Catherine Hamel

President, Executive Vice President of Continuing Care
Gilchrist, GBMC

Catherine Y. Hamel MA, president of Gilchrist and executive vice president of continuing care at GBMC HealthCare, has dedicated her career to ensuring compassionate and quality care for those facing serious illness and end-of-life challenges.

Hamel’s journey in health care began at 16 when she worked night shifts in a nursing home. This early experience shaped her commitment to improving patient care. “Witnessing the harsh realities faced by patients motivated me to commit my life to ensuring that people receive care marked by kindness and compassion,” Hamel said.

With over 20 years of executive experience, Hamel has held leadership positions at various health care organizations before joining Gilchrist in 2008. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming president in 2015. Under her guidance, Gilchrist has become Maryland’s leading provider of serious illness and end-of-life care.

As president of the Hospice Alliance in Maryland, Hamel played a crucial role in creating Alliance Kids, a statewide program for children’s hospice services. She is also a board member at Global Partners in Care, where she advocates for palliative and hospice care worldwide.

During her tenure, Hamel has led Gilchrist through significant innovations and challenges. The organization established the state’s only COVID-positive hospice inpatient unit during the pandemic. In 2021, Gilchrist launched the Neighbor Concept of Care to enhance sustainability and improve health equity within diverse communities.