John Thoma
Biographical Profile

Mr. Thoma is a graduate of Boston University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree concentrating in Spanish.  He attended Tufts University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Non-Profit Institute concentrating in Community Economic Development and Non-Profit Management. Mr. Thoma began his career with Hospice of Wake County in 1991 as Director of Finance and Information Systems.  He was appointed Executive Director in 2002 and CEO in 2004.

John is a member of the NHPCO Board of Directors, NHPCO Quality and Standards Committee and the Membership Committees, and has served on the Governance Committee.  Hospice of Wake County (HOWC) was established in 1979 and provides Hospice, Home Health and Palliative Care in a seven county region.  

In 21 years of service to hospice, palliative care and home health John has helped launch new and innovative programs in service of patients, families and providers including:

• Creating a Foundation for annual fundraising, capital campaign and endowment campaign
• Grief programs for children and the Teens and Photography Counseling Program
• Licensing of a certified home health and a private duty program
• Palliative care unit in Central Prison in Raleigh
• Creating a palliative care program serving hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private homes
• Pharmacy research in treating constipation for patients taking opioid medications
• Participation in UNC research related to improving palliative care outcomes in nursing homes.
• Participation in The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence PEACE pilot project in NC
• Completion of a $15.3 million hospice and palliative care center that includes an administrative building, grief counseling center, spiritual care sanctuary, and a 20-bed hospice facility
• Successful merger between two community based non-profit hospice programs.
• Founding member of several community coalitions including an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and Health Literacy Coalition.