Phillip W. Heath is now president and CEO of Samaritan, the not-for-profit healthcare provider offering hospice care, grief support, palliative medicine and primary care at home. Heath brings more than 30 years of experience within various local, regional and national healthcare organizations, as well as four years on Samaritan’s Board of Trustees, including three years as board chair. Heath’s appointment follows the retirement of longtime president and CEO Mary Ann Boccolini.

“Through many years of dedicated service from a highly accomplished team, Samaritan has become a leading provider of quality, compassionate care throughout the region,” said Heath. “I am excited to build upon our solid foundation and I look toward expanding services to reach and address the needs of the communities we serve through innovation and partnerships,” he added.

Heath leads Samaritan’s nearly 400 clinical providers and support staff, as well as a volunteer base of more than 500. Together, they fulfill Samaritan’s vision, mission and strategic direction – to provide the highest quality care, advanced clinical expertise and extraordinary compassion for nearly 11,000 patients and families served by the organization annually across five counties in South and Central New Jersey.

Heath’s vision for Samaritan will build upon its 40+ year legacy of service and innovation by:

- Expanding affiliations and partnerships by cultivating new relationships, while deepening existing relationships with community, healthcare and industry partners;

- Optimizing Samaritan’s services, technology and growth to raise the level of dialogue and acceptance of serious illness care throughout the region and beyond;

- Actively engaging with interested stakeholders and the public to better understand and respond to their unique needs;

- Focus on expansion of services to best respond to the unique needs of the aging population, underserved communities and communities of color.

“Phillip’s healthcare, hospice and business experience, coupled with his years on the Samaritan board and as board chair, have prepared him to serve in this important leadership role,” said Nandini Natrajan, chair of Samaritan’s Board of Trustees. “Phillip has the full support of the Samaritan Board and we look forward to working closely with him to support his vision, and achieve goals that continue Samaritan’s tradition of excellence in the delivery of high-quality, compassionate care.”

For more information, visit www.SamaritanNJ.org.

About Samaritan:

Samaritan is a not-for-profit, independent healthcare provider locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980 as one of the first hospices in the country. Today Samaritan is one of the State’s leading providers of serious illness care through a range of home-based services that include hospice care, palliative (comfort) medicine, primary care, grief support and counseling, 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 wherever they call home. Samaritan also has two dedicated inpatient hospice centers in Voorhees and Mount Holly. Beyond the services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance plans, Samaritan annually provides nearly $1M in donor-funded non-reimbursed care for patients and families in the South Jersey region. A thrift shop in Westmont also 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.