The Senior Leadership Team at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry is a dynamic assembly of seasoned professionals that drive the success of the organization through strategy, vision, and excellence of their craft. Meet our Senior Leadership Team below.
James Dismond
Executive Director/CEO
With a decade of dedicated service in the not-for-profit sector, James is an accomplished senior leader with a strong focus on hospice and palliative care. Throughout his career, James has consistently demonstrated a commitment to providing compassionate end-of-life support and enhancing the quality of care for patients and their families.
He is passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of those facing challenging circumstances and fostering an environment of empathy and support. As a steadfast advocate for hospice and palliative care, James have worked to raise awareness, forge community partnerships, and advance Hospice Care of the Lowcountry’s mission. His expertise in navigating complex healthcare landscapes and driving organizational growth has resulted in improved services and increased access to vital resources for patients in need.
With a deep-rooted commitment to excellence, James enjoys seeking new opportunities for professional development to remain at the forefront of best practices in the world of hospice and palliative care. His love for creating a difference and upholding the highest standards of care fuels his dedication to serving others.
Gina Harris, MSN, SMQT
Director of Patient Care Services
Gina moved to Virginia from England in 1981 and pursued a career in mortgage banking in the Washington, DC area. In 1998, while raising four children, she returned to school and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2002. Gina’s nursing career began in intensive care and emergency, and then she earned her Master’s in Nursing Leadership and became the director of an ICU and Cardiovascular Recovery Unit.
Later, Gina moved into the field of long-term care as a Director of Nursing, learning the CMS regulatory standards, ultimately moving into a regulatory position for CMS as a certified surveyor.
Gina takes great joy in mentoring nurses and helping nurses grow into their desired care specialties.
Lexie White, MSW, LISW-CP
Director of Social Services
Lexie has enjoyed a 10+ year career in psychosocial healthcare working in both end-of-life care and bereavement and with direct mental health care. Lexie was inspired to pursue a career in social services after working at a day shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness while in undergraduate school.
A proud graduate of Marshall University, Lexie was awarded a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in social work. Lexie is EMDR certified and trained in DBT, ACT, and IFS therapy modalities.
Lexie has played an influential role in the sustainability and mission-driven growth of every non-profit and private practice that she has had the pleasure of working with, and her priority is always providing the best evidence-based care for all patients and their families. When Lexie is not working, she can be found with her dogs or working on her dissertation.
Chrissena Cohen
Director of Administration
Chrissena has over 20 years of experience leading at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, joining the team in 2002. Her loyalty and consistency within the organization — along with her commitment to professional growth — sets the standard for administrative excellence at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry. Through years of continuous learning and hands-on experience, she became the Director of Administration, leading in-office administrative staff in advancing the vision of Hospice Care of the Lowcountry.
When Chrissena isn’t in the office, she enjoys bowling and watching basketball.
Sharonica Gavin
Director of Fundraising & Development
Sharonica has numerous years of experience in the nonprofit spectrum. Prior to joining Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, she served as the Development Manager for Bluffton Self Help.
In her time at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, Sharonica as aided in helping organize many processes, has planned and executed large-scale events, and has mastered cultivating donor relations. Sharonica is known for her visionary approach to fundraising, driven by a commitment to impact and sustainability. She believes in fostering authentic relationships with donors to align their philanthropic goals with Hospice Care of the Lowcountry’s mission.
Beyond her professional role, Sharonica is deeply engaged with the community, serving as an advisory board member for the Department of Public Health at the University of South Carolina – Beaufort. She is passionate about empowering underserved populations through education and access to end-of-life care.
In her free time, Sharonica can be found shopping at her favorite store — Home Goods —, supporting her daughter at sports games, or at the beach listening to an audiobook.
David Williams, RN
Director of Quality & Compliance
David has been working in healthcare for 26 years and boasts a diverse medical background in emergency medicine, where he earned his certified emergency nurse classification in a level I trauma center. He has held multiple leadership roles at the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute and the Markey Cancer Institute. He has a Bachelor’s degree in English, Biology, and Nursing, and is actively pursuing his Master’s in public health.
David served 12 years in the U.S. Army as a special operations combat medic and later as a trauma nurse and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
He has a daughter that is attending the University of Kentucky pursuing her nursing degree. In his free time, David enjoys spending his time by the water.
Megan Radcliffe
Director of Patient Outreach
Megan is from Ohio and has an extensive background in management, marketing, and hospice care. While she worked in the world of print and digital media, she earned my Bachelor’s in Advertising and Marketing. That same year, she relocated to South Carolina and began to discover her passion for end-of-life care.
Since joining the hospice workforce, Megan’s main focus has been educating everyone from the general public to hospital physicians on the benefits of hospice and palliative care services, taking every opportunity to learn and grow her extensive knowledge and help her teams provide the best end-of-life care to patients and families.
Before joining Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, Megan was the Marketing Director at a local assisted living community — But her heart was still in hospice care. She brings her wealth of knowledge and experience to the Hospice Care of the Lowcountry family by leading our patient outreach efforts.
Outside of work, Megan enjoys fishing with her husband and two sons.
MEET OUR PHYSICIANS
Hospice Care of the Lowcountry is pleased to introduce our Medical Director, Dr. Carl Derrick. Together with our Hospice Physicians, Dr. Gary Thomas and Dr. Stephen Tiley, they bring over 40 years of experience in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, Endocrinology, Cardiovascular Health, and Hematology.
Our Medical Director and Hospice Physicians — along with our clinical care team — work closely with a patient’s trusted health care provider to ensure that the focus remains on making end-of-life and chronic symptom process as painless and stress-free as possible. This benefits both the patient and as his or her loved ones. Available for home visits and consults, our Medical Director and Hospice Physicians are passionate about providing the most compassionate care, improving our patients’ quality of life, and preserving their dignity as they navigate the difficult end-of-life or chronic diagnosis journey.
F. Carl Derrick, MD
Medical Director:
Hospice Care of the Lowcountry
& Lowcountry Palliative Care
A board-certified specialist in internal medicine, Dr. F. Carl Derrick brings to Hospice Care of the Lowcountry professional interests that include cardiovascular and endocrine medicine. His professional experience includes being a staff physician at Bayview Nursing Center in Beaufort as well as the medical director at Driftwood Nursing Center and in practice at Lowcountry Medical Associates in Charleston. Along with being our Medical Director, Dr. Derrick is also a primary care physician for the Beaufort Memorial Lowcountry Medical Group.
A former chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at Beaufort Memorial Hospital and clinical instructor of medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, he is currently the medical director of multiple healthcare organizations. He participates in clinical trials as a principal investigator.
Dr. Derrick and his wife, Melissa, have four children. He enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and golf.
Gary Thomas, MD
Hospice Physician
Dr. Gary Thomas received his B.A. of Chemistry from the College of Charleston and medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. Following that, he did his residency in internal medicine at the Medical College of Georgia and was named chief resident. He completed his medical oncology fellowship at The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University. Dr. Thomas is board certified in medical oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American Cancer Society and South Carolina Oncology Society.
Dr. Thomas has been in practice in the Lowcountry of South Carolina since 1993 and has been the Medical Director of South Carolina Cancer Specialists since 2001. He accepted the Clinical Assistant Professor appointment to Medical University of South Carolina in 2006.
Stephen Tiley, DO
Hospice Physician
Dr. Stephen Tiley is board certified in medical oncology, hematology and internal medicine. He came to the Lowcountry from Vidalia, Georgia, after seven years on staff at Meadows Regional Cancer Center there.
Previously director of its infusion center, most recently he had been chief of the Beaufort Memorial New River Cancer Center’s hematology/oncology division and chair of its medicine department. He also served as assistant medical director for Community Hospice in Vidalia.