EverTrue Social Service Specialist Katie McCue Selected for the 2026 Future Leaders Awards

Katie McCue, a social service specialist at the EverTrue organization, achieved a significant milestone by being selected for the 2026 Future Leaders program organized by Hospice News, which honors young talents in the healthcare industry. To be considered worthy of this prestigious award, candidates must be nominated by their peers and go through a highly rigorous elimination process. Additionally, candidates are expected to be 40 years old or younger and be passionate professionals who can translate their vision into practice. The award also seeks the quality of being an advocate for elderly individuals and the professionals who ensure their well-being. McCue's achievement reveals that the high-level care she provides to patients in the final stages of their lives and her innovative perspective in the industry have been recognized.

McCue's entry into the hospice and palliative care sector actually began through a highly interesting process filled with coincidences. Starting her career as a music therapist, McCue states that she had to complete a six-month internship program as part of her education. For the young professional who wanted to stay close to home, the only suitable option at the time was to work at a hospice organization. What initially seemed like merely a practical choice quickly turned into her greatest passion. Forming deep bonds with her patients and being by their side during the most critical period of their lives has become a unique and indispensable experience for McCue. Later, moving to St. Louis and trying other healthcare fields, McCue realized that hospice work was irreplaceable and pursued a master's degree in social services to stay in this field permanently.

McCue, who states that at the beginning of her career she had a management approach that was more direct and required everything to be controlled firsthand, admits that she learned a major leadership lesson over time. Previously feeling personally responsible for everything going perfectly, McCue learned how the dynamics change over time and that strong teams can only endure through building trust. She emphasizes that her leadership style has eventually become more collaborative, supportive, and focused on relationship-building. McCue sincerely expresses that without great colleagues and patients who trust her, it would have been impossible to be successful in this job. This situation clearly demonstrates her humility and how much she values teamwork.

McCue argues that the greatest leadership lesson she has learned in the hospice and palliative care sector is that every individual wants to be heard, seen, and respected. She notes that whether it is a patient, a family member, or an employee, everyone has the desire to feel important beyond just a diagnosis, a title, or their current situation. She states that one of the most meaningful experiences reinforcing this philosophy is the 'Memorable Moment' program, which aims to provide a meaningful memory for her patients. McCue shares that the events organized within the scope of this program are usually not massive or flashy things; they consist of extremely intimate requests, such as going on a date with a spouse, attending a family event, or spending loving moments with a cat. Such events add a sense of purpose to patients beyond their medical needs and honor their past lives.

Choosing the word 'human' when asked to describe the industry in a single word, McCue points out that reaching the end of life is a universal reality that everyone will experience in some way. She emphasizes that at the core of the industry lies recognizing the human value of every person served and that respect must be shown for the life each individual has lived. When making predictions about the future, she states that the unnecessary association of hospice services with the final days of life and societal fears on this topic are among the biggest challenges. McCue believes that if these difficult conversations are initiated earlier, palliative care services can improve the quality of life much more quickly. She predicts that the factor that will impact the industry the most in the next five to ten years will be the rapidly growing elderly population and the insufficient number of in-home caregivers to support this population.