10/17/2025
Meet our Social Worker, Priscilla Burrage-Kitchen. She grew up in San Diego, California, and relocated to South Florida at the age of 21. She married at the age of 19 and had 3 children, 2 daughters and 1 son. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years and started working at Memorial Hospital's outpatient cardiac rehab program doing registration.
Sadly, she was widowed suddenly at the age of 32, with 3 small children. She desired to find a career and working with cardiac/pulmonary patients from diagnosis to sometimes death help to heal her grieving heart. She then realized social work was her calling, so she enrolled in college full time while working full time. After she earned her BSW degree she began working as a hospital discharge coordinator where she was able to initiate hospice referrals and really grew an appreciation for the value and importance of hospice care.
One she earned her MSW, she began working with Vitas Hospice where she worked for 10 years. Priscilla remarried 5 1/2 years ago and feels so blessed. She moved to Tennessee 3 years ago and began working with Caris Healthcare at the Knoxville office. About her role with Caris, she says, “I feel at home and hospice is my heart!” When she is not working, Priscilla enjoys her grandchildren and is excited to be blessed with another one soon.
Priscilla’s HOSPICE PHILOSOPHY :
To provide dignity and patient-centered care while focusing on physical, spiritual, and emotional needs, at the end of life.
Priscilla’s PURPOSE STATEMENT:
“My proud purpose as a Caris Social Worker is to provide quality and compassionate care to our patients and families during their sensitive journey. My goal is to meet the patients where they are in their disease process and provide education and ongoing support services along their path.”
