Phillip Heath Continues Legacy of Leadership at Samaritan
Photo courtesy of Samaritan website
BY NATHALY SUQUINAGUA | For AC JosepH Media
MOUNT LAUREL – Phillip Heath completed his third year as president and CEO of Samaritan this month and he continues to find the experience rewarding and fulfilling.
Heath became the first Black to serve as president in 2022 after serving on the Samaritan board since 2018 and its chair since 2019. Samaritan is a comprehensive healthcare and hospice service for individuals in South Jersey dealing with serious, progressive illnesses or grief.
The organization provides services for nearly 11,000 patients and their families annually in South Jersey.
Heath said he has always been interested in the healthcare field and was interested in helping older people. Being the seventh of eight children, Heath has always been taught to be proud of who he is and to always be the best at what he chooses to do in his life.
“My graduate advisor knew of my interest in working with the elderly and told me about an opportunity to join a hospice organization in Florida,” Heath told Front Runner New Jersey. “That was the beginning of my entrance into hospice.I have spent the last 32 years working not just with hospice, but with elderly people who need person-centered care,”
Heath gained extensive experience working with local, regional, and national healthcare organizations in sales, marketing, business development, government affairs, and operations.
He also has a strong background in hospice care, senior housing, long-term care, and healthcare technology, bringing a well-rounded understanding of the industry of older adults.
At Samaritan, Heath leads the organization’s strategy overseeing a range of compassionate, life-enhancing services including primary care at home, palliative medicine, hospice care, grief support, education, and advocacy.
“I consider it a privilege to be recognized as a role model in any setting or community, but especially in the African American community,” said Heath, one of highest-ranking African Americans in the healthcare field in the state.
“As a product of an historically Black Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., we were always encouraged to be twice as good and give back to our community. Morehouse challenges students and alumni to grow tall enough to wear the crown of those who paved the way before us.”
One of Heath’s most rewarding experiences at Samaritan has been making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients, staff, and the surrounding communities. His lifelong mission is to ensure patients receive the care and resources they need, something his work at Samaritan continues to fulfill.
Still, Heath acknowledges the challenges of navigating the ever-changing landscape of healthcare at the regional, state, and national levels.
“What’s important is that we as an organization make an impact in our community,” Heath said. “I am a firm believer in health equity and access. What I want to make sure is that in addition to the individuals who traditionally use our services, we ensure that everyone in the communities we serve understands and has access to our services.”
??While he believes that mentorship is valuable, sponsorship is what truly helps people move forward.
As he puts it, “Mentors help you get to the door, while sponsors help you through the door.”
As a strong advocate for sponsoring young people as well, Heath said he is committed to creating opportunities for them to build their skills through orientations, training, fellowships, and scholarships.
To the next generation, including his own son, Heath emphasizes the importance of resilience, reminding them that things may not always go as planned, but they always find a way to work out.
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