Jean Moulthrop Hoogstra
Dr. John MorrisJean Moulthrop Hoogstra, Four Seasons’ founder and matriarch, received the Judith Lund Person Hospice Volunteer of the Year Award. At 94 years of age, she has volunteered for Four Seasons for over 30 years. She, along with a small group of volunteers, is credited with founding the agency in 1980 as Hospice of Henderson County (later to become Four Seasons). She has never stopped volunteering for the agency. As a volunteer, she began a speakers’ bureau, held volunteer training sessions, worked as a patient care volunteer, been an administrative volunteer, polled the community on quality of care, and has called active patients and caregivers for a live survey on quality of care.
Comeaux said, “Jean is our founder who had a dream and the determination to make it happen. Four Seasons is her ministry and her legacy. This award in many respects is a lifetime achievement award. Jean represents everything that is great about the true mission of hospice.”
Dr. John Morris, vice president of clinical outreach and palliative care medical director for Four Seasons, received the Sharon O. Dixon Award for excellent clinical care in a hospice. He was instrumental in starting Four Seasons palliative care program in 2005, which is recognized as one of the largest and top palliative care programs in the country. The program has grown exponentially under his leadership. He has also helped create a “Center of Excellence” which provides consultative services to palliative care providers from across the United States.
Comeaux said, “John Morris has been a tremendous asset not only to Four Seasons, but to the larger professional end-of-life care community. He has the unique ability to provide personal, compassionate care on a daily basis to patients and families, lead the organization in innovative services, and challenge other organizations to stretch their vision to provide better care for patients and families as well. He has truly raised the bar in providing excellent care to patients and families at the end of life.”
Four Seasons is a non-profit organization led by a dedicated team of health care professionals, social workers, spiritual care professionals and volunteers. Four Seasons currently serves patients in Henderson, Buncombe, Macon, Jackson, Transylvania counties and surrounding areas.
