Executive Leadership Team
Bill Wertman, MSW, LSSGB
Chief Executive Officer and Administrator
Bill Wertman received both his BSW and MSW from Florida State University. He also taught graduate courses at the FSU College of Social Work for 10 years.
Bill came to Big Bend Hospice (BBH) in 2015 as the HR Director. He currently serves BBH as CEO and Administrator. As CEO, Bill is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the organization’s programs and services to meet its mission.
“I chose to work for hospice because I believe in the mission of hospice. I believe that taking care of patients and their families at the end of life is the greatest privilege. I have worked in the not-for-profit sector for the last 20 years and I cannot imagine working anyplace else but the world of non-profits. It is a blessing to be here.”
Deborah Morris, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Morris received her MD degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and then completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. She served as a Chief Resident following which she completed her fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Duke University, where she also completed a research fellowship and training program. While working as the Medical Director for Hospice and Palliative Care at multiple healthcare organizations in Virginia, she also maintained a faculty appointment at the East Virginia Medical School.
Dr. Morris is certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She has been listed as one of the Top Docs in hospice and palliative medicine in the Coastal Virginia Magazine.
Dr. Morris received her MD degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and then completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. She served as a Chief Resident following which she completed her fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Duke University, where she also completed a research fellowship and training program. While working as the Medical Director for Hospice and Palliative Care at multiple healthcare organizations in Virginia, she also maintained a faculty appointment at the East Virginia Medical School.
Dr. Morris is certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She has been listed as one of the Top Docs in hospice and palliative medicine in the Coastal Virginia Magazine.
Board of Directors
Scott Harrell, Chairman
Kenneth Pratt, Esq., Vice Chairman
Bennett Napier, CAE, Secretary
William Smith, III, Treasurer
Jeannine Silberman, MD, At Large
Gwynn Virostek, At Large
Stan Barnes, Foundation Chair
Rheb Harbison, Emeritus
Suma Dondapati, MD
Bruce Gould, CPA
Judy Greenwald
Mark O’Bryant
Tim Sanders
Katie Webb, Esq.
Bill Wertman, MSW
CEO/Administrator
Deborah Morris, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Emeritus Members
Rheb Harbison
Brant Copeland, DMin
R. B. Holmes, Jr., DMin
David Jones, MD
A. J. Smith, Sheriff