Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) has announced the addition of Mary Solis to its Board of Directors. Solis recently retired from the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center after 34 years as an oncology social worker and department manager.
During her time at the Cancer Center, Solis expanded services to include 12 support groups, case management, financial assistance, and individual and family counseling services. Before that, she spent two years at Catholic Charities as a caseworker.
Solis also developed a wig and hat closet, a lymphedema clinic, and worked collaboratively with other community organizations to create a Community Palliative Care Program.
In her role as caseworker, Solis encountered a number of people who were facing homelessness. To address this, she wrote a successful community grant proposal through which church leaders and social workers collaborated to create temporary shelters, eventually securing a building and naming the facility Transition House.
“We are honored to have Mary on board. She has done great things for the community during her lifetime, and we are excited to see what she brings to the team,” said David Selberg, CEO of Hospice of Santa Barbara.
Solis holds a masters degree in social work from UC Berkeley. In 2004 she received the Oncology Social Worker of the Year Award from the Association of Oncology Social Workers. She continues to work part time as a clinical social work supervisor for the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
For more information about Hospice of Santa Barbara, including volunteer opportunities, call 805-563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org.