Editor’s note: McKnight’s Home Care, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News are profiling the McKnight’s 2023 Women of Distinction honorees daily from July 5 to Aug. 15. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.
Faith and spirituality are vitally important for many older adults. As director of spirituality for HumanGood, Sharell Shippen brings a much-needed inclusive approach to promoting a person-centered care philosophy and helping to ensure that residents and family members of all denominations and faiths are provided with services and resources that meet their spirituality needs and allow them to live their best lives.
Shippen holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Social Work degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Divinity degree from Palmer Theological Seminary.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shippen’s efforts around outreach and support for residents and employees represented an important part of HumanGood’s mission to inspire the best life for everyone served. She was one of the first graduates of the organization’s Good to Grow leadership development program, and her unique ability to unify people through her insights and support was critical to the health of the company’s culture, especially as teams faced unprecedented restrictions and lockdowns.
Shippen consistently made her presence known throughout the organization during the pandemic, offering help to communities’ spiritual directors as they focused on how to best serve residents. She works closely with HumanGood President and CEO John Cochrane on the HumanGood Inclusion Council to drive company culture toward a more welcoming future.
Outside of HumanGood, Shippen is a member of the Next Generation Leadership Initiative, a leadership development program funded by the United Church of Christ. It strives to equip, energize and empower younger UCC church pastors to build vibrant congregations that change lives. Before joining HumanGood, she was the director of missions for Presby’s Inspired Life.
She is currently a volunteer for the Saturday Enrichment Program, which provides academic support and enrichment, social and emotional and life skill lessons for K-12 students.
The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Home Care, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.
Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.
