After nearly 25 years, Mount Laurel-based Samaritan‘s CEO, Mary Ann Boccolini, announced her intention to retire effective Dec. 31.
Succeeding Boccolini as CEO and president will be Phillip 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 Oct. 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.
Boccolini first joined the South Jersey-based provider of palliative medicine and hospice care as director of clinical operations in 1997 and was appointed CEO and president in 2000. She 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 grown to serve nearly 11,000 patients and families annually. Her 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 health care continuum.
“I retire knowing things are in the very best of hands with Phillip as president and CEO and our experienced leadership team,” Boccolini stated. “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 health care 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.”
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 health care organizations in the areas of administration, operations, government affairs and business development. He served as chief administrative officer for Tabula Rasa HealthCare in Moorestown, 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 at InnovAge and Denver Hospice.
