Empath Health Executive Leadership

Rafael J. Sciullo

CEO of Empath Health System

Rafael J. Sciullo assumed his role as president and CEO of Empath Health in early February 2013. In the time since he became the organization’s leader, he has refocused its inpatient care centers, expanded its home health program, overseen growth in the Suncoast PACE program and developed new partnerships with other health care and community organizations.

Sciullo blends his propensity for attention to detail and fiscal soundness with heartfelt empathy and concern for patients and families. “There is no more important job humans can do for one another than caring for patients at the end of life,” he says. He believes in staying close to patients and families to know firsthand what’s important to them and understand 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 (NHPCO) and a recipient of NHPCO’s Founder Award, Sciullo is recognized nationally as a trendsetter in his field. He is a member of Hospice Executive Round Table, a group of hospice leaders who engage in ideas exchange and study ways to advance and enhance hospice care in the United States. Sciullo holds three master’s degrees and was educated at Duns Scotus College, Southfield, Mich., University of San Diego and University of Connecticut.

Jonathan D. Fleece

President of Empath Health

Jonathan D. Fleece, Esq., is President of Empath Health and CEO of Tidewell Hospice. He is a proven healthcare leader and visionary whose roots and community involvement run deep in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Jonathan, a Florida board-certified health care attorney, became Tidewell’s CEO in October 2018 after serving as President/CEO and a shareholder of the law firm, Blalock Walters, P.A., in Bradenton and Sarasota. He is the co-author of The New Health Age: The Future of Health Care in America, with acclaimed futurist, author, and speaker, David Houle. Jonathan and David also are co-founders of New Health Age Advisors, and Jonathan is founder of tobe4HEALTH. Jonathan received his JD Degree and Certificate in Health Law Studies from St. Louis University School of Law. He is a member of the Florida Bar, the Missouri Bar, the Illinois Bar and American Health Lawyers Association. Jonathan was a member of either the Tidewell board from 2009 until 2018 and has been instrumental in contributing to Tidewell’s success. He currently serves on the board of the Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association and is a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Jonathan also has served in numerous other community leadership roles, including on the Manatee Community Foundation board of trustees and as Past Board Chair of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Bradenton Area EDC and the Manatee Health Care Alliance. He also is a graduate of the Tampa Bay Partnership’s CEO Direct Program.

Saida Bouhamid, MBA-Finance, ACHE

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer

Saida Bouhamid, MBA-Finance, ACHE, is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. She joined Tidewell in December 1998 and has served as Chief Financial Officer since August 2010. She was named the Chief Operating Officer in March 2015. Saida manages several of Tidewell’s operating groups and oversees Empath Health and its subsidiaries’ financial operations. She has more than 20 years of experience in reimbursement and financial management in the healthcare industry. Saida worked in the accounting department at Bon Secours Venice Hospital and served as director of operations at Premier Home Medical, also in Venice. She has a BS in Business Administration/ Accounting and has a Master in Business Administration and Finance from Webster University. She is a certified Advanced Hospice Executive and serves on the Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Finance and Public Policy committees.

Pauline Mailey, RN

Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer

Pauline Mailey, RN, is the Executive Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer. She began her career with Tidewell Hospice in 2004 and was promoted to EVP/CNO in January 2018. Pauline has 18 years of hospice experience and has held various positions at Tidewell, including director of the first assisted-living facility clinical team before becoming Vice President for ALF teams. As Chief Nursing Officer, Pauline is responsible for the leadership and management of all Clinical Services, Bereavement, the Tidewell Honors Veterans program and Complementary Services. Prior to joining Tidewell, Pauline spent four years working in the in-patient and home-care settings for a hospice in Connecticut. She had previous nursing experience in oncology and intensive care and is a certified ALF administrator. She is a member of the American Nursing Association and Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association. A native of Scotland, Pauline graduated in 1987 from Eastern College of Nursing in Glasgow.

Debbie Mason, CFRE, APR, CPRC, FELLOW PRSA

Executive Vice President, Chief Philanthropy Officer

Neville Sarkari, MD, FACP

Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer

Neville Sarkari, MD, FACP, is the Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer. He joined Tidewell in July 2015. Dr. Sarkari brings a strong background in primary care, hospice care and medical management to Tidewell. He previously served as Senior Vice President, Medical Services and Senior Vice President, Operations/Interim COO at Covenant Hospice in Florida’s Panhandle. Prior to hospice, Dr. Sarkari spent five years doing acute palliative care in the inpatient hospital setting. He started his medical career in General Internal Medicine, working in the group practice setting and owning an independent practice for several years. He is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Internal Medicine and has been elected a Fellow in the American College of Physicians. Dr. Sarkari is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Areas of specific interest include Patient Safety, High Reliability Operations, Quality, Lean Healthcare Management, Strategic Planning and Complex Systems.

Julie Schilson, SPHR

Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

Julie Schilson, SPHR, is the Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer. She joined Tidewell Hospice in May 2010. Julie provides leadership for the Human Resources and Education departments, developing and executing strategy in support of Tidewell’s overall business plan and strategic direction. The Human Resources and Education teams are also working to position Tidewell as the Employer of Choice by being aware of practices and trends within the medical/hospice industry. Previously, Julie provided HR direction and management for HR outsourcing organizations and the banking industry in the Sarasota-Bradenton community. Julie is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA), and Sarasota Human Resources Association (SHRA). She holds a Bachelor’s in Finance from the University of Florida and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

Alan Weldy, JD, MBA

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

Alan Weldy, JD, MBA, is the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Empath Health. Alan joined Empath Health in 2020 with 34 years of legal experience and more than a decade of health care compliance and general counsel experience. Before coming to Empath, Alan served 12 years as General Counsel, Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance at Goshen Health, formerly known as Indiana University Health Goshen, in Goshen, Ind. Alan earned his law degree from University of Notre Dame Law School and his Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University. He spent 16 years with the firm Yoder, Ainlay, Ulmer and Buckingham, including 10 years as partner. Weldy also served as adjunct professor and associate professor of business at Goshen College, his undergraduate alma mater.

Wendy L. Kraszewski, LCSW

Executive Director of Connexis Medical Services

Wendy L. Kraszewski, LCSW, is the Executive Director and Vice President of Palliative Care Services for Connexis Medical Services. Wendy joined Connexis in August 2019. As Executive Director, Wendy leads all aspects of Connexis, including hospital-based palliative care, mobile physicians/primary care, long-term care medical directors and outpatient/community palliative care along with the Connexis partnership with The Paradise Center wellness clinic in Longboat Key. Wendy came to Connexis with 19 years of leadership experience in the hospice and palliative care fields. She spent 12 years at VITAS Healthcare Corp., including six years as National General Manager, providing operational leadership and oversight for all VITAS palliative care practices across the company. Wendy began her career as a field supervisor and psychosocial counselor at Hospice Care of SE Florida and held the same position at Broward General Medical Center, both in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Social Work degree from Barry University.

Cecille Riggs, PT

Vice President of Home Health

Cecille Riggs, PT, is the Vice President for Home Health. She joined Empath Health in October 2020. Cecille has more than 30 years of experience in health care and 20 years of experience in leadership roles within large home health agencies and senior living organizations. Prior to joining Emapth, Cecille served as Vice President for Brookdale Senior Living, the largest senior living provider in the country. She was with Brookdale Healthcare Services for nine years in different roles, providing oversight to agencies across the country for home health and outpatient product lines. Cecille also was Regional Director for Kindred Home Health’s Southeast Region, formerly Gentiva Health Services. She was responsible for growth strategies, operational efficiency, clinical delivery and specialty development. She graduated from the University of St. Thomas and is pursuing her master’s degree at Purdue University.