After dedicating her life to caring for others, Dr. Cleanne Cass is retiring from Ohio’s Hospice, leaving behind a legacy of compassion that has touched countless lives. Her pioneering work and unwavering commitment have helped shape hospice care not just in Ohio, but across the nation. 

As the first medical director of Mercy Hospice in Springfield (now part of Ohio’s Hospice), Dr. Cass was instrumental in bringing hospice care to Ohio. “When I finished medical school in 1972, there was no hospice care in this country,” she recalls. Seeing hospice movements flourishing in Japan, England, and New Zealand, she was determined to bring this vital care to her community. 

Her vision helped transform Ohio’s Hospice into what she calls “a mecca” for healthcare professionals dedicated to end-of-life care. As the hospice movement gained momentum in the 1980s, Dr. Cass worked tirelessly to establish high standards of care and advance patient rights. 

One of her proudest achievements was helping pass Ohio’s DNR legislation. “For years, hospice patients were at risk of having CPR performed if paramedics came to their homes when they were dying,” she explains. “Our hospice provided leadership to have the Ohio DNR law passed. We were the seventh state in the nation to have a DNR law in 1998. Until then, everybody got resuscitated.” 

Dr. Cass was also a pioneer in establishing professional credentials for hospice care. In 1997, she and Dr. Jules Sherman became among the first physicians in Ohio to receive certification in hospice and palliative specialty care, well before it became an official medical specialty in 2007. 

Throughout her career, Dr. Cass has served on numerous state and national task forces, including Ohio’s Compassionate Care Task Force and the Ohio Governor’s Opioid Task Force. Her dedication earned her the 2021 Ohio Osteopathic Association Distinguished Service Award, the organization’s highest honor. “It was beyond my wildest dreams,” she says humbly. “Ohio’s Hospice made it possible for me to participate in every opportunity I’ve had and motivates me to protect the rights of hospice patients and physicians.” 

Beyond her direct patient care and advocacy work, Dr. Cass has helped shape the future of hospice care through her dedication to teaching. As a mentor in Ohio’s Hospice’s Fellowship Program, she has trained countless physicians in hospice and palliative medicine, ensuring her commitment to compassionate end-of-life care lives on through the doctors of tomorrow. 

What makes Ohio’s Hospice special, according to Dr. Cass, is its exceptional team. “We touch so many lives now. The front-line staff is fabulous, and they never let patients or their families down,” she shares. “The nurses are amazing, and whenever you hear somebody talk about the great care their loved ones received, they mention our nurses. They have their boots on the ground day-by-day and are very proud to execute our mission.” 

Though retiring from daily work, Dr. Cass speaks with deep gratitude about her time at Ohio’s Hospice. “It has been a joy to be a part of the mission,” she reflects. “I am grateful for the opportunities given to me in my career here.” 

And while she’s stepping away from her day-to-day responsibilities, she has no intention of becoming inactive. Dr. Cass plans to continue serving as a volunteer home care physician, finding new ways to fulfill her calling. “I look forward to finding creative ways to continue having meaningful purpose of service in my life,” she says warmly. “I will miss the camaraderie at Ohio’s Hospice. Everybody is like family. 

Dr. Cass’s retirement marks the end of an era, but her legacy lives on in the compassionate care provided every day at Ohio’s Hospice and in the countless lives she has touched throughout her remarkable career.