Diane Psaras
Chief Human Resources Officer
Diane Psaras is executive vice president and chief human resources (HR) officer for VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care. Appointed to the position in October 2018, she is responsible for the entire HR function for the company’s more than 10,000 employees in 15 states and the District of Columbia.
As a member of the senior executive leadership team, Diane is responsible for bringing the VITAS vision and mission to life through its people. Charged with setting the strategic direction for the HR function, she is a champion for VITAS talent and culture, both of which are critical for a successful healthcare services business.
Diane has more than three decades of human resources experience, including global and domestic responsibilities across multiple industries. Her corporate experience, leadership, and accomplishments span numerous HR initiatives and processes—cultural transformation, performance management, talent development, improvements in employee retention and engagement, and the development of talent metrics and scorecards.
Before joining VITAS, Diane was chief human resources officer at wound-care provider Healogics Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida. She also served as senior vice president of human resources at Red Lobster and was an officer of the parent company, Darden Restaurants Inc. At Red Lobster, Diane developed a successful human resource strategy to support more than 700 restaurants, 65,000 employees, and $2.6 billion in annual sales. She also spent 14 years in progressive HR roles with Avery Dennison, including her role as global HR vice president of the Specialty Materials and Converting Group.
Diane was named 2024 Employee Experience Leader of the Year by Reworked’s IMPACT Awards. She received the 2023 Front of the Front Line: Sustainable Workforce Award presented by HRO Today and was named as a Leader of Distinction and finalist for CHRO of the Year. Also in 2023 through the HRO Today Association, Diane led VITAS to win Best in Class for Employee Experience in Healthcare across North America and landed as a finalist for both Best in Class: HR Technology and HR Team of the Year. Diane is also a member of the exclusive HRO Today Executive Network C-TEN.
In 2010, Diane received the Coca Cola Spirit Award for HR best practices, and she was recognized in 2011 and 2012 by People Report™ Best Practices. Diane’s efforts to drive culture and employee engagement at Red Lobster supported Darden’s designation as one of FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2011 and 2012.
Diane earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Youngstown State University and a master’s in business administration from Rollins College. She is a former board member for Orlando’s Big Brother Big Sister organization and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Articles by Diane Psaras
- Create a Culture of Compassion to Inspire Exceptional Care | South Florida Hospital News
- Nurturing Our Nurses: How Fostering the Right Culture Begets the Best Care | McKnights Home Care
- Diane Psaras Betters Employees to Better Patients | American Healthcare Leader
- How COVID Has Changed Healthcare HR and the Workforce | Modern Healthcare