Hospice of the Chesapeake welcomes 3 distinguished leaders to its team

Hospice of the Chesapeake is pleased to announce the appointment of three accomplished professionals to its senior leadership team: Shawn Essien as vice president of human resources, Donna Grande as chief transformation officer, and Melanie Gibson as regional director of hospice operations for its southern region. Together, they bring decades of leadership experience, a commitment to organizational excellence and a proven ability to drive meaningful change.

Essien joined the organization in June and brings more than 20 years of experience as a human resources executive and licensed employment attorney. Her career has been built at the intersection of employment law, labor relations and culture development in mission-driven organizations. She has extensive experience working in complex, highly regulated environments, including unionized workforces, collective bargaining, equal employment opportunity compliance and organizational development.

Most recently, Essien served as head of people and culture for the ACLU of Maryland, where she led initiatives ranging from human resources information system implementation to hybrid return-to-work planning. She partnered closely with executive leadership on workforce strategy, employee engagement and labor relations.

Essien holds a Juris Doctor degree and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certifications. This unique combination of legal and human resources expertise allows her to approach people strategy with a deep understanding of the legal and organizational factors that shape workplace decisions. She is recognized for fostering high-performing, people-centered cultures built on trust, accountability and engagement.

As vice president of human resources, Essien will lead the organization's human resources strategy and team as Hospice of the Chesapeake continues its commitment to becoming an employer of choice in the communities it serves.

Grande joined Hospice of the Chesapeake last fall and was appointed chief transformation officer in January. She brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience developing innovative programs, strategic initiatives and organizational transformations that deliver measurable results.

In her role, Grande partners with leaders across the organization to advance strategic priorities, strengthen operational effectiveness and support sustainable growth. Known for her collaborative leadership style and results-driven approach, she applies evidence-based practices and innovative strategies to improve organizational performance and enhance outcomes.

Prior to joining Hospice of the Chesapeake, Grande held executive leadership positions with the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association and the American College of Preventive Medicine. She also led national campaigns for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health and directed major strategic and philanthropic initiatives for organizations including The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society and the Visiting Nurse Associations of America.

Gibson is a seasoned hospice and palliative care leader with more than 25 years of experience driving clinical excellence, operational performance and patient-centered care. She joins Hospice of the Chesapeake from AccentCare/Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, where she served as senior regional director of operations overseeing inpatient hospice operations across multiple markets.

Throughout her career, Gibson has demonstrated a passion for developing teams, improving quality outcomes and ensuring compassionate care for patients and families. She has earned a Master of Healthcare Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN). In her new role, Gibson will lead hospice operations in Calvert, Charles and Prince George's counties.

"We are thrilled to welcome Shawn, Donna and Melanie to our leadership team," said Becky Miller, president and CEO of Hospice of the Chesapeake. "Their combined experience, vision and commitment to mission-driven leadership will help strengthen our organization as we continue to grow and expand our impact throughout the communities we serve."

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About Hospice of the Chesapeake

Hospice of the Chesapeake provides expert, compassionate care for individuals and families navigating serious advanced illness and loss. Care is built around a genuine partnership between skilled clinicians, healthcare partners and the patients and families we serve — centered on supporting quality of life at every stage.

For more than 45 years, we have had the privilege of caring for more than 65,000 patients and more than 100,000 family members across the communities we serve.

Hospice of the Chesapeake is proud to be a part of Chesapeake Health Partners, an organization focused on strengthening community-based care and support services across the region.