Employee Spotlight: Jill Wegner, Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
At Contessa, we believe in care that honors patients and builds trust — and Jill Wegner embodies those values every day. As a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, Jill provides evidence-based symptom management, facilitates goals-of-care discussions and supports patients and families through some of life’s most challenging moments.
Jill was nominated for an employee spotlight by her supervisor, Dawn Black, Director of Clinical Operations, who describes Jill as “a true advocate who uses her communication and collaboration skills to the greatest extent possible to create trust, rapport and a safe patient experience.”
We asked Jill to share more about herself and her role at Contessa. Here’s what she had to say.
All About Me
“I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Michigan. I’m a board-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with a clinical background in bone marrow transplant, medical oncology and hematology,” says Jill. ”For the past nine years, I’ve specialized in palliative care across diverse settings, working across inpatient, outpatient, long-term care and community settings.”
What I Love About Contessa
Contessa’s unique model of palliative care delivery and emphasis on work-life balance stood out to Jill. “I was drawn to the ability to interact remotely with patients and families while still providing meaningful support,” she says. The flexibility and focus on well-being made it ideal. Jill adds ,“Contessa emphasizes work-life balance, which is so important in healthcare.”
A Culture of Support and Collaboration
Jill describes Contessa as a place where “leadership is approachable and supportive,” and where team members grow through continuous learning. “There’s a sense of humility and trust here — you feel valued and heard,” she says.
Jill also highlights the collaborative spirit among colleagues: “Interdisciplinary communication is the best thing about my team,” she explains. “We work as one team, and that collaboration makes a huge difference for patients.”
Why We Do This Work
Jill shares: “I am proud to work closely with my team of nurses to help patients and families throughout their journey. We make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
As an example, Jill recently supported a patient with healthcare trust issues, coordinating across disciplines to create a safe, personalized discharge plan. She empowered the patient to advocate for herself and eased her anxiety before surgery. “Thanks to Jill’s compassion and collaboration, the patient felt calm, supported and prepared,” Dawn notes. “The degree of coordination Jill demonstrated reflects her deep commitment to service excellence and individualized patient care.”
Life Outside of Work
Jill enjoys puzzles, cross-stitching, cheering on her son at baseball games and spending time with her family and three dogs — Gracie, Ollie and Harper. Music is another passion that brings balance to her life.
For nurse practitioners considering Contessa, Jill’s story is a testament to what’s possible when compassion meets collaboration. “We’re here to ease worry that would otherwise be the burden of the patient alone,” Jill says. “I’m proud to work closely with my nurses to help patients and families throughout their journey. We make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”