When you invite Inspiration Hospice into your home during life’s most vulnerable moments, you’re not just receiving clinical care—you’re welcoming extraordinary individuals who have dedicated their lives to this sacred work. Throughout the Wasatch Front, our team members bring not only professional expertise but also profound compassion and personal commitment to each family they serve.
What Drives Our Hospice Team?
Behind every Inspiration Hospice uniform is a person with a story—often one that led them specifically to hospice care. We asked some of our team members what drives their dedication to this unique field of healthcare.
Dr. Elaine Martinez, Medical Director
Walking through her Salt Lake City neighborhood, Dr. Martinez often passes the homes of former patients. “Each house holds memories of families I’ve had the privilege to support,” she shares. “Before hospice, I practiced emergency medicine for fifteen years. I was saving lives, but something was missing—the deeper human connection that comes with walking alongside patients through their final journey.”
After her own father’s hospice experience, Dr. Martinez redirected her career. “I witnessed firsthand how skilled hospice care transformed what could have been a clinical experience into a meaningful, peaceful transition. Now I help families find that same sense of completion and dignity.”
Michael Chen, RN, 24/7 Nursing Team
Michael’s calm voice is often the first one families hear when they call our 24/7 nursing line with urgent questions or concerns. His path to hospice nursing began during his own father’s illness.
“The hospice nurses who cared for my dad showed me what nursing could be—unhurried, deeply personalized, and focused on the whole person,” Michael explains. “In hospital nursing, time constraints often limited my ability to provide that level of care. Here at Inspiration, I can be the kind of nurse I always aspired to be.”
Michael particularly values the opportunity to mentor new hospice nurses. “When they discover the difference they can make by simply being present with patients and families, it reignites my own passion for this work.”
Sarah Williams, Social Worker
Sarah’s office contains a wall of thank-you cards from families she’s supported throughout the Wasatch Front. “These aren’t just cards to me—they’re reminders of the privilege it is to help families navigate difficult waters,” she says.
With 12 years in hospice social work, Sarah has developed a special interest in supporting children who have a grandparent or parent in hospice care. “Children often understand more than we give them credit for. Helping them process their feelings and create meaningful final memories with their loved one is incredibly rewarding work.”
Sarah recalls a recent Magical Day she helped coordinate: “We transformed a living room into a movie theater complete with popcorn and a red carpet so a grandfather could watch his favorite films with his grandchildren one last time. Those children will always remember that day—not the illness, but the joy.”
Pastor James Thompson, Chaplain
“My role isn’t about imposing religious beliefs,” Pastor James is quick to clarify. “It’s about meeting people exactly where they are spiritually, whether that’s deeply religious, questioning, or not religious at all.”
James finds that end-of-life often awakens spiritual questions even in those who haven’t previously explored them. “I’m there to listen without judgment, to help people find meaning in their life story, and to support whatever brings them peace.”
One of his most memorable experiences involved a patient who had been estranged from his faith community for decades. “We were able to rebuild those connections in his final weeks. Watching the healing that took place—not just for him but for the entire community—reminded me why this work matters so deeply.”
Emma Ramirez, Certified Nursing Assistant
Emma provides the most intimate daily care for our patients, from bathing and grooming to comfort measures. “People sometimes ask how I can do this work day after day,” she says. “The truth is, I receive more than I give.”
Emma describes the sacred trust families place in her: “When you’re helping someone bathe who can no longer do it themselves, there’s such vulnerability there. I try to preserve their dignity and even find moments of joy and connection. Sometimes it’s through music, sometimes through gentle touch or just listening to their stories.”
Having served families throughout the Wasatch Front for eight years, Emma has developed deep connections with the communities she serves. “Each neighborhood, each culture has its own way of approaching end-of-life. Learning about these traditions and respecting them is an important part of my work.”
Maria Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator
Maria oversees our network of dedicated volunteers who provide companionship, respite for caregivers, and support for our Magical Day program. Many, she notes, have had a personal experience with hospice care.
“Our volunteers often come to us after witnessing the impact of hospice care in their own families,” Maria explains. “They want to give back, to be that compassionate presence for someone else.”
Maria recalls a volunteer who read poetry to a patient each week: “After the patient passed, his wife told me those poetry sessions were the highlight of his week. Our volunteer had created a beautiful gift of connection when other forms of communication had become difficult.”
The Inspiration Hospice Difference
While we’re one of Utah’s largest hospice providers, our team approach ensures that each patient receives highly personalized care. Our staff members work collaboratively, bringing their unique professional skills together while sharing a common commitment to compassionate, dignified end-of-life care.
What truly sets our team apart is their availability. With qualified nurses accessible 24/7, patients and families throughout the Wasatch Front never face difficult moments alone. As one family member recently shared, “Knowing I could call anytime—day or night—and reach someone who already knew my mother’s case made all the difference in our ability to keep her comfortable at home.”
Join Our Hospice Family
For families considering hospice care, the quality of the care team makes all the difference in this profound life transition. We invite you to meet our staff, ask questions, and discover the passionate individuals behind our hospice services.
Contact Inspiration Hospice at (385) 247-2020 or visit www.inspirationhospice.com to learn more about our dedicated team and how they can support your family’s unique needs.