively with the Volunteer Manager on community outreach programs, special events and volunteer development. Some of her duties include:

• Fundraising events and all other fundraising efforts
• Collaborating with community partners to increase Hospice of Hilo visibility
• Developing and implementing educational opportunities for community members to learn about Hospice of Hilo services and support   

When asked how she feels to be part of the Hospice of Hilo ‘ohana, An, the newest member of our professional staff replied, "I have always been taught that life is not complete unless you dedicate your talents to serve the greater community in whatever capacity you are able to.  My parents were refugees of the Vietnam war and even though they had nothing to their name, one of the first things they did was volunteer for their parish and Vietnamese community.  This, to my parents, was just as significant as any successful career they could build.  The significance of "service" is always present in my thoughts, and I am so honored to join an organization that provides such crucial care, comfort, and support to our Big Island ‘Ohana. Working at Hospice is not only an amazing profession, but is fulfilling my lifelong belief in service to the community." We are very fortunate to have An on our team. 

Pearl Lyman
Volunteer & Transitions Manager
pearl@hospiceofhilo.org

Pearl serves on and works in collaboration with the senior management team.  Some of her duties include:

• Recruiting, managing, coordinating the daily and ongoing functions and activities of the volunteers 
• Planning for and coordinating community education and special events

Pearl claims her daily mantra is, “I want to be the kind of person my dogs think I am.”  She began her career with Hospice of Hilo in 2000 after her father’s death to cancer.  One of his last statements to her was, “If I can stop just one person’s suffering, my death will not be in vain. My life has been long and good.”  Those words placed her on a path to end one person’s suffering and led her to the doorsteps of Hospice of Hilo where the philosophy, values and mission were congruent with her own.  For Pearl, it felt like coming home.

Shirley Seguin Dellinger
Controller
shirleyd@hospiceofhilo.org

Shirley has direct oversight and responsibility for the accounting processes, accounts receivable, accounts payable, human resources and non-operational income.

Numbers may seem objective, boring and logical.  But it is Shirley’s ability to crunch them and put them in their right place that allows Hospice of Hilo’s mission to move forward. Joining our team in 2000, Shirley is thrilled with the opportunity to focus her energy on a non-profit organization that she feels truly makes a difference.