Our Staff
Our Providers
Providing the best quality of life possible is the goal of a Hospice or Palliative Care physician. These special doctors are the keystones of our Care Teams. They seek to understand the patient's present, past and future — what illness or treatment came before, what the patient's wishes are for their healthcare now, and what goals they hope to reach.
Our physicians coordinate with the patient's personal doctor or specialists to fulfill those wishes and calm crises whenever possible. They can also act as the patient's primary care physician if requested.
Dr. Leon Goudas
Vice President of Medical Services & CMO
Dr. Leon Goudas
Vice President of Medical Services & CMO
Dr. Leon Goudas is Burke Hospice & Palliative Care’s Medical Director. He was born in Minneapolis, MN and grew up in Rochester, MN. He attended Williams College in Williamstown, MA and graduated magna cum laude with a major in Chemistry. He then attended Dartmouth Medical School and graduated with honors. He completed a six-year general surgery residency at Bassett Healthcare. Dr. Goudas was a private practice general surgeon for four years in Lenoir, NC prior to becoming the full time medical director with Burke Hospice and Palliative Care.
In his spare time, Dr. Goudas enjoys gardening and spending time with his three children.
Nurse Practitioners (NP's)
A Nurse Practitioner, or NP, works under the supervision of a physician to provide the same services as an MD. They examine, diagnose, and prescribe, just like a physician. You may have seen a Nurse Practitioner at a doctor's office without realizing she was not a doctor. Like physicians, NP's can work in a wide variety of settings, from family practices to specialists' offices.
Our Nurse Practitioners...
Work primarily with our Palliative Care program
Are Often the first Care Team member the patient will meet
Assess the patient's physical and emotional condition
Identify issues with pain or uncontrolled symptoms (nausea, shortness of breath, etc.)
Confer with the patient's physician and our Medical Director on easing or eliminating the pain or symptoms
All our Nurse Practitioners are required to have work experience relevant to Hospice care. Our NP's typically specialize in Family Medicine or Geriatric Medicine