Following a long and accomplished career at Samaritan that began in 1997, Mary Ann Boccolini announced her intention to retire effective December 31, 2022. Boccolini first joined Samaritan as director of clinical operations and was appointed president and CEO in 2000. Boccolini has grown and diversified Samaritan’s services and care options, increased reach into the community and expanded its base of employees, volunteers, donors and community partners. Under Boccolini’s leadership, Samaritan has become one of the state’s leading providers of palliative medicine and hospice care, serving nearly 11,000 patients and families annually.

Boccolini’s accomplishments also include the creation and launch of Samaritan’s Palliative Medical Partners, a medical specialty practice that provides a range of services for people living with serious illness at any stage; HomeVisit Physicians, offering a full range of primary care services wherever patients live; and the Institute for Education, Research & Innovation, leading the advancement of person-centered care along the healthcare continuum.

Succeeding Boccolini as president and CEO will be Phillip W. Heath, Samaritan’s Board of Trustees chair, who received a unanimous vote from the Board. Heath will step down as chair and assume his new role on October 1. Nandini Natrajan, vice-chair of the Board, will fill Heath’s position. Boccolini will stay on in an advisory role with Samaritan through year-end.  

“I retire knowing things are in the very best of hands with Phillip as president and CEO and our experienced leadership team,” said Boccolini. “We will work together to ensure a smooth leadership transition, focused on continuing Samaritan’s legacy of service and innovation as an essential community provider. I have enjoyed collaborating with Phillip and know that his healthcare and hospice experience, combined with his years of board service, make him the ideal leader to continue advancing Samaritan’s mission of service into the future.”  

Samaritan’s Board Governance Committee Chair Greg Button, president of Global Healthcare Services for Korn Ferry, led the search committee tasked with leadership succession planning and managing the transition process.

“Mary Ann set the standard as a servant leader and increased access to Samaritan’s services for thousands of people each year,” said Button. “Through nearly three decades of outstanding leadership, Mary Ann has created and led numerous strategic and formative initiatives designed to reach and serve more patients and families either in their homes, at one of Samaritan’s two dedicated inpatient centers, in area hospitals or at long-term care communities.”  

Heath joined Samaritan’s Board of Trustees in 2018 and was elected chair in 2019. He brings more than 31 years of experience with various local, regional and national healthcare organizations in the areas of administration, operations, government affairs and business development. He has extensive experience in the hospice, senior housing and long-term care arena. Heath served as chief administrative officer for Tabula Rasa HealthCare in Moorestown, NJ, where he was responsible for the performance of critical business functions and shared services across the organization. Heath’s experience also spans hospice, palliative care, long-term care and programs for all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) at InnovAge and Denver Hospice.

Heath holds a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Detroit Mercy and completed a healthcare leadership certification from Cornell University.

About Samaritan:

Samaritan is a not-for-profit, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980. Samaritan is the regional leader for hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, at-home primary care, grief support and counseling, advanced illness care, education and advocacy. Samaritan serves people in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties who are coping with the stresses of aging, serious illness or grief in their homes, assisted-living or nursing home communities and through two inpatient hospice centers: The Samaritan Center at Mount Holly and The Samaritan Center at Voorhees. A thrift shop in Westmont supports Samaritan services and programs. Samaritan is accredited by The Joint Commission; a member of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation; and is a four-star hospice in the national We Honor Veterans program. For more information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org.