While patients and their families are in our care, our interdisciplinary team of nurses, CNAs, social workers, and others quickly become familiar faces. But a lot goes on behind the scenes to provide the exceptional care that Delaware Hospice is known for. Key in this role is Delaware Hospice’s all-women team of Associate Directors.
The driving force behind these incredible women are two extraordinary leaders: Toni Tordini, Director of Hospice Services Statewide, BSN, RN, CCM, CHPN, CDP—and Debra Kent, VP of Clinical Services, RN, BSN, MA, CCRN, NEA-BC. Toni leads the homecare and bereavement teams while Debra leads our 2 inpatient hospice units in Milford and Wilmington, as well as our Palliative program and Quality/Compliance teams.
All nurses by training, these talented women ensure that patients always come first in every decision at Delaware Hospice. Alongside their full plates coordinating offices, overseeing direct service staff, and managing patient needs, these women jump in to provide care when a new patient needs to be admitted over the weekend, share administrator-on-call duties afterhours, and more.
Charlotte Passwaters, RN
Associate Director, Sussex County
A thoughtful and strategic leader, Charlotte brings historical context and institutional knowledge to the team. She’s worked for Delaware Hospice for the last 21 years of her 42-year nursing career. Charlotte previously served as a case manager in admissions, and as a hospital liaison with Delaware Hospice before taking on her current role co-managing the home-based hospice and Katybug teams for Sussex County.
Melissa Cheshire-Lynch, BSN, RN, CHPN
Associate Director, Sussex County
Melissa has been with Delaware Hospice for 6 years and recently assumed the co-management of the home-based hospice and Katybug teams for Sussex County. Known as a can-do woman and a go-getter with more energy than anyone, Melissa’s previous roles at Delaware Hospice include admissions, case management, on-call nurse, and staff nurse for the Delaware Hospice Center.
Alexis Paul, BSN, RN
Associate Director, New Castle County and Pennsylvania
Alexis is known as a calming presence who inspires her team with high expectations for excellence of care. She oversees the home-based hospice and Katybug teams in New Castle County and Pennsylvania, making sure the staff are adequately supported and answering any questions that come up with patient care. Alexis was a long-term care nurse prior to joining Delaware Hospice nearly 8 years ago.
Christy Phillippi, RN
Associate Director, Kent County
As the newest Associate Director, responsible for coordinating the home-based hospice and Katybug teams for Kent County, Christy joins the team after serving 2 years as a case manager. She earned recognition for her enthusiastic initiative to learn and grow, and excelled in caring for a number of particularly challenging cases. Her colleagues recognize her for becoming a “super user” of the organization’s new electronic medical records system during her time on the front lines, which will help the team educate other staff members on the system.
Toni Tordini, BSN, RN, CCM, CHPN, CDP
Director of Hospice Services Statewide
Toni is responsible for Delaware Hospice’s homecare clinical team and directly supervises the homecare Associate Directors as well as the bereavement program. In addition to working several years in school nursing and acute care nursing, Toni has spent nearly 20 years in the hospice care field, including 16 in management. Besides building relationships with the community, coaching staff members, and hiring new recruits, Toni contributes to the development of strategic initiatives as part of the executive team. Her direct reports laud her as an available and supportive supervisor as well as a staunch advocate for patients and their families.
Debbie Taylor, RN, BA, OCN
Associate Director, Delaware Hospice Center Inpatient Unit
The Delaware Hospice Center—Delaware’s only freestanding inpatient hospice unit—was only 18 months old when Debbie stepped into the role managing the facility’s operations 13 years ago. Debbie continues to work with doctors, EDs and the community to ensure that the Delaware Hospice Center meets the needs of patients and families in our area. Debbie joined Delaware Hospice with 11 years of oncology nursing experience and is known as a gentle, calming “voice of reason” by her colleagues.
Charlotte (Cee Cee) Scott-Coleman, MSN, MBA in Healthcare Administration, BSN, RN
Associate Director, Delaware Hospice at St. Francis
“Adaptable” and “positive” are the words Cee Cee’s colleagues use to describe her. She’s worked for Delaware Hospice as a weekend nurse, in triage, and most recently as a hospital liaison for Sussex County. With her broad experience, educational background, and contagiously up-beat attitude, Cee Cee was a natural choice to launch and lead Delaware Hospice’s new inpatient unit at Saint Francis Hospital in Wilmington.
Deb Kent, RN, BSN, MA, CCRN, NEA-BC
Vice President of Clinical Services
With 48+ years of nursing experience under her belt, Deb spent 25 of those years in hospice management, critical care, and served as the CNO at an acute care hospital. Delaware Hospice has been extremely fortunate to have Deb overseeing our entire clinical team for the last 5+ years. A pillar in the industry, her colleagues refer to her as “the calm to everyone’s storm.” Deb radiates positivity no matter what the situation. Her team can always rely on her encouraging, supportive words to help guide their career and personal lives. A life-long learner, Deb embraces the “FUN component” in everything she does. Above all, she always advocates for her staff, patients, and families.
Key to the credentials: BA = Bachelor of Arts; BSN = Bachelor of Science in Nursing; CCM = Certified Case Manager; CDP = Certified Dementia Practitioner; CHPN = Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse; MBA = Master of Business Administration; MSN = Master of Science in Nursing; OCN = Oncology Certified Nurse; RN = Registered Nurse; CNO = Chief Nursing Officer
