Our Bloggers

The Arbor Hospice Blog is excited to have the following contributing bloggers!



Gloria D. Brooks, MPA, CHA, Arbor Hospice President and CEO
In March 2007, Gloria D. Brooks began her role as President and CEO of Arbor Hospice. Gloria oversees all hospice, palliative care, grief support services and hospice residential operations. Her responsibilities include strategic planning, financial management, service delivery, business development and stakeholder relations. Gloria's career includes many years in the non-profit sector in a variety of capacities including executive director, director of operations and regional development director for well-known Michigan health and human services organizations. Gloria earned a masters degree in public administration from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan in 2001 and a bachelors of science in art therapy from the University of Evansville, Indiana. Gloria has served as a member of the board of directors for the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Michigan, a steering committee member for Inforum's Healthcare NEXT affinity group and member of the Junior League of Ann Arbor's Community Advisory Committee. She was named a Champion of the New Economy by Junior Achievement of Southeast Michigan in 2011 and Educator of the Year by the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Michigan in 2012.

Gloria can be reached at gbrooks@arborhospice.org.


Helen Buccella-Costa, Arbor Hospice Volunteer
Helen Buccella-Costa is an Arbor Hospice volunteer whose current role with Arbor Hospice includes coordinating the pet therapy program. Since Alpine, a Golden Retriever, came to Arbor Hospice in 2011, Helen has been instrumental in developing and implementing the agency's dog therapy program. Some of her responsibilities include scheduling Alpine, taking her to visit patients as well as to public relations and social events. She creatively maintains Alpine's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/arborhospicealpine) for the purpose of informing patients and staff of Alpine's activities. Helen volunteered for two years prior to Alpine's arrival, providing companionship and By Your Side visits. She has been an administrative assistant and even did some clowning for a patient's birthday party. In 2011, Helen was awarded the Hospice and Palliative Care of Michigan Volunteer of the Year Award and in 2013 was a finalist for the Governor's Service Awards for Volunteer of the Year.

Helen can be reached at hcosta@arborhospice.org.




Michelle Chaves-Torres, CMT, AMTA, Arbor Hospice Complementary Therapy Coordinator/Massage Therapist
Michelle Chaves-Torres joined Arbor Hospice in August 2011. Her responsibilities include the organizing of Arbor Hospice's complementary therapy program and providing massage therapy to patients. Prior to her position at Arbor Hospice, Michelle was the Administrator at LEGUS Law, Inc and still holds a private massage therapy clientele for more than seven years. Michelle earned her massage therapy certificate at the Ann Arbor Institute of Massage Therapy in Ann Arbor, Michigan and received additional certificates in Swedish massage, Myofascial Release Technique, Neuromuscular Therapy and Raindrop Therapy as well as pregnancy/infant massage and elder massage. She is currently a Reiki master.

Michelle can be reached at mchaves-torres@arborhospice.org.


Dennis Sparks, Arbor Hospice Volunteer
Dennis Sparks is a volunteer at Arbor Hospice in Ann Arbor, Michigan who leads bereavement groups and supports patients and families in preserving personal histories by videotaping patients' life stories. He also serves as a "thinking partner" to school system administrators, principals, teacher leaders and leadership teams to assist them in developing their knowledge and skill to continuously improve teaching and learning in all classrooms. Dennis is an emeritus executive director of the National Staff Development Council, now known as Learning Forward and the author of Leading for Results and Leadership 180: Daily Meditations for School Leaders.

Dennis can be reached at thinkingpartner@gmail.com.


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