Sara Pagliaro, DO
“It’s absolutely a team effort. It’s our shared vision that really helps make all of this work.”
From clinician to chief
It’s rare to find a leader with both boardroom experience and impeccable bedside manner, but Sara Pagliaro, DO, Chief Medical Officer at Samaritan, brings both clinical experience and strategic vision to her leadership role.
“Starting my full-time hospice and palliative care career at Samaritan and then growing alongside the organization has been very meaningful,” she says of moving into a leadership role, which came naturally. “I’ve always had a personality that helps me see the big picture and improve processes.”
Before joining Samaritan, Dr. Pagliaro was medical director of her private family medicine practice and served as chief resident during residency. At Samaritan, she spent several years as the Associate Director of Palliative Medicine before moving into a vice president position overseeing medical services. Last year, she was promoted to Chief Medical Officer.
“That potential was always there, but the opportunity to really grow and develop as a leader came at the right time at Samaritan,” she says. “As a physician, I was trained to ask questions, gather information and create a plan for patient care. I’ve carried that same approach into leadership. I try to evaluate the situation, understand the goals, consider the next steps and then make a plan to move forward.”
While her time providing direct patient care has scaled back in recent years, she still provides oversight across all clinical settings and continues to see patients on a rotating basis. Her continued clinical work keeps her in touch with what her team experiences every day.
“I think a good leader should have a detailed understanding of what their team does,” she says. “When processes need to change or we’re looking at opportunities for improvement, it’s important to know what clinicians are up against. I don’t think I could function as effectively as a leader without feeling confident that I could step into the roles my full-time clinicians work in.”
Samaritan has built a strong reputation for offering specialized support across primary care, palliative medicine and hospice – and that’s a mission Dr. Pagliaro is proud to lead.
“It’s not just about managing medications – it’s about recognizing how patients and their loved ones navigate the healthcare system to understand the broader support they may need,” says Dr. Pagliaro. “The goals of care can shift over time, and our clinical staff at Samaritan need to be ready to meet those evolving goals – in the right setting, with the right support. It’s really about understanding the full trajectory of advanced illness, the complicating factors and the social determinants of health.”
But she doesn’t take all the credit for fulfilling that mission – not even close.
“It’s absolutely a team effort,” says Dr. Pagliaro. “It’s our shared vision that really helps make all of this work. My approach to leadership isn’t about micromanaging – it’s about developing the skills in others so they can continue to support our clinical staff and programs over time.”
That means setting clinicians up for success by continually asking: What do they need to feel supported? What learning opportunities are they seeking? What do they want from their leaders in order to thrive?
“Especially in today’s healthcare environment with high burnout, high staff turnover, growing patient expectations and the increasing accessibility of health information, we have to evolve our leadership style,” says Dr. Pagliaro. “Leadership means recognizing that each employee is more than a role – they’re a person with a skillset and a voice. My job is to amplify that so they can continue to share their gifts with Samaritan and the people we serve.”
Dr. Pagliaro’s focus on people-first leadership is what keeps her grounded, even when things get hectic. It’s that mindset, she says, that helps her manage the constant demands of the job without losing sight of what matters most.
“The to-do list is never-ending, but I’ve come to see that as a privilege,” says Dr. Pagliaro. “It means the work matters, that there’s always room to improve, to grow and to keep moving forward.”
Samaritan | 856-596-1600 | samaritannj.org
