MIAMI, May 7, 2007 —Brian Connor has been named to the new position of Vice President, Corporate Accounts, at the corporate headquarters of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care®. In this role, Connor will be responsible for developing and directing a new corporate accounts team tasked with establishing mutually beneficial relationships with healthcare providers such as managed care organizations, assisted living providers, and disease management companies.

Connor brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare management, business development, strategic marketing and the pharmaceutical industry, with significant experience in the managed care national account sector.

Connor came to VITAS from First Responders, a consulting practice, where he focused on managed care business development and e-marketing initiatives. He previously had worked for such leading companies as Boston Scientific, Sanofi-Aventis, and Hoffman-LaRoche.

A graduate of Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY, Connor received an masters in business administration from Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY.

About Hospice
Because hospice is not a “place” as many believe, VITAS caregivers make visits throughout the community to care for patients in their own home, in nursing homes, and in assisted living communities. Hospice is provided in the home to better provide comfort, pain control and symptom management for a patient at the end of life. In fact, recent research published by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization found that most Americans would prefer to receive end-of-life care at home and think hospice professionals are the most knowledgeable in helping them do so.