EDITORIAL: Niagara Hospice remains in good hands
Jan. 12—It's one of those organizations not many people think about — until they need it — and then they're thankful for the service they and their loved ones received during what's typically a very difficult time.
Niagara Hospice has grown a lot over the past two decades and much of that growth can be attributed to President and CEO John Lomeo.
Joining Niagara Hospice in 2000, Lomeo was overseeing an organization that served about 40 patients a day. In 2024, the organization cares for more than 1,200 patients throughout all the counties in Western New York, according to Patricia L. Evans of the Hospice and Palliative Care Group Board of Directors which provides administrative services to Niagara Hospice.
To grow Niagara Hospice, Lomeo said he went about building a "hotel that has health care capabilities" rather than a nursing home with a hospice wing. At the end of life, patients and their families should be treated to hospitality, he explained recently.
The approach paid off and Niagara Hospice is a model for others in the industry; Lomeo said recently he's visited several different states and Canada to help similar programs get off the ground.
As far as local accomplishments, Lomeo oversaw the construction of Niagara Hospice House and established complimentary businesses such as Kalos Health and Liberty Home Care.
"The community and the thousands of people served have been the beneficiaries of John's leadership, foresight, vision, brilliant business acumen and deep compassion," Evans said. "As a primary founder of Niagara Hospice, I would add that John Lomeo not only fulfilled the hopes and dreams we had for hospice care, he exceeded them."
All the accolades come as Lomeo is set to step away from Niagara Hospice on July 31.
His successor wasn't hard to find.
Carlo Figliomeni, current chief financial officer and chief operating officer, who's been with the organization for nearly as long as Lomeo, is set to take the reins on Aug. 1.
Figliomeni began his career at Niagara Hospice 19 years ago and has worked closely with Lomeo all the while. His background is in finance and information technology and since the early days of his career with Ernst & Young, he has worked with healthcare systems.
Over the next seven months, Figliomeni said, he'll be working on finding his own replacement in the CFO's office.
As is the case with president and CEO, Figliomeni said this may be an opportunity to hire from within the organization, something he'd welcome.
In any event, Figliomeni says by the time Lomeo formally steps away this summer, he's confident the non-profit organization will be ready to continue delivering the level of care that the community has come to expect.