Dear friends,

As many of you may know, Hospice of Santa Barbara celebrates its 50th anniversary this year in 2024! We are planning exciting activities to commemorate this important milestone and the work we have accomplished over the years. We have a rich history that includes many HSB "pioneers" and significant landmarks along the way.  

We plan to highlight stories of healing and support from the greater Santa Barbara community. In this special year, our goal is to reflect on different aspects of our history as we look to the future. We hope that you will join us in this celebration of Hospice of Santa Barbara. Stay tuned. 

With the new year and Golden Anniversary of HSB upon us, I can't help but reflect on some of the ways in which we have stepped up for the community at some of our most challenging times over the years. Addressing tragedies such as the spate of suicides in local high schools some 15 years ago, the UCSB and Goleta Postal mass shootings, the Thomas Fire and Mudslide and Conception Boat accident...HSB is always there ready to be a compassionate presence in some of the most difficult of times.  

Over the years, we have developed programs and initiatives including No One Dies Alone where volunteers sit at the bedside of those dying at nursing homes and I Have A Friend that links adults who suffered a loss as a child with children who have recently experienced loss. We helped form the palliative team at Cottage Hospital, developed Compassionate Care of Carpinteria to serve that population, formed important community partnerships with organizations like SB Neighborhood Clinics, and are helping lead the effort to get everyone in Santa Barbara to complete their advance health directives. More than anything else, we have encouraged our community to bring the fear and stigma of death out into the open to "have the conversation" as my friend and predecessor Gail Rink used to say. I'm tremendously proud of the work that we have done and continue to do to help thousands of individuals and families experiencing the impact of serious illness or grieving the death of a loved one, free of charge. 

And in the spirit of celebrating our history, I invite you to read a recent "In Memoriam" in the Santa Barbara Independent featuring one of our HSB forefathers and dear friend Charlie Zimmer and his contributions to HSB over the years.

Be well,

David Selberg

Volunteer Opportunities

Join us in making a meaningful impact in our community by becoming an Advance Care Planning Facilitator! This training will take place on Tuesday, March 12, 19 & 26, from 1-5 PM at HSB, 2050 Alameda Padre Serra. Advance Care Planning is a crucial step in guiding families and preventing unnecessary stress, join us in making a difference!

Register today by emailing CommunityACP@hospiceofsb.org.



Deeper than DNA

Adapted by Chip Roush

Deeper than DNA

more fundamental than molecules,

at our living core,

we are wholeness and transforming love.

We often forget this -

become lonely or resentful,

compare ourselves to others,

act out of our fears

rather than living our fullness.

Today let us rise

and remember our wholeness.

Embody unconditional love,

remain fully present ourselves

so that we can witness others.

Our lives and our work here together

are made sacred by our efforts.

As we enter the New Year

may we be more aware,

may we live more fully

in our wholeness and transforming love.

Volunteer Spotlight:

Kay Stern

Kay's interest in caring for people with medical issues began in her childhood with her pharmacist father who was consulted by doctors on what drugs would best treat the doctor’s patient’s diagnosis. That was the standard dinner table conversation at home. In her teens, she studied comparative religions and from that dive into culture, life, and death, she developed a wide set of eclectic spiritual beliefs. This informs her work with HSB clients, meeting them where they are. And her meditation practice grew out of that time.

UCLA was where she earned her BS. Her MBA was achieved at Pepperdine University. Reading Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, led to her next dream, to work with people experiencing and planning end of life care, so when she and husband returned to the US, her dream was to train for Hospice work, and to raise service dog puppies to help people with disabilities. She trained to help people complete Advance Care Plans and My Care. During that time, the couple raised 5 service dog puppies, including “Roselle” for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Kay credits Santa Barbara for helping socialize puppy Roselle who was trained and when the time came, was able to calmly lead her blind partner and others down 78 floors to exit the burning World Trade Tower in NY.

For many years, Kay has worked for Hospice of Santa Barbara, doing patient care work and advance care planning counseling. She loves how patient care work and advance care planning inform the work of each.

Today Kay and her husband have 2 rescue dogs. When Kay is dying, her dream is to be in bed with her dogs on each side of her as she passes.

Happy work anniversary to Mary, Tianna, David and Elizabeth!

Thank you to Mary Wagner, Tianna Swede, David Selberg and Elizabeth Smith for all of your contributions to Hospice of Santa Barbara! We are eternally grateful for the dedication and passion of our staff.

To learn more about our wonderful staff, please visit our website.

Mary Wagner, MFT, Bereavement Counselor, celebrates her 22-year anniversary.

Tianna Swede, ACSW, Patient Care Services Manager, celebrates her 13-year anniversary.

David Selberg, Chief Executive Officer, celebrates his 9-year anniversary.

Elizabeth Smith, Bereavement Counselor, celebrates completing her bereavement traineeship and officially joining HSB as an employee this month.

Get It Done SB! and Mi Regalo are HSB’s Advance Care Planning (ACP) programs, focused on bringing awareness and education in English and Spanish to ensure that all of our community members have a completed Advance Directive before they need one. 

RSVP to Attend an Upcoming Community Workshop:

• 2/8 and 2/15 4:00-5:30 PM at Hospice of Santa Barbara (ENGLISH)
• 2/27 and 3/5 1:00-2:30 PM at Presidio Springs (ENGLISH)

Only need notary services? Join us at Part 2 of any of our community workshops and get your document notarized or schedule a one-on-one appointment with one of our trained facilitators. 

For more information on Advance Care Planning, upcoming workshops or to request one-on-one help from our experienced volunteers, visit Get It Done SB! or Mi Regalo. You can also call us at 805-563-8820 or email us at CommunityACP@hospiceofsb.org.