An experienced health care director based in Poughkeepsie, New York, Denise Hammel is director of palliative care at Hudson Valley Hospice. She has served in this role since February 2023 and is responsible for coordinating direct and indirect patient services, planning and implementing programs to evaluate and enhance quality of care, and educating physicians and community members on the benefit of palliative care. Denise Hammel previously served as director of health and wellness at Arts Senior Living in Yorktown Heights.

Denise Hammel also spent 3 years as a clinical nurse liaison at Waterview Hills Rehabilitation and Health Care Centers. During this time, she performed clinical assessments of potential patient referrals in private homes and hospitals. She has additional experience as an RN nurse manager at an Alzheimer's residential care facility and spent 4 years as an LPN at Lovely Hills Nursing Home.

Complementing her professional experience, Denise holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from Chamberlain University and an AAS in nursing RN from Excelsior College. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys hiking, bicycle riding, traveling, and reading biographies and books about history.