Mary Murphy, MS, RN, CNS, AOCN, ACHPN, President, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, was named Not-for-Profit Executive of the Year at the annual Dayton Business Journal Business of the Year event at the Schuster Center on November 8, 2018.

Murphy’s journey to lead the organization began over 35 years ago. She started her career as a bedside nurse. In the decades since, she has served as a clinical team leader, educator and administrator. In her current role as President of Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, she leads the organization’s mission and oversees daily operations to assure the delivery of superior care and superior services to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses. Mary has never lost her zeal and enthusiasm as a patient advocate and continues to inspire her team toward excellence in care and servant leadership with compassion.

Under Mary’s leadership, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton achieved a national first, and Mary represented the organization as it became the first hospice in the nation to earn Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This designation recognizes institutions who provide nurses the ability to operate in an environment that supports their professional needs and promotes high standards. By assuring an optimum workplace for nurses, organizations that meet the pathway to Excellence criteria demonstrate a culture of sustained excellence and staff empowerment, resulting in the successful recruitment of top candidates and staff retention through high job satisfaction.

In 2018, Mary was a lead researcher and contributing author to a Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing article on the topic, “Evaluation of a Low Light Intervention – Starlight Therapy – for Agitation, Anxiety, restlessness, Sleep Disturbances, Dyspnea and Pain at End of Life,” and was a presenter at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association Annual Assembly, demonstrating national leadership and spotlighting innovation in care at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton.

Initiatives spearheaded under Mary’s leadership at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton include:

• IMap(Individualized Mission Achievement Program) a unique program designed to recognize achievement and encourage excellence. IMap is open to all staff members and challenges individuals or groups to create and complete a project beyond normal work requirements that falls into one of four pillar categories: Education, Service, Leadership or Quality Improvement. Successful completion of IMap goals qualifies employees for a one-time monetary reward of $2,000.
• The Nursing Honor Guard,comprised of Ohio’s Hospice volunteer nurses who conduct a ceremony to celebrate the service and honor nurses who have life-limiting illnesses and have become patients in the care of Ohio’s Hospice. Dressed in traditional and historical uniforms, the Honor\ Guard recognizes the nurse for her commitment to caring and providing compassion to patients. Career highlights and individual achievements are highlighted as part of the ceremony, in which the honoree is presented with a pin and certificate of appreciation.
• Kindness Crew,providing Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton staff members an opportunity to team build as a member of an employee group volunteering for not-for-profit organizations in the community. Kindness Crew members are supported as they volunteer with food banks, senior and rehabilitation centers, shelters and others to extend the Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton mission and enhance quality of life. Mary has authored/co-authored 17 papers and book chapters on various topics in oncology and hospice nursing.  She has 10 presentations to her credit on topics in oncology and hospice nursing at the state and national levels.  She serves on the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Editorial Review Board and CEU reviewer for Midwest Care Alliance (Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization). Mary participates as a book reviewer for the Oncology Nursing Forum and was a previous item writer for the ONS.  She participated in the Oncology Mentor Fellow Program with successful publication.  She has also acted as a CNS preceptor, assisting three staff nurses in publishing in a Palliative Care text.   Also, among the honors and recognition Mary has received are:
  • 2014 induction into Wright State University Nursing Wall of Fame
  • 2012 Ohio Mentorship Award from Outreach Ohio of the Ohio Oncology Nursing Society
  • 2012 Dayton Wise Woman Award from the Dayton Women’s Initiative Program
  • 2011 Roberta Scofield Memorial Certification Award, Oncology Nursing Society
  • 2007 Outstanding Alumna of the College of Nursing Award, Wright State University
  • 2006 Ohio Nursing Society Pat McDue End-of-Life Care Nursing Career Development Award
  • 2006 Ohio Nursing Society/End of Life Education Award of Excellence in End of Life Care
  • 2004 Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association Innovations in End of Life Care Award, National conference of American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medical Professionals
  • 2004 Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Mentor Fellow Program
  • 2001 National Heart of Hospice Award, Excellence in Management, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
  • 2001 Hospice Caregiver of the Year Award, Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

  Mary’s activities with professional organizations include serving in board and leadership roles with the

  • Montgomery County Nursing Society
  • Ohio Pain Initiative
  • Education Committee of the Midwest Care Alliance
  • Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association
  • West Central Ohio Oncology Nursing Society
  • Wright State University Alumni Board

Mary exemplifies the spirit of the Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton mission of providing superior care and superior services to the patients and families we are privileged to serve. A servant leader with a true hospice heart, Mary serves patients and families, staff and community with a selfless devotion to mercy and compassion.