The NorthStar Care Community is dedicated to strengthening and expanding the mission of nonprofit hospices throughout Michigan and beyond. The NorthStar Care Community leadership team provides oversight for Hospice of Michigan (HOM), Arbor Hospice and the services they offer including NorthStar Palliative Care, Anchors Programs for Children and NorthStar Institute.
Robert Cahill
President, CEO
Mr. Cahill brings a well-rounded background of hands-on experience in finance, operations, sales and marketing in several industries, including healthcare, managed care, insurance and banking/finance. Joining Hospice of Michigan as Vice President of Finance/Chief Financial Officer in May 1998, he was promoted to Senior Vice President the following year. In July 2009, he was named Executive Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer, serving in that capacity until he became President and CEO.
Before coming to Hospice of Michigan, Mr. Cahill was Vice President of Operations at Value Health’s largest division – Great Lakes Region, based in Southfield. Value Health’s Great Lakes Region was a managed care operation responsible for managing care for 3.5 million individuals.
Prior to Value Health, Mr. Cahill was Vice President/Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Insight Recovery Centers. He helped this multi-site nonprofit flourish and diversify for 13 years. Mr. Cahill spearheaded several acquisitions and a startup computer service company.
Mr. Cahill received his Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, his Master of Science degree in Administration from Central Michigan University and completed the Executive Education Program through Harvard Business School.
Mr. Cahill is also the President of the Hospice of Michigan Board of Trustees, and serves on the board of the Hospice of Michigan Foundation, and is President of the Board, Arbor Hospice, Inc. and sits on the board of the Arbor Hospice Foundation. He is also sits on the Detroit Economic Club Board of Directors.
Patrick Miller, RN, MBA, MHSA, FACHE
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
As EVP and COO of NorthStar Care Community, Patrick Miller focuses on continually improving financial, quality and satisfaction outcomes as well as creating operational efficiencies that help us achieve our mission. He is responsible for oversight of all hospice operations, sales and marketing, our Contact Center, admissions, Anchors Programs for Children and human resources.
A thirteen-year veteran of Hospice of Michigan, Patrick began his tenure as Service Line Director – Facilities, and has since served as Corporate Director of Clinical Services, Corporate Director of New Business Development, and Corporate Director of Organizational Integrity. Serving as Senior Vice President, Service Operations, Chief Operating Officer since 2007, Patrick was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer in March 2014. This role expanded in January 2016 when Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice established North Star Care Community.
Patrick is a graduate of the Second Degree/Second Career program at Wayne State University College of Nursing. In addition, he earned a BS in biology, an MBA and a MHSA from the University of Michigan.
Patrick was previously executive director of Avalon Hospice in Flint. He also worked at Henry Ford Hospital where he was a staff RN and assistant manager for three years.
He was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to be a public board member of the State Board of Mortuary Sciences. Patrick’s background also includes a cultural exchange program in the Middle East and a fellowship with Diné College on the Navajo Nation
Lee Ann Myers, CPA, CGMA
Executive Vice President Finance, Chief Financial Officer
As EVP and CFO of NorthStar Care Community, Lee Ann Myers is a vital member of the Executive team, managing all aspects of Finance, including general accounting, patient financial services, payroll, accounts payable and data services. She also oversees the Information Services, Data Solutions, Property Management, Contract Services, Supply Chain Management, and Business Integration departments. She has helped provide the structure, stability and accountability that helped the organization transition into a statewide hospice provider with national influence. Recently Lee Ann added the Quality and Compliance department to her oversight responsibilities.
First joining Hospice of Michigan (HOM) in 2000 as Controller, Lee Ann stepped into the role of Vice President, Finance/Chief Financial Officer in 2010. With the formation of NorthStar Care Community in 2016, Lee Ann’s role expanded to encompass both HOM and Arbor Hospice. Lee Ann was elevated to Executive Vice President in 2017.
When Lee Ann joined Hospice of Michigan, it was a personal goal of hers to combine a career in finance with one that allowed her to dedicate herself to a mission-driven organization. Prior to her position at HOM, Lee Ann was Director of Reimbursement and Contracting as well as the Compliance Officer at Mercy Continuing Care and was a Senior Healthcare Auditor at Deloitte & Touche.
Lee Ann, who is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a chartered global management accountant (CGMA), has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She graduated cum laude.
Lee Ann says that growing up, her family’s dinner conversations often focused on her mother’s career as a nurse and concerns about issues facing her patients. Lee Ann said that she started her hospice career with a strong sense of empathy toward our patients and the staff who care for them.
“While finance and accounting may appear to have little to do with the delivery of care,” said Lee Ann, “in actuality, a strong financial foundation is essential to our mission. My job is to ensure that we expand our resources, and protect our foundation.”
Marcie Hillary
Senior Vice President Community Relations, Chief Development Officer
As Senior Vice President Community Relations for NorthStar Care Community, Marcie Hillary oversees all fundraising initiatives and works collaboratively with the Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice Foundation Boards. With a statewide staff, Hillary’s role is not only to raise money to fund programs but also to raise awareness for HOM and Arbor’s non-profit mission to serve all who need our help regardless of their ability to pay. The fundraising team focuses on a strong annual fund along with major and planned gifts, grants and high profile events. Some of the Foundation’s most successful fundraising and awareness campaigns have included: The Mask Project, Savor the Journey, Chris Van Allsburg Movie Premieres (The Polar Express 2004, Zathura 2005 and Jumanji 2017), Ace of Cakes, Ernie a play by Mitch Albom, Chandeliers in the City and Barley Barbeque and Beats.
As a member of the executive team, Marcie provides leadership on operational issues facing the organization. Marcie has been promoted many times during her tenure and along with her community relations duties she is the executive lead for the statewide grief support and volunteer services program. Across the state we serve 8,000 bereaved annually and have the support of 500 active and trained volunteers supporting our programs.
Marcie is a member of the Aquinas College Board of Trustees and Catholic Charities Western Michigan Board of Directors. Marcie earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Aquinas College, and her Masters in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband, Brian, and four children, Jeb, Grant, Sarah and Mavis.
Michael Paletta, MD, FAAHPM
Senior Vice President Medical Affairs, Chief Medical Officer
As Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs for NorthStar Care Community, Dr. Paletta oversees a team of licensed providers providing care to more than 1,700 patients each day through Hospice of Michigan and Arbor Hospice. Dr. Paletta guides policies and protocols related to patient care. Since starting his hospice career twenty years ago, he has seen the dramatic shift in acceptance of hospice and palliative care by patients facing a life-limiting illness, and the increase of services available to them.
Dr. Paletta is a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. He completed his residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, and is board certified in Internal Medicine. He was awarded a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and earned a CAQ in Geriatrics. He received certification under the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and re-certification under the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABIM). Dr. Paletta is a distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. In September 2016, Dr. Paletta was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to serve a two year term on the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Commission.
Before joining Hospice of Michigan in 1997, Dr. Paletta spent eight years with the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Family Medicine / Palliative Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine, and was a consultant in palliative medicine to the Oakwood Health System.
Concurrently with his civilian medical career, Dr. Paletta served in the air reserve forces for 30 years. He trained at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and earned an aeronautical rating of Chief Flight Surgeon. He has logged operational flying hours in a variety of fighter and attack aircraft, and has commanded military medical detachments in Europe and Central America. He served for 12 years as Surgeon General for the Michigan Air National Guard. Awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Achievement Award, the Iraq Campaign Ribbon with combat device, and the National Defense Ribbon. He is a graduate of the USAF Air War College. In 2007, he served a tour of active duty in Iraq as the Chief of Flight Medicine for coalition forces in Baghdad.
Dr. Paletta makes his home in Northville, MI with his wife, and has two adult sons.