Submitted
VNAHSR Board President Dan DiBattista (left) with CEO Sara King (right), who announced her intent to retire.
Sara King, CEO of the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR) announced her plans to retire after more than 23 years of leadership with the agency on Monday, March 25. King began with VNAHSR as its chief financial officer, added the responsibilities of chief operating officer in 2016, and promoted to chief executive officer in 2021.
“Back in 2001, I was offered the opportunity to join an organization whose mission I believed in with my whole heart,” said King. “I had always admired the incredible work of the talented VNASHR staff, and I learned firsthand how wonderfully compassionate, patient, and skilled they truly are when they cared for my son, Nicolas, before his passing. Understanding the work we do here from an operational perspective and from the patient side has helped me be a better advocate for the agency. My time at this organization has been the honor of a lifetime, and I will continue to support the work of the agency long after my retirement.”
King explained that spending more time with family was the reason behind her retirement. “Family is at the very core of everything we do at VNAHSR. For many of our patients, their families are actively involved in their care, and we often hear that our clinicians and caregivers become part of their extended family. Likewise, the strength of our connections as co-workers lends itself to a feeling of family across the organization. Prioritizing time with my own family has become increasingly important, and the time is right for me to focus on enjoying my time with them, which I am very much looking forward to.”
VNAHSR Board President Dan DiBattista admitted to his initial disappointment upon hearing the retirement news, but also expressed his understanding of her reasons, as well as gratitude for all King has done in her time with VNAHSR. “Sara has given her all to this agency, and the organization is better because of her,” he said. “She has worked tirelessly to strengthen VNAHSR’s strategic operations which have paved the way for its growth, and she has shown unwavering dedication to the entire staff, bringing employee recognition to the forefront and creating a culture firmly rooted in its values.”
Founded in Rutland, Vermont, the VNAHSR has grown to include locations throughout Bennington, Franklin, and Rutland Counties. With office locations in Bennington, Dorset, Manchester, Rutland, and St. Albans, it now has over 300 trusted health professionals and caregivers committed to providing exceptional care to patients and families.
VNAHSR is a non-profit, Medicare-certified home health and hospice agency delivering a wide range of advanced medical care with compassion, dependability, and expertise to people of all ages.
King was instrumental in the agency’s growth into Bennington County, and it was her ability to simultaneously streamline and strengthen operations without sacrificing quality of care that allowed VNAHSR to begin providing services in Franklin County, despite not being geographically adjacent.
“Her contributions and accomplishments are countless, and on behalf of the entire VNAHSR board of directors, I’d like to extend my sincerest gratitude for her leadership and vision, and we wish her all the best in her next chapter,” said DiBattista.
DiBattista stated that the board will embark on a search for the next CEO of VNAHSR, and noted the strength of the leadership team King has cultivated, as well as his appreciation that King will be able to help facilitate a smooth transition to her eventual successor.
King will officially step down from her role on March 21, 2025, and plans to relocate to Saratoga Springs, New York, and spend more time with her husband and family.
