Miami, Florida, United States, July 2025 – Ava Padmore-Lewis has been appointed as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care. In her new role, Ava will oversee the entire spectrum of employee experience, talent strategy, organizational culture, and leadership development, as she helps advance VITAS’ mission of delivering compassionate care to patients and families across the country.
Ava brings over four years of dedicated experience at VITAS Healthcare, where she previously served as Senior Director of Human Resources. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in advancing HR practices and aligning people strategies with operational excellence across the organization.
Prior to joining VITAS, Ava spent nearly 16 years at YAI, a prominent organization supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She held progressive leadership roles, including Human Resources Director, Regional Associate Director of HR, HR Manager, and Talent Acquisition Specialist. In these roles, she led strategic initiatives in talent acquisition, employee engagement, succession planning, DEI, and HR compliance, while coaching leaders and managing high-impact HR teams.
Ava began her career at YAI as an Administrative Assistant and Direct Support Professional, where she developed a deep understanding of care environments and frontline employee needs. Her journey from frontline services to CHRO exemplifies a people-first approach built on empathy, operational insight, and transformative leadership.
About VITAS Healthcare
VITAS Healthcare is the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care, committed to delivering compassionate hospice services to patients and their families. With a strong focus on a people-first culture, VITAS supports its team members through mentoring, flexibility, and professional growth opportunities. The organization operates with a clear mission to make a meaningful difference at the bedside and within its communities.
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