Retirement of Virginia Marshall, HPNA, HPNF, HPCC Chief Executive Officer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Emily Harris, MBA, CAE
Director of Membership & Marketing
Email: emilyh@hpna.org
Retirement of Virginia (Ginger) Marshall, HPNA, HPNF, HPCC Chief Executive Officer
June 18, 2026 — With deep appreciation, gratitude, and bittersweet reflection, we announce the upcoming retirement of Virginia (Ginger) Marshall, MSN, ACNP-BC, ACHPN®, FPCN®, who will step down as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF), and the Hospice and Palliative Credentialling Center (HPCC) effective March 20, 2027.
“We are so appreciative of Ginger’s leadership and commitment to growth of the organization over the past seven years. She will be greatly missed, but we are confident that the intentionality that Ginger has brought to this decision and our plan for transition will make this process smooth for all involved. Her ongoing support for the hospice and palliative nursing community will remain impactful and ensure that the organizations have a solid foundation for the future,” said HPNA and HPNF Board President Richelle (Rikki) Hooper, MBA, MSN, FNP-BC, ACHPN®, NE-BC, FPCN®.
Since joining HPNA, HPNF, and HPCC in 2019, Ginger has provided exceptional leadership, guiding the organizations through a period of meaningful growth and impact. Under her direction:
- HPNA expanded and enhanced educational and membership resources; grew membership engagement; increased advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) membership with the addition of an APRN membership category; launched key Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives; and strengthened advocacy efforts.
- HPCC increased access to initial credentialing through remote proctored exams, streamlined the recertification process, launched efforts to identify and correct bias in exam questions, transitioned the Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker–Certified (APHSW-C®) exam and credential to HPCC, and attained accreditations for all HPCC certification exams.
- HPNF increased donor engagement, welcomed more than a dozen new Florence Wald Champions, secured a $1.2 million dollar donation, and launched the Emerging Leaders Program.
Ginger also served in key leadership roles with the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care (NCHPC), where she has served as board president, treasurer, and secretary. She successfully guided NCHPC through CEO succession, overseeing the retirement transition and the recruitment and onboarding of a new CEO.
Ginger has been a passionate advocate for mentoring nurses and promoting the nursing profession and the specialty of hospice and palliative nursing. She has been a champion for excellence, equity, and innovation across the profession and specialty.
“We are deeply grateful for Ginger’s dedicated leadership and service as CEO of HPCC. Through her vision, expertise, and commitment, she has cultivated a standard of excellence across all of our certifications that will continue to guide hospice and palliative credentialling for years to come. We look forward to navigating this transition together. Thanks to Ginger, we are well positioned and ready for what comes next,” said HPCC Board President Kristin Akers, MSN, ACNP-BC, ACHPN®.
HPNA, HPCC, and HPNF extend heartfelt thanks to Ginger for her dedication, vision, and service. While the organizations will greatly miss her leadership, the strong foundation she has built will support continued success for the organization and the nursing community.
The boards of directors have begun forming a transition task force and will share updates as they become available.
About HPNA
HPNA was established in 1986 and is the national professional organization that represents the specialty of palliative nursing, which includes hospice and palliative nurses. Learn more at advancingexpertcare.org.
About HPNF
HPNF has been a catalyst of education, innovation, and professional development for nurses caring for our nation’s most vulnerable patients since 1998. Donations at every level enable the non-profit organization to impact the careers of thousands of nurses, provide grants and scholarships to increase education and certification, and support initiatives and research that strengthen our communities and advance our profession. HPNF supports the major initiatives of HPNA and HPCC.
About HPCC
HPCC offers specialty certification to hospice and palliative nurses and other members of the interprofessional team. HPCC currently offers six hospice and palliative certification exams for advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, pediatric nurses, licensed/vocational nurses, nursing assistants, and social workers. HPCC also maintains credentials for certified hospice and palliative care administrators and specialists in perinatal loss care. Nearly 14,500 healthcare professionals hold HPCC credentials, which establish a professional commitment to safe, ethical, evidence-based care.