Our Leadership Team
AARON HOUSH
President & CEO
Aaron Housh was born and raised in a small town in central Texas. He earned a Bachelor’s of Art in Political Science from Berea College in Kentucky. After graduation, he accepted a position with a local non-profit hospice organization where he says he “found not only a job, but his passion.” Over the next seven years, he gained extensive experience in hospice operations, grant writing, admission/referral development, fundraising campaigns, operations management, media relations, staff development and volunteer supervision. In 2011, he accepted the Chief Operating Officer position with a community based hospice in southern WV where he continued executive leadership in the hospice and palliative care field.
Joining Burke Hospice & Palliative Care in November 2015, Aaron brings a strong belief in and commitment to the mission of community-based hospice. In addition to his love for hospice, he also loves spending time with his wife and three children.
President & CEO
Aaron Housh was born and raised in a small town in central Texas. He earned a Bachelor’s of Art in Political Science from Berea College in Kentucky. After graduation, he accepted a position with a local non-profit hospice organization where he says he “found not only a job, but his passion.” Over the next seven years, he gained extensive experience in hospice operations, grant writing, admission/referral development, fundraising campaigns, operations management, media relations, staff development and volunteer supervision. In 2011, he accepted the Chief Operating Officer position with a community based hospice in southern WV where he continued executive leadership in the hospice and palliative care field.
Joining Burke Hospice & Palliative Care in November 2015, Aaron brings a strong belief in and commitment to the mission of community-based hospice. In addition to his love for hospice, he also loves spending time with his wife and three children.
DARYL BROWN
Chief Financial Officer
Daryl Brown was born in Spruce Pine, NC. He earned his Bachelor’s in Accounting from Mars Hill College. For the next 20 years, he worked for Rexnord Corporation as a Cost Accountant and General Accounting Supervisor. After Rexnord, he worked for Blue Ridge Healthcare for four years as a Senior Staff Accountant, then moved to Guardian Health Services in Hickory as Finance Director for four years.
Daryl came to Burke Hospice in February 2008. Daryl and his wife Iris have been married for 30 years and have one son. In his spare time, Daryl enjoys woodcarving, reading thrillers, and most of all, spending time with his wife.
Chief Financial Officer
Daryl Brown was born in Spruce Pine, NC. He earned his Bachelor’s in Accounting from Mars Hill College. For the next 20 years, he worked for Rexnord Corporation as a Cost Accountant and General Accounting Supervisor. After Rexnord, he worked for Blue Ridge Healthcare for four years as a Senior Staff Accountant, then moved to Guardian Health Services in Hickory as Finance Director for four years.
Daryl came to Burke Hospice in February 2008. Daryl and his wife Iris have been married for 30 years and have one son. In his spare time, Daryl enjoys woodcarving, reading thrillers, and most of all, spending time with his wife.
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.
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.
BARBARA BENTLEY, MBA, MSN, RN, CCM, CHPN
Vice President of Quality & Compliance
Barbara Taranto, MBA, MSN, RN, CCM, CHPN, was born in Hickory, North Carolina and has been a Burke County resident most of her life. She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Western Piedmont Community College and later graduated Magna Cum Laude from Western Carolina University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Barbara obtained her Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2016. Barbara’s early nursing experience included Telemetry, ICU, Pediatrics, and Medical Surgical in the hospital followed by Home Health for eight years.
Barbara came to Burke Hospice & Palliative Care in February 2011 as Director of Nursing Services and promoted to Vice President of Clinical Services in 2012. Her previous experience includes Nursing Administration in Case Management and Discharge Planning at Blue Ridge Healthcare and Management in ED Case Management and Utilization Review for Mission Hospitals. Barbara received her National Certification in Case Management in 2007, a Yellow Belt in Lean Six Sigma in 2010, and her certification in Hospice and Palliative Care in 2013. Barbara enjoys spending time with her family and outdoor activities.
Vice President of Quality & Compliance
Barbara Taranto, MBA, MSN, RN, CCM, CHPN, was born in Hickory, North Carolina and has been a Burke County resident most of her life. She received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Western Piedmont Community College and later graduated Magna Cum Laude from Western Carolina University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Barbara obtained her Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Nursing Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2016. Barbara’s early nursing experience included Telemetry, ICU, Pediatrics, and Medical Surgical in the hospital followed by Home Health for eight years.
Barbara came to Burke Hospice & Palliative Care in February 2011 as Director of Nursing Services and promoted to Vice President of Clinical Services in 2012. Her previous experience includes Nursing Administration in Case Management and Discharge Planning at Blue Ridge Healthcare and Management in ED Case Management and Utilization Review for Mission Hospitals. Barbara received her National Certification in Case Management in 2007, a Yellow Belt in Lean Six Sigma in 2010, and her certification in Hospice and Palliative Care in 2013. Barbara enjoys spending time with her family and outdoor activities.
