Martha Johnson is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse with 28 years of experience in home health and hospice. She has spent the last 15 years at BSA Hospice of the Southwest, where she serves as Director of Nursing. Early life experiences contributed to her desire to work in hospice. She is the youngest of 3 children. As a child she spent many hours with elderly family members who were in poor health. She volunteered at nursing homes and the hospital throughout her childhood. Spending time with the elderly taught her that aging, declining health, and death are all part of the normal life journey. Being raised in a strong faith-based family she developed a sense of existence outside of this physical world. These beliefs, that death is a normal occurrence, not something to fear, and that there is life after death, have strengthened her ability to guide team members as they grow in their hospice service. As part of the administrative team, she works diligently to educate nurses and aides in order to provide quality hospice care. Their goal is to support patients and families allowing them to enjoy sacred time at the end of life. She has a varied education, spending 3 years in Xavier University’s classics and philosophy honors A.B. program and studying at Texas Tech and WTAMU before deciding to pursue her nursing career. She earned an LVN certification at Frank Phillips College and an RN degree at Amarillo College.