Joel Wherley

Joel L. Wherley is president and chief operating officer (COO) of VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care. Joel leads the company's strategic direction and oversees all day-to-day operations, clinical services, business development, and physicians' leadership.

He joined VITAS in 2016 as senior vice president of hospice operations and was promoted to EVP and COO in 2017. He assumed his current role as president and COO in 2024.

Joel began his career as a respiratory therapist and has enjoyed an extensive executive healthcare career leading sales, clinical, and field operations, with 2024 marking 15 years in the hospice sector. His well-established experience and dedication to accountability, growth, efficiency, and motivational leadership have earned him accolades and awards.

Prior to joining VITAS, Joel held executive-level positions at prominent healthcare companies such as American HomePatient, Gentiva, and Hospice Advantage.

Joel serves on the board of directors of the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association, whose mission is to improve the efficient delivery of high-quality healthcare services to local communities. In 2022, he was inducted as an inaugural Advisory Board member for the Home Care Innovation + Investment Conference (HI2), built around the mission of elevating the home as the future of the healthcare system.

Joel earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and organizational design from the University of Illinois at Springfield.