By Bill Wertman, CEO, Big Bend Hospice
Hospice care, at its core, is built on compassion. It is the quiet presence at the bedside, the steady voice guiding families through uncertainty, and the belief that every person deserves dignity at the end of life. That philosophy did not appear overnight. It was shaped by people who believed medicine could be both skilled and deeply human.
Many of those pioneers were women.
March gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect during Women’s History Month, and for those of us in hospice care, it is impossible to do so without recognizing Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the modern hospice movement. In the 1960s, Saunders challenged the medical community to rethink how we care for people nearing the end of life. She believed that physical pain was only one part of the experience of serious illness. Emotional, spiritual, and social suffering mattered just as much.
Her vision led to the creation of St. Christopher’s Hospice in London and ultimately sparked a global movement that changed how medicine approaches the final chapter of life. Today, every hospice program in the United States traces some part of its philosophy back to her belief that compassion and clinical excellence must walk hand in hand.
At Big Bend Hospice, we see that legacy alive every day.
From our nurses and physicians to our social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and leaders, women have long been the backbone of this work. They bring expertise, strength, and empathy to moments when families need it most. Their care does not simply treat symptoms. It brings comfort, clarity, and connection during some of life’s most difficult days.
Our own history reflects that truth.
One of the most influential leaders in the story of Big Bend Hospice was Cathy Adkison, our longtime CEO and a woman whose compassion shaped this organization for years. Cathy believed deeply in the mission of hospice and in the people who carried it forward. She led with warmth, conviction, and a deep respect for both patients and staff. Those who worked alongside her remember not only her leadership but also her kindness.
Even after her passing in 2019, Cathy’s presence is still felt in the culture she helped build. Her belief that hospice care should always remain personal, community-centered, and grounded in dignity continues to guide us.
When I walk through our facilities or speak with members of our team in the field, I am constantly reminded how much of this work is carried forward by remarkable women. They are the clinicians comforting families at midnight. They are the volunteers sitting vigil beside a patient who should never face their final hours alone. They are the leaders shaping the future of compassionate care.
Their work rarely seeks recognition, but it deserves it.
As we observe Women’s History Month, I am grateful for the women who helped build the hospice movement, for those who shaped Big Bend Hospice into the organization it is today, and for the many women on our team who continue that work every single day.
Hospice care was born from the courage of women who believed medicine could be kinder. Their legacy lives on each time a patient is comforted, each time a family finds peace, and each time someone chooses compassion over convenience.
And for that, we are profoundly grateful.