Leadership Team

With more than 30 years in healthcare and more than 15 of those years in senior leadership experience driving growth and operational distinction within highly regulated environments, Melinda is a results-oriented and approachable leader who leads by serving her multidisciplinary team. She has spearheaded initiatives that align operational strategy with broader business goals, fostering a culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Melinda is passionate about positive transformation and sustained growth, she is committed to building strong systems that support both people and performance. Her purpose is to bring compassionate services to patients and families during some of life’s most vulnerable and sacred moments. She believes every interaction is both a privilege and an opportunity to bring peace, dignity, and comfort to the lives of others. Her goal is to ensure that more patients and families have access to the extraordinary care the VNA is proud to provide.

Michelle brings more than 20 years of healthcare experience and a deep passion for taking care of people. She specializes in regulatory compliance, risk management, optimizing technology solutions, enhancing workplace culture, and resolving complex issues. Her expertise helps VNA navigate an ever-changing regulatory landscape while improving operational efficiency and fostering a positive, supportive work environment. She is deeply committed to strengthening care within the community and ensuring individuals and families receive compassionate, high-quality support when they need it most.

Pam serves as the Chiefs Financial Officer and the Compliance Officer for the VNA. A home health veteran since 2011 with over 30 years of accounting and financial leadership, Pam's top priority is the organization’s overall financial health, strategy, and long-term sustainability. She supports high-quality, mission-driven patient care by leading robust financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, revenue cycle management, and cost control initiatives—ensuring the organization can continue delivering compassionate services without compromising clinical excellence. In her additional capacity as VNA Compliance Officer, Pam focuses on regulatory compliance and reimbursement integrity. She stays current with evolving CMS regulations, Conditions of Participation, and payer requirements, helping to mitigate risks, prepare for audits, and maintain full adherence to federal and state standards that govern home health and hospice operations. Pam serves on several committees for the National Alliance for Home Care and is a Board Member for the Kansas Home Care & Hospice Association Pam combines strong financial acumen with a practical understanding of the day-to-day realities of home health delivery. Her leadership helps align fiscal responsibility with the organization’s commitment to patient-centered care in the home setting.

Amanda Carbajal, MSN, RN, serves as the Director of Hospice Clinical Services for the Visiting Nurse Association, overseeing the hospice program across Douglas County and surrounding communities. She began her healthcare career as a private duty caregiver and CNA before earning her associate's degree in nursing in 2015, later her MSN in Nursing Leadership and Management. With experience in critical care and hospice, Amanda combines frontline knowledge with executive leadership, guiding the program in quality, regulatory compliance, and team development. She is passionate about empowering staff, strengthening systems, and ensuring patients and families receive compassionate, dignified, and evidence-based care. Amanda believes hospice care is both a profound responsibility and a meaningful privilege and is dedicated to serving her community with clinical excellence, integrity, and heart.

Melissa Dougherty is the Director of Nursing Clinical Services, dedicated to compassionate, patient-centered care at home. She values home health for its ability to guide patients and families through their healthcare journey with dignity and clarity. Melissa leads with empathy, and accountability ensuring the Nurses at VNA provide every patient with exceptional, personalized care for optimal health outcomes. Melissa is passionate about coordinating home-based services with her clinical expertise and team leadership. Melissa leads with a hands on approach for clinical oversight, taking her responsibilities seriously in developing and implementing programs to enhance patients' outcomes, satisfaction, and high-quality care.

Audrey Welch is a seasoned physical therapist with 20 years of experience in the profession and 10 years in the home health industry with VNA. Audrey is passionate about seeing the patient as a whole person and finding ways to elevate the therapy in which her team members are providing in the home health setting. She is dedicated to transforming patient care through innovative therapeutic programming with the very talented therapy team members she leads at VNA. The overall goal is to drive the patient satisfaction scores to new heights.

Casey serves as Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association's Director of Marketing. He has been a dedicated member of the VNA team for more than 10 years, serving in various roles relating to marketing and fundraising. Casey is committed to VNA and its mission. Utilizing his skills and experience with photography, videography, graphic design and writing, Casey promotes the organization throughout the community to help potential patients receive care and to raise funds for VNA's charity care. If you or a loved one have benefited from VNA's services and you would like to share your experience, please contact Casey. He believes the best way to help others understand the value of VNA's care is through the stories of those who have experienced it.

Katy Spencer serves as the Director of Human Resources, bringing a people-centered approach to workforce development and organizational culture. A SHRM certified HR professional with non-profit experience, Katy partners closely with leadership to build inclusive, compliant, and sustainable HR practices that strengthen teams and advance VNA's mission. She is committed to fostering a supportive workplace where staff feel valued, empowered, and equipped to deliver exceptional care.

RayQuan Cunningham is a Human Resources professional with 9 years of experience helping workplaces grow stronger, more connected, and more people focused. He brings an energetic, hands on approach to talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational development, creating strategies that support both company success and employee well being. He thrives in environments that value creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Passionate about fostering inclusive cultures and developing teams, he enjoys building relationships and guiding others through positive change. By combining thoughtful decision making with genuine, uplifting communication, he empowers people and helps organizations reach their full potential.

Bio coming soon...

Tasha Lower is a certified healthcare coder and Revenue Cycle Manager with 18 years of experience at Visiting Nurses Association specializing in home health and hospice billing, coding, compliance, and reimbursement operations. Her expertise includes Medicare regulations, diagnosis coding review, revenue integrity, denial management, and process improvement. She is recognized for her collaborative leadership style, analytical approach, and commitment to supporting operational efficiency and quality patient care.

Brooke Sauer is a finance professional who enjoys bringing clarity and organization to the numbers behind the mission. She supports budgeting, reporting, and daily financial operations with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration. Known for her approachable style and attention to detail, Brooke values building strong relationships and improving processes. Her goal is to provide reliable financial insight that supports confident decision-making and the organization’s long-term success.