The supportive and kind hospice and palliative care teams at UPMC in North Central Pa. have long held a special place in Nicoya and Justin Catino’s hearts. Nicoya’s great-grandmother was among the first in the region to stay at The Gatehouse hospice unit after it opened in 2006. In the years since, Nicoya’s grandfather and mother, as well as Justin’s sister, would also receive palliative and hospice care. These experiences inspired them.
The Catinos recently made a generous gift in support of the new Dr. Alexander Nesbitt Endowment to help meet the ongoing needs of hospice and palliative care programs at UPMC in North Central Pa. “We felt almost a calling to support the hospice program and the people who were there for our family when we truly needed them, so that they can continue to help other families in their time of need,” says Nicoya.
Honoring Loved Ones and Health Care Heroes Through Generosity
Nicoya was in her early twenties when her great-grandmother passed away. “She spent over a week at The Gatehouse when it was newly opened, and the entire team there was incredible. They really took care of my whole family,” says Nicoya. “My great-grandmother was comfortable and treated with dignity and devotion throughout her hospice journey. There was a sense of peace, of grace.”
In 2001, Nicoya’s grandfather passed away at home with the help of hospice services. “Once again, we were blessed with wonderful nurses, doctors, and volunteers who supported not only my grandfather but all of us during a very difficult time,” she recalls.
Many years later, in March 2024, the Catinos would once again find their family in need of the hospice and palliative care services when Justin’s sister Nicole Selleck lost her battle with glioblastoma (an aggressive form of malignant brain tumor) and Nicoya’s mother, Michelle Frey, passed away from complications of a long-term illness, just 10 days apart.
“My sister was first on palliative care, and in January 2024 our family had to make the tough decision to move her to hospice care,” says Justin. “There was difficulty accepting that it was time, because she was only in her 50s and too young for this. But the palliative care and hospice nurses and staff were so kind and attentive to Nicole, and respectful of all our family was going through. They helped guide us all through a really hard time, for which I will be forever grateful.”
Nicoya was equally grateful, noting that each time she has witnessed hospice and palliative care teams work with a member of her family, the patients have been treated uniquely. “They took the time to get to know each patient — their situation as well as who they were personally,” she says. “And they did a really good job delivering difficult and delicate information to us. They cared so much about us.”
The History of a Remarkable Hospice and Palliative Care Program
The Catinos’ gift was both in memory of their loved ones who had passed and also to honor Alexander Nesbitt, M.D., who retired in November from his long-time role as medical director of hospice and palliative care. Dr. Nesbitt was also instrumental in the creation of The Gatehouse, a family-friendly hospice unit at UMPC Williamsport Divine Providence Campus.
“Dr. Nesbitt is the face of so much good that has come from this program. I will never forget how he sat with my mom and us on the couch and spoke with us,” says Nicoya. “It often felt like my mom was the only patient he had.”
Dr. Nesbitt’s deep connection with his patients and their families has also impacted his team. “The nurses also treated us with such respect and dignity. They were very factual, but kind, when they spoke to us about what was happening. They were so calm and devoted,” reflects Nicoya.
Justin says that being able to support Dr. Nesbitt’s endowment fund means the world to his family. “He has such a big heart and is so gentle and kind. He was part of our whole journey, with my mother-in-law and my sister’s passing,” says Justin. “He sat with us and spoke with true empathy and compassion, because he knew exactly what our family was going through. He was there with us.”
Dr. Nesbitt says that although he began practicing medicine as a family doctor, he felt called to a career in hospice and palliative care. “Back in the 1980s, the hospice program in our community was small. It could only service 10 to 15 people at a time, all outpatient. When I became head of the department in 2000, we could care for about 30 to 40 people at a time,” says Dr. Nesbitt. “Now the hospice program helps as many as 160 to 180 people at a time, with the help of The Gatehouse and an expanded, experienced, and dedicated team of medical professionals and volunteers.” He feels blessed to have worked with them.
What is The Gatehouse?
The Catinos were relieved to have The Gatehouse available for Nicoya’s mother when they needed a small, private, and dignified space for hospice care. The Gatehouse is a seven-bed, short-term inpatient hospice unit at UPMC Williamsport Divine Providence Campus. It provides around-the-clock skilled nursing care to help manage pain and other difficult symptoms. Patients who are struggling with discomfort come to the unit for treatment. The Gatehouse provides a peaceful, home-like environment for patients and their loved ones. Families can spend quality time with patients in private bedroom suites, the comfortable family room, the kitchen, or the meditation room.
The Gatehouse provides care for terminally ill patients, focusing on managing suffering and distress that cannot be treated at home or in a nursing facility, according to Dr. Nesbitt, who was instrumental in its creation. “About half of the patients who stay at The Gatehouse receive treatment and can return home to continue hospice care,” he says. “Sometimes, patients require a higher level of care to manage symptoms and find relief, and The Gatehouse provides that support.”
Since Dr. Nesbitt’s retirement in 2024, The Gatehouse continues to provide compassionate, high-quality care, ensuring that patients and their families receive the same level of dedicated support.
A Special Place in Their Hearts for Nurses
Justin’s brother John Catino passed away in 1989 from muscular dystrophy, and his parents created an award to honor the nurses in the intensive care unit (ICU) for the exceptional care they gave him. The award is presented annually at a nurses banquet in May. In 2024, Justin and Nicoya were able to present the award on behalf of the family. They took that opportunity to express their gratitude to nurses in hospice and palliative care in addition to those in the ICU. It was a very moving experience for the couple.
“We have seen the tremendous guidance and care provided across the nursing spectrum and wanted to honor all of them for all that they do. It was a privilege to do so,” says Justin. He says nurses are conduits between doctors and patients. “Nurses are champions and protectors for patients and their families during hard and vulnerable times. They give their talents and time, and they take time for even the smallest questions or concerns.”
The Catinos are pleased to know that their charitable donation will help support hospice nurses. “The Foundation was amazing to work with,” says Nicoya. “They truly understand. They get why we want to donate. They care about our emotional attachment to the causes we want to champion, and they are such good stewards of the money. I am much more likely to donate here again because I can see where my donations are going.”