Following a nationwide search, Karen Brubaker Miller was named president and CEO of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare this spring, becoming just the fourth CEO in the organization’s 46-year history.

Miller brings more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit healthcare, including 17 years in C-Suite roles.

She’s taking over the position from Gwen Whitley, who was named the head of the organization in 2016 and retired in March. Whitley’s retirement came after working for Lower Cape Fear LifeCare for nearly two decades and guiding the organization through many years of growth and achievement. 

Miller was not actively seeking a new position when a recruiter contacted her. She had spent six months traveling back and forth to her hometown in coastal Georgia, caring for her mother during a recurrence of cancer. After her mother died, she realized she was open to opportunities that would let her do the work she loved and stay closer to home. 

“When the door opened at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, I was delighted to join an incredibly high-performing organization,” she said. “After just three months, I am very proud to be part of this organization. Everyone is deeply invested in our mission, going above and beyond, because it matters. This work is important.” 

Wilmington-based Lower Cape Fear LifeCare offers hospice, palliative care, dementia support, grief counseling and community education for patients and families facing serious illness and end-of-life challenges. 

Miller was raised by parents who instilled a sense of service from an early age. Her father was an audiologist and head of the local Lions Club, and her mother was an English teacher. It was an easy decision for her to choose Davidson College, a private liberal arts college in Davidson known for encouraging lives of service. While earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she discovered a passion for social work. She later earned a master’s degree in social work from Florida State University. In 1996, she became a licensed clinical social worker. 

Miller’s first position after college was at the former Allen Park VA Medical Center in Michigan.  

“It was a great learning experience working with disabled vets, hearing their stories and personal accounts,” she said. “It was also my chance to learn the ropes.” 

Over the years, Miller progressed from a social worker at United Hospice in Atlanta to leadership roles, including COO of Good Samaritan Hospice in Roanoke, Virginia, and CEO of Hospice of the Golden Isles in Brunswick, Georgia. Most recently, Miller was president and CEO of Montgomery & Prince George’s Hospice in Rockville, Maryland.  

Like her previous executive positions, Miller was responsible for all aspects of operations – financial management, strategic planning, compliance and growth – while ensuring the nonprofit remained a good financial steward of its resources. 

Each role shaped Miller’s leadership approach, she said. 

“There is something about coming up through the ranks,” Miller said. “I appreciate the medical aspects of hospice, but I also approach leadership from a broader, 360-degree perspective. We are more than our bodies – we have emotional, social and spiritual needs. I see that complexity in everyone, and I bring that understanding to my leadership role in a natural way while leveraging the talents of my team. Together we can do great things.” 

As she settles into her new role, Miller said her starting point is understanding the community’s needs.  

“As a charity hospice provider, we evaluate first, thoughtfully assessing needs and gaps. We aim to serve as a strong center of excellence, offering an array of services that impact quality of life,” she said. 

Currently, the organization is seeing growth in both palliative and dementia care. “These programs occupy a unique place in the world of healthcare,” Miller said. “They are a bridge in the healthcare system, allowing us to walk alongside patients in hospitals, at home and in our clinics in Wilmington and Robeson County. The heart, compassion and love we bring is special and sets us apart.” 

Miller said she plans to continue to grow palliative care services. In addition, with $5 million from the New Hanover Community Endowment, LifeCare will also administer The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Program, a Medicare initiative launched in July 2024.  

Looking further ahead, Miller hopes to expand LifeCare’s geographic reach while building on the services in place.  

“We will not stray from what we do well,” she said. “I also want to see more education because there are misconceptions about hospice and palliative care. Both can have a meaningful impact on quality of life and the support patients and families receive. Most patients come to hospice too late, but when patients connect earlier, they live better.” 

Even after heartbreaking days, Miller said she goes home at night knowing she made a difference in the world.  

“That’s why I’ve stayed with it for so long,” she said. “It means something. It’s an incredible experience to change lives.”