Gregory Wood’s secret to success is simply being good to people. As executive director of Hospice of the Ozarks in Mountain Home for the last 12 years, that’s something he’s had a lot of time to perfect.
Wood’s journey into hospice care began two decades ago when he experienced the support of a hospice team firsthand. This experience, combined with his social work background, led to executive hospice jobs in Oklahoma, then Arkansas, where he has focused on financial stability, program growth and community impact.
Under Wood’s leadership, Hospice of the Ozarks has faced and overcome significant challenges, particularly with finances and staff stability. Financial support in a health care organization is “extremely challenging,” Wood said. The support of the community to fill in the gap of reimbursements from the government is vital, he said.
Wood’s management philosophy emphasizes teamwork and servant leadership, which has helped him build cohesive and purposeful teams throughout his career. “No one is an island unto themselves,” Wood said. “We need the strengths of one another, and we need to acknowledge and give credit for these strengths. Treat others well. Be open to apologize and stay humble.”
Wood plans to continue serving Hospice of the Ozarks, and to develop new palliative care programs for seriously and chronically ill individuals in north-central Arkansas.
Wood’s impact extends beyond his organization. He currently serves as the volunteer president of the Hospice & Palliative Care Association of Arkansas and is a past chairman of the board of the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization.
After working in a field dedicated to providing comfort and support during life’s most challenging moments, Wood said he has found that listening to and caring for and supporting others will always go a long way.
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