With 40 years of experience across diverse facets of healthcare and senior living, Maria Santangelo is a seasoned Healthcare Industry Consultant known for delivering exceptional results. Her journey started as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal, where she facilitated literacy classes, clean drinking water programs, and provided sanitation techniques for contaminated water. This early experience sowed the seeds of her commitment to service, servant leadership and improving the quality of life for others. Throughout her 40-year career, Maria has worked with people of all ages and abilities providing management counsel and support to organizations including:
- Behavior health services
- Clinical social work
- Companion services
- Hospitals
- Memory care facilities
- Nonprofit community organizations
- Occupational therapy services
- Outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation facilities
- Senior living services
- Skilled nursing facilities
It was during her tenure at Doylestown Hospital and Pine Run Retirement Community that Maria significantly honed her skills in executive leadership and transition management. She played a crucial role in managing the transition of work following the sale of Pine Run Retirement Community, ensuring seamless operational acceptance, readiness, and risk management related to the sale. Prior to that, her responsibilities as the Executive Director at Pine Run Retirement Community brought strategic innovations to the fore, leading to improved communication and patient care across the Doylestown Health/Pine Run continuum.
Maria’s commitment to senior living has been further underscored by her work on construction and renovation projects at Pine Run, including a new Community Center and cottage renovations, which totaled over $115 million. As a Senior Director of Villager Services, she oversaw 12 departments, focusing on comprehensive care and services for the senior residents.
Prior to her work at Doylestown Hospital and Pine Run Retirement Community, Maria co-owned an outpatient Rehab Company, Allied Therapy Associates, and was a Regional Rehab Director at Innovative Senior Care where she oversaw the operations and compliance of five rehabilitation programs across Southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware.
Maria’s academic pursuits led her to serve as an Instructor at Harcum College, teaching various courses related to Occupational Therapy. This experience aligns with her early career focus on Occupational Therapy, where she worked at Melmark Homes, Inc., Children’s Hospital, Children’s Seashore House, and Chesapeake Rehab Equipment, Inc.
Throughout her career, Maria has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to drive strategic planning, manage multi-million dollar budgets, oversee complex construction projects, and lead teams to deliver exceptional care and services. Her experiences have equipped her with the expertise and insights to provide high-impact consulting services in the healthcare and senior living industry. She enjoys leveraging her expertise to drive positive change and enhance the quality of care for all people.
Maria is also the founder of the Ama Chhori Foundation which provides funding for women and girls in third-world countries to develop opportunities for empowerment, independence and sustainable economic decision-making processes. The organization supports Peace Corps Partnership Programs in South America and Africa and funds the building of community centers and educational programs in Nepal.
