Sara Guastello, FPCC, is the Senior Vice President of Person-Centered Care Standards at Planetree International, a mission-driven non-profit setting the global standard for person-centered excellence across the continuum of care. Since joining Planetree in 2004, her work has largely concentrated on the quality of human interactions within healthcare settings, the importance of connecting healthcare personnel to the purpose of their work, and practical strategies for patient and family engagement. In her role, Sara leads the Person-Centered Care Certification Program, recognized internationally as the gold standard in personcentered care. Sara is also a frequent writer, speaker, and invited subject matter expert on person-centered care. Most recently, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she coauthored the Guidelines for Preserving Family Presence in Challenging Times and the Family Presence Policy Decision-Making Toolkit, both of which have been endorsed by more than 50 organizations around the world.
Sara is a member of the Nursing Coalition for Family Presence, Pop-Up Coalition to Preserve Family Presence, National Quality Partners Action Team to Co-Design Patient-Centered Health Systems, and National Academy of Medicine Scientific Advisory Panel for Patient and Family Engaged Care.