NHPCO NewsLine Spring 2022 - 38

Short
Takes
NHPCO Welcomes Aparna Gupta as Vice
President of Quality
NHPCO proudly welcomes the new Vice President of Quality,
Dr. Aparna Gupta DNP, FACHE, CPHQ, CRNP.
Dr. Gupta, who joined NHPCO on February 22, most recently served as Vice President of Clinical
Operations, Bundled Payment Solutions, Medicare, and Retirement for UnitedHealth Group
(UHG). Prior to joining UHG, Gupta served as Director of Quality, Safety, and Value for the
Allegheny Health Network (AHN). Gupta is a board-certified nurse practitioner with more than
20 years of health care leadership experience spanning quality improvement, health care
operations, executive leadership, acute care, ageing, complex disease management, clinical
services, and implementation of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) programs.
Gupta said, " I look forward to working with the hospice and palliative care communities to
improve the quality of patient care. With more than 20 years of health care experience on both
the provider side and the payer side, I have a passion for programs that create incentives to reduce costs while increasing
quality of care. I admire NHPCO's focus on quality as essential in serious illness and end-of-life care, and I look forward to
supporting the organization as it continues to lead person-centered care. "
Learn more about Aparna Gupta in the NHPCO press release.
Rafael Sciullo Presented with Galen Miller Leadership Award
In recognition of a lasting legacy of
leadership and innovation, NHPCO
presented Rafael J. Sciullo with the
Galen Miller Leadership Award at the
National Hospice Foundation Gala on
March 8, 2022.
Created in memory of Galen Miller, NHPCO's executive
vice president who died in August 2013, this award
recognizes a champion and advocate from the field who
has demonstrated the highest levels of dedication and
passion for the hospice and palliative care community and
the patients and families that receive care.
Rafael J. Sciullo currently serves as CEO of Empath Health,
a role he assumed in early 2021 with the finalization of the
merger of Empath Health and Stratum Health System. He
joined Suncoast Hospice, a member of Empath Health, in
2013, as president and CEO. In 2014, he launched Empath
Health, an integrated network of care. In the time since he
became the organization's leader, Sciullo has expanded its
home health program, overseen the expansion of its HIV/
STI and senior care services, and developed new
partnerships with other health care and community
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Newsline / Spring 2022
organizations. Rafael blends his propensity for attention to
detail and fiscal soundness with heartfelt empathy and
concern for patients and families.
Prior to taking leadership of Empath Health, he was president
and CEO of Family Hospice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
" There is no more important job humans can do for one
another than caring for patients at the end of life, " Sciullo
says. He believes in staying close to patients and families to
know firsthand what's important to them and under stand
their needs. He stresses the significance of focus on patients
and families with his leadership team and staff. His
leadership style may be defined as open and transparent.
As a past chairperson and current board member of the
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and a
recipient of NHPCO's Founder Award, Rafael is recognized
nationally as a leader and innovator in the field.
There is no more important job humans can
do for one another than caring for patients
at the end of life, " Sciullo says.

NHPCO NewsLine Spring 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NHPCO NewsLine Spring 2022