By Thomas A. Parmalee
Dr. Steve Landers (pictured at top) has announced he is stepping down as chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Care at Home, concluding a tenure marked by the high-profile merger of two national organizations and a broad repositioning of care in the home as a central pillar of its identity.
In a LinkedIn post, Landers described his leadership of the Alliance as “one of the great honors of my professional life” and said he would remain in an advisory role for several weeks to ensure a smooth transition.
“Together with an extraordinary team and dedicated members, we have transformed the care-at-home landscape,” he wrote.
A Defining Merger
Landers took the helm of the National Alliance for Care at Home in September 2024. The organization emerged from the merger of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), bringing together providers across home health, hospice, palliative care, and Medicaid home- and community-based services.
The alliance describes itself as the “leading authority in transforming care in the home,” serving as an inclusive thought leader, advocate, educator and convener for the full care-at-home continuum. The merger was designed to create a stronger, unified voice in Washington and to provide expanded regulatory guidance, educational resources and quality support for providers nationwide.
In his post, Landers highlighted several accomplishments during his tenure:
- Transitioning the Alliance “from a concept to operational excellence” following the merger of NAHC and NHPCO.
- Reframing the national dialogue around the value proposition of care at home.
- Positioning home-based care as a central solution to America’s healthcare challenges.
- Building the infrastructure and community to sustain the organization’s long-term impact.
Industry observers widely viewed the merger as complex and consequential, bringing together nearly 90 years of combined operating experience under a single banner at a time of rapid policy and reimbursement shifts.
Kyle Sinclair, MHA, a CEO who commented on Landers’ post, called the accomplishment “remarkable,” noting that taking two organizations through a complex merger and achieving “operational clarity, shared purpose, and national relevance is rare.”
“Even rarer is doing it in a way that keeps patients, families, and frontline care at the center of the conversation—not just policy or politics,” Sinclair wrote.
A Physician-Leader with Deep Home-Based Care Roots
Landers’ career has been closely tied to care delivered in the home. A geriatrician by training, he holds an MD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and an MPH from Johns Hopkins University. He completed a family medicine residency and geriatric medicine fellowship at University Hospitals of Cleveland and the Cleveland Clinic, along with NIH-sponsored clinical research training.
Before joining the alliance, Landers served as president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association Health Group in New Jersey for more than 11 years. He later led Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston and has held senior leadership roles at the Cleveland Clinic, where he directed home care and post-acute services, including home health, hospice, home infusion, telehealth and transitional care programs.
His résumé reflects a consistent focus on integrating clinical leadership with operational management across the home health and hospice spectrum.
Industry Reaction: “Stronger and More Unified”
Reaction to Landers’ announcement from leaders across home health and hospice underscored his role during what several described as a transformative time for the industry.
The alliance itself responded publicly to his post, stating: “We are proud of the milestones we have achieved under your guidance on behalf of our members and the patients they serve. Thank you, Dr. Landers, for your heart and vision, and for showing the way forward.”
Robyn Bortle, a multi-state hospice leader, wrote that hospice and home care now have “a louder voice at the national level because of your trailblazing leadership.”
Angela Huff, a registered nurse and senior manager at Forvis Mazars, credited Landers with making “meaningful and positive impacts” during pivotal moments for both the alliance and the broader industry, saying his contributions would be “long lasting as new foundations were laid and advocacy efforts made a real difference.”
Jennnifer Sheets to Take Over CEO Role
In a news release, the alliance announced that Jennifer Sheets will succeed Landers as CEO effective Feb. 17, 2026. Sheets will also assume his role as president of the Research Institute for Home Care, an affiliated organization.
Sheets is a distinguished healthcare executive bringing nearly 25 years of experience spanning ICU nursing, hospital leadership, home health, hospice, healthcare technology, and M&A. Her recent leadership spans from founder and CEO of Carezzi to president and CEO of Caring Brands International and Interim HealthCare Inc., and includes executive roles at BAYADA Home Health Care, Gentiva Healthcare, and Highland Capital/Cornerstone Healthcare Group.
Sheets has served on multiple national industry boards and remains active in legislative and regulatory advocacy in Washington, D.C. She has been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2023 American Business Awards® Woman of the Year in Consumer Services. She holds degrees in Nursing/Chemistry/Math, a Master of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Business Administration.
“The creation of the alliance marked a defining moment for our industry uniting longstanding leaders in home health and hospice under one voice. As the Alliance’s first CEO, Steve led that launch with vision and purpose, and I’m grateful for the groundwork he established,” Sheets said. “I’m excited to help shepherd the organization into its next chapter as we continue advocating across the full continuum of care — home health, home care, palliative and hospice care — and expanding access for the patients, families, and clients we all ultimately serve, wherever they call home.”
Landers will work closely with Sheets and the Board of Directors during the transition period to ensure continuity of the organization’s advocacy, member services, and strategic initiatives. The alliance remains focused on its core mission of advocating for policies that support care at home, building community across the continuum, and providing leading education and resources to members, the news release stated.
Landers did not specify his next professional move but indicated he would continue to work closely with the alliance “as an industry leader to advance care at home.”
“I am proud of what we have accomplished and energized about what lies ahead,” he wrote. “The future of care at home is bright, and I am grateful to have played a role in advancing this essential movement.”
For home care providers navigating reimbursement pressures, regulatory scrutiny and workforce constraints, the leadership transition comes at a consequential time. The alliance remains a primary national advocate in Washington and a central convener across home health, hospice, palliative care and Medicaid home- and community-based services.
With the merger integration largely complete and infrastructure in place, the industry will be watching closely to see how the organization builds on the foundation established during Landers’ tenure — and how his next chapter may continue to shape the trajectory of care in the home.
