What does it take to stay steady when life, leadership, and uncertainty seem determined to pull you in every direction? In this episode of Becoming Unshakable, I sit down with Phillip W. Heath, President and CEO of Samaritan Health Care and Hospice, to explore a career built on service, compassion, and resilience. Having dedicated more than three decades to caring for vulnerable populations, Phillip shares why leadership begins with understanding others’ needs and how staying connected to the people you serve can provide clarity, purpose, and perspective.
Our conversation moves beyond traditional leadership advice and into the realities of making difficult decisions, navigating ambiguity, and remaining committed to a mission as external pressures mount. Phillip reflects on moments when he questioned his path, the lessons he learned from saying yes to opportunities others might avoid, and why chasing every new idea can distract leaders from what matters most. We also discuss the balance between mission and sustainability, and why meaningful leadership requires both heart and discipline.
One theme that stayed with me throughout this conversation is Phillip’s belief in the power of mentorship. He explains why no leader succeeds alone, how mentors have shaped his journey, and why borrowing steadiness from others can help us navigate uncertainty with greater confidence. Whether you’re leading a team, navigating change, or simply searching for a stronger sense of direction, this episode offers practical wisdom on building resilience through relationships, staying true to your values, and continuing to grow through every stage of leadership.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Who has been the mentor who helped shape your journey, and what lessons from them still guide you today?
About Phillip W. Heath
Phillip W. Heath is the president and CEO of Samaritan, an independent not-for-profit provider of home-based healthcare and supportive services in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Founded in Moorestown in 1980 as one of the country’s first hospices, Samaritan now provides an expanding range of life-enhancing services for over 13,000 patients and their families annually in five New Jersey counties.
Before joining the Samaritan leadership team, Phillip’s career was distinguished by 30 years of leadership experience with various local, regional, and national healthcare organizations in the areas of sales, marketing, business development, government affairs, and operations. With extensive experience in the hospice, senior housing, long-term care, and healthcare technology arena, he was also involved in corporate community affairs, social responsibility, inclusion and diversity initiatives, and as a community volunteer throughout his career.
Phillip served as Chief Marketing and Sales Officer and Chief Administrative Officer with a provider of long-term care services and Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Most recently he was the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for a healthcare technology firm where he was responsible for providing instructional leadership to department managers, working to develop and implement the company’s strategic plan, administrative policies, and performance of all corporate departments.
Phillip currently serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey; as the Board Vice-Chair of the Responsive Care Solutions Accountable Care Organization; and as a Board Member of the National Partnership for Hospice and Healthcare Innovation.
Phillip holds a B.A. from Morehouse College and an M.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy. He earned a certificate in Healthcare Leadership from Cornell University and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
At Samaritan, Phillip is responsible for leading the vision, mission, and strategic direction to provide advanced clinical expertise and extraordinary compassion through our comprehensive and growing family of life-enhancing services including: primary care at home, palliative medicine, hospice care, grief support, education, and advocacy.
Prior to being unanimously elected to the role of President and CEO in 2022, Phillip led Samaritan’s volunteer board of trustees as chairman for four years, working alongside the senior leadership team to expand the organization’s care options to help more people—especially those who are most vulnerable—in more ways.
Throughout his career, Phillip has understood his mission of service to be “provide what the patient wants and what the patient needs.” That priority continues today as he leads Samaritan’s mission to help patients, and those who care about them, live their best lives every day.
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About Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP
Heather R Younger, J.D., CSP is a highly sought-after speaker, 2x-TEDx speaker, diversity, equity and inclusion strategist, and contributor to leading news outlets. She is also the Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm. After over 25,000 employee engagement surveys and years of working with organizations to transform employee engagement, here’s what Heather has seen over and over: When you know how to listen, employees will tell you exactly what they need to bring their full selves to work. Book Heather to speak at your event or organization.
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