Executive Team
Executive Director
Debbie assumed the Executive Director role in 2016, after serving the agency since 1994, overseeing throughout the years clinical and financial operations, fund development, and volunteer services. During her 28-year tenure, the agency grew from serving 140 patients a day with 120 staff members and a $5 million annual budget to supporting over 5,000 patients daily with 1,500 staff and a $190 million annual budget. Founded in 1977, the not-for-profit agency today provides a continuum of care - serving people with chronic illness, all stages of dementia, those needing home-based primary care services, and patients and their families in need of compassionate hospice care. Debbie is committed to developing partnerships to meet evolving needs, while carrying out our mission: Bringing comfort, dignity and compassionate care to our community, regardless of insurance or financial resources.
Senior Vice President, Operations
Rachel oversees all clinical operations. A doctor of nursing practice, Behrendt’s career spans more than 25 years in a variety of roles, including staff nurse, nurse educator, clinical nurse specialist, VP of nursing and chief nursing officer. Her clinical background is primarily oncology and palliative care. She joined Hospice of the Valley in 2016. Behrendt received her doctorate in nursing practice from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey. She received her master of science in nursing, nursing education at Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ.
Executive Medical Director
Ned oversees the agency’s physicians and nurse practitioners. He joined HOV as a medical director in 2007. He has worked as both a team medical director and as a palliative care consultant in the hospital setting. After growing up in the Boston area, Dr. Stolzberg attended the University of Texas, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He went on to graduate from medical school at the University of Massachusetts where he was awarded the Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Medical Student. He did his residency at Phoenix Baptist Hospital.
Director of Community Engagement
Lin Sue joined Hospice of the Valley in 2015 after more than 30 years as a primary news anchor at 12 News/KPNX. A 9-time Emmy award winning reporter, she graduated cum laude from Willamette University and received her Masters of Journalism degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She manages marketing and public relations, overseeing community-facing departments including volunteers, fund and business development and creative services. She and her standard poodle Max, also volunteer as a pet therapy team.
Medical Director, Supportive Care for Dementia
Dr. Hamilton received board certification in internal medicine, geriatrics and palliative medicine. She is Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, is Professor of Practice at ASU, oversees HOV’s Supportive Care for Dementia program; and teaches Mindfulness, among other projects. Dr. Hamilton was listed for over 10 years in Phoenix Magazine’s “Best Docs of Phoenix”, and is the recipient of numerous awards, including National Library of Congress’s Local Legend award.
Vice President of Human Resources
Sabrina joined Hospice of the Valley in 1994 to establish the agency’s first human resources department. Since then she has created state-of-the-art programs and systems supporting the agency’s strategic initiatives and goals.