Samaritan honored Medford resident Tina Rubano, supervisor of its palliative medicine social work team, for 25 years of service at this year’s Winterfest celebration. The annual event recognizes employees and volunteers for their service milestones and their continued dedication to Samaritan’s mission of service.

“Tina has a compassionate heart and an innate desire to help others,” said Phillip W. Heath, president and chief executive officer, Samaritan. “Over these 25 years, her dedication to the success of our team as well as her high expectations for herself have had a positive influence on all who work with her, and all the patients and family members who have the good fortune to know her.”

Tina started at Samaritan as a social worker for terminally ill patients who lived alone with limited or no outside support. She then worked with Samaritan’s Transitions Program before moving into the role of social worker, caring for patients in the community hospice program. In 2005, Tina was part of opening Samaritan’s first inpatient unit in Mount Holly. She transferred in 2021 into Samaritan’s Palliative Medical Partners practice, as the organization’s first palliative medicine social worker.

“Tina always puts the patient and their family first, and she works tirelessly to make sure they not only understand hospice and palliative medicine, but the prognosis of their loved one,” added Heath. “This dedication and kindness of heart is invaluable to Samaritan, and we thank her for her service.”

For more information, visit www.samaritannj.org.

About Samaritan:

Samaritan is a not-for-profit, independent organization locally founded in Moorestown, New Jersey in 1980 as one of the first hospices in the country. Samaritan is now one of the State’s leading providers of 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 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.