Eileen Roberto graduated from West Babylon High School in 1970. While raising her three children, she attended evening college and earned her RN degree in 1982. Eileen’s passion for improving end-of- life care began as a staff nurse on the oncology unit at Good Samaritan Hospital. She became a clinical bedside leader and advocated for patients in every possible venue. She sat with patients and families and developed the skills to initiate difficult conversations that other health-care providers often avoided. She enlightened administrators and nursing leaders on the unique needs of the dying patient. Eileen advanced to the role of clinical coordinator of the Breast Health Center. Seeing the positive effect of supporting the breast cancer patient and family from diagnosis through treatment, she recognized the need to further advance this philosophy of care and expanded this service to include patients with other illnesses. Thus began her journey into palliative care. She began with a nurse-driven consultation service to help support patients and their families facing serious illness. This philosophy of care quickly gained the expertise of a Palliative Medicine physician and an entire interdisciplinary team. The program became the model for growth for Palliative Care Services. Eileen is now the Administrative Director of Palliative Care for Catholic Health Services of Long Island.

She also partnered with nursing colleagues from hospice and home care to form the Long Island Chapter of the Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association and served as President. Joining forces on a national level, she has been a presenter at conferences across the country. She was the recipient of the “2009 Project on Death in America Nursing Leadership Award” and the “Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council Award for Nursing Excellence” as well as other honors. In addition, she served a six year tenure as the volunteer Administrative Vice-President of the Long Island Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.