The Future Leaders Awards program is brought to you in partnership with Homecare Homebase.
Augie Luptak, Vice President of Strategy & Operations at St. Croix Hospice, has been named a 2025 Future Leader by Hospice News.
To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years of age or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.
Luptak sat down with Hospice News to share what drew him to the hospice & palliative care industry, the biggest leadership lessons he has learned, his thoughts on the future of the hospice & palliative care industry, and much more. To learn more about the Future Leaders Awards program, visit https://futureleaders.wtwhmedia.com/.
HSPN: What drew you to the hospice & palliative care industry?
Luptak: What first drew me in was the St. Croix Hospice leadership team. They gave me a window into an industry full of caring and passionate people. Their compassion and dedication are a major part of what has kept me here and continue to inspire me.
HSPN: What’s your biggest leadership lesson learned since starting to serve this industry?
Luptak: I’ve learned to listen first and talk second. When you listen first, you gain a much deeper understanding of situations. That understanding makes you far more effective in your decisions.
HSPN: If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of the hospice & palliative care industry, what would it be?
Luptak: I would love for the world to see the positive impact hospice and palliative care clinicians have on patients and families. When most people think about healthcare, they think about curing illness, so hospice and palliative care can be overlooked. With more exposure, I’m confident more people would be inspired to pursue careers in the industry.
HSPN: In one word, how would you describe the future of hospice & palliative care?
Luptak: Mainstream.
HSPN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will impact the hospice & palliative care industry now and into 2026?
Luptak: The biggest factor will be the ability to hire, train and develop clinicians. There is a large and growing need for hospice and palliative care. Organizations that excel at attracting, developing and retaining staff will be best positioned to meet patient needs.
HSPN: In your opinion, what qualities must all Future Leaders possess?
Luptak: Future leaders need a team-centered mindset, a strong appetite to learn and teach, and a focus on “keeping it simple.”
HSPN: If you could give advice to yourself looking back to your first day in the hospice & palliative care industry, what would it be and why?
Luptak: I would tell myself to shadow and speak with a clinician as soon as possible. There is so much you don’t know that you don’t know, and understanding the needs of our clinicians will help you focus on what matters most.
