Team

Family medicine physician Dr. Kevin Cope oversees MVHPC clinical practice and quality assurance as Medical Director of both the Hospice & Palliative service lines. A positive force behind Mohawk Valley health and wellness for years, Dr. Cope operates a very busy primary care practice with St. Mary’s Healthcare, in addition to community work helping those in need of opioid recovery. Dr. Cope is also the Medical Director for Lexington ARC. Dr. Cope is very active with his church, including a focus on mentoring youth.

Until his employment with MVHPC, Dr. Cope served on the MVHPC Board of Directors as Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) Chair, Nominating Committee, and Palliative Care Steering Committee.

He lives with his wife in Broadalbin.

Dana joined the MVHPC team in 2011 as the Nancy Dowd Hospice House Nurse Manager. She knew from the beginning of her career she would welcome the opportunity to assist patients and their families facing life-limiting illnesses with a focus on comfort, quality, and dignity. Of her career at MVHPC, Dana states, “It’s the most rewarding job I’ve had…those I’ve cared for along the way have taught me so much more than I could ever teach them.”

Dana graduated with an Associate’s in Applied Science/Nursing in May of 2004. Already working in the Special Care Unit of a local hospital, she was offered a transition from her Unit Coordinator/Monitor Tech position to the RN role. Dana attended the Critical Care Consortium and became certified in telemetry monitoring during her tenure in the hospital setting.

Celeste Farnham, MSN, RN joined MVHPC in 2020 as Director of Clinical Services. Celeste recently relocated to Gloversville from the Washington, D.C. area to be closer to family. In Washington, Celeste was the director of the neuroscience unit at the Washington Hospital Center. A nurse for almost 30 years, Celeste has her Master’s degree in Nursing.

Cora Jones joined Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care as a part-time Human Resources Manager after a 14-year hiatus as a stay-at-home mom and housewife. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge of employment law from her former life as a corporate litigator. As an attorney, Cora represented employers in legal matters, and developed and participated in client seminars regarding compliance with labor and employment laws.

Prior to attending law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Cora graduated from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and worked in advertising in South Florida. Cora has always had a special interest in human behavior and employee relations. She is enthusiastic to continue developing her skills in these areas and is working towards earning her certification as a human resources professional with the Society of Human Resource Professionals.

Cora lives in Cooperstown with her husband, three teenagers and their menagerie of two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and three cats. She equally loves traveling and adventure and cozying up on the sofa with her family to read or watch movies.

Kara Ulasewicz Travis, Certified Executive Coach and recovering Hospital Administrator, has over 20 years of experience in a variety of workplaces across the United States and Europe.  Most recently, Kara joined Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care (MVHPC) and the Nancy Dowd Hospice Home (NDHH) as President/Chief Executive Officer in June of 2017.  MVHPC is based in Gloversville, NY and covers the rural Upstate New York counties of Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, and Hamilton, including eight private Hospice beds in the Gloversville location.  

Prior to joining the MVHPC team, Kara spent more than 10 years as a Senior Director with the Bassett Healthcare Network in a variety of roles from Facilities Operations to Patient Experience to Employee Relations and Organizational Development.  

Kara currently serves as Treasurer of The Fort Hunter Free Library and board member of Amsterdam Rotary Club, Montgomery County Office for the Aging Foundation, and Horace J. Inman Senior Citizen Center.  Kara and her black lab Stella also volunteer their time through Therapy Dogs International to provide literacy support via “Stories with Stella,” as well as pet therapy for patients and the elderly.  

 Kara is a former recipient of The Capital District Business Review’s ‘Forty under 40’ award for emerging leaders in the Albany, NY region.  During her years at Bassett, she was part of a national speaking panel of experts on improvement of Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) scores.  Kara was also selected to serve on a New York State advisory board for the United Way campaign for A.L.I.C.E. (asset limited, income constrained employed), also known as “the working poor.” 

Kara grew up in Lake Placid and currently lives in the Mohawk Valley with her husband and Labrador retrievers.  When she’s not working or volunteering, she usually has her nose in a book.