Odyssey HealthCare’s executive management team combined has more than 60 years of healthcare experience, and most have been with the company since its earliest years.

Robert Lefton, President and Chief Executive Officer, joined Odyssey in October of 2005. Prior to joining Odyssey, Mr. Lefton co-founded and served as President and CEO of SemperCare, a national operator of long term acute care hospitals. Prior to SemperCare, Mr. Lefton held several executive positions including President and COO of Horizon Health Corporation. Mr. Lefton also served as CEO of several acute care hospitals.

Richard R. Burnham, Chairman of the Board, was one of the founders of the company in 1995. Prior to founding Odyssey, Mr. Burnham served in executive positions with other healthcare companies, including Vitas Healthcare, Inc., Olsten Kimberly Quality Care, Inc., Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and Caremark, Inc. He is also active in National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, including serving on the association’s legislative committee.

R. Dirk Allison, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, joined Odyssey in October of 2006. Prior to joining Odyssey, Mr. Allison served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Omniflight, Inc. Prior to joining Omniflight, Mr. Allison served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ardent Health Services LLC. Prior to joining Ardent, Mr. Allison served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Renal Care Group, Inc. Mr. Allison is a certified public accountant and received his MBA from the University of Dallas and his BBA from the University of Louisiana - Monroe, formerly Northeast Louisiana University.

Craig P. Goguen, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, joined Odyssey on August 20, 2007. Mr. Goguen served as a division vice president of DaVita Inc., a national provider of renal dialysis services, since 2000. Prior to serving as a Division Vice President, Mr. Goguen served as a Director of Operation and Business Development for DaVita from 1997 to 2000. Mr. Goguen earned his Masters in Business Administration from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business Administration and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Amherst College.

W. Bradley Bickham joined Odyssey as Vice President and General Counsel in June 2003, was appointed Secretary in January 2004, and was promoted to Senior V.P. in 2007. Mr. Bickham was in private law practice prior to joining Odyssey, most recently with the law firm of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. from June 1998 until May 2003. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Bickham was in private practice as a certified public accountant for seven years. Mr. Bickham earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honorary law fraternity. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University – Shreveport.

Brenda A. Belger joined Odyssey as Vice President of Human Resources in 1997 and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Human Resources in 2001. Ms. Belger had previously held human resource managment positions with several other large, geographically dispersed companies.

Sally A. Parnell, Senior Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs joined Odyssey HealthCare in January 2009. Prior to Odyssey, Ms. Parnell held senior corporate and facility-based clinical and managerial positions in both acute and post acute healthcare organizations including a previous position with Odyssey HealthCare as a Regional Clinical Director from August 2007 to July 2008. Prior to rejoining Odyssey, Ms. Parnell served as the Chief Clinical Quality Officer of GlobalREHAB. Prior to her serving as a Regional Clinical Director at Odyssey, Ms. Parnell served as the Vice President of Quality at Select Medical Corporation. Prior to joining Select Medical Corporation, Ms. Parnell served as the Chief Clinical Officer of SemperCare, Inc. Ms. Parnell received her MSN in Nursing Services Administration from Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania.

• About Us
• Volunteering
• Management Biographies
• Odyssey's Acquisition Program