Dr. Sara Elizabeth Hamm

She joined Lifespace Communities in February 2015 as Vice President of Clinical Services and retired in September 1, 2023. She served as the Senior VP of Successful Aging & Health Services and was named Chief Clinical and Public Health Officer by the President & CEO in 2020. 

Sara is an accomplished nurse executive with progressive executive leadership roles in post-acute care and senior living environments. Sara served as part of the C-Suite executive leadership team at Lifespace, and was responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership for all clinical, and resident care programs in the skilled nursing & rehabilitation health centers, assisted living, independent living, and specialty memory care programs. She has also been responsible for private duty and Medicare-certified home health operations in her roles as a nurse leader. Sara was responsible for health and wellness initiatives, regulatory compliance programs, policy and program development, clinical risk management, infection control, and population health programs at Lifespace Communities, Inc. 

Sara’s progressive health care experience has resulted in a leadership style that focuses on leading with heart, high quality service and hospitality, and interventions to promote team member and patient/resident engagement. 

Sara started her early career as a “candy striper” in grade school and served as a housekeeper and nursing assistant while finishing high school. Following high school, Sara became a Licensed Practical Nurse at the age of 18. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing with honors from Marquette University, and her Master’s degree in educational psychology and community counseling from the University of Wisconsin. She received a Doctor of Nursing practice (DNP) degree in executive leadership from Loyola University NOLA, where she was also the recipient of the 2018 Executive Leadership Scholar Award finishing her doctoral program with a 4.0 GPA. Her DNP scholarly research project utilized RN care navigators to facilitate transitions of care to successfully reduce unnecessary rehospitalizations following post-acute care placement.

Sara currently lives in South Florida with her husband Bryan, and two Golden Retrievers (Nissa and Frolic), who are training to become certified canine assistance therapy (CAT) dogs.

Personal interests and passions include extensive domestic and international travel, pet therapy, boating, culinary arts, oenology, reading, and writing.