On Wednesday, the Blanchard Valley Health System announced that Judith Bishop-Pierce was named the director of residential care at Birchaven Village in Findlay and Independence House in Fostoria. 

Bishop-Pierce was the interim director starting back in early 2023. She looked over the full reopening of Birchaven as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted for nursing homes. Now, her team are beginning to discuss top priorities for 2024 to have the best long-term care for aging community members. 

The licensed nursing home administrator, has a associates degree in business and gerontology from Lourdes College, and a bachelor's degree in gerentology with a concentration in long-term care administration from Bowling Green State University.