About Me

Dr. Maria Thomas Santiago is an American healthcare entrepreneur, educator, and philanthropist driven by a powerful mission: to bring heart and dignity to caregiving.
The daughter of immigrant parents, she rose from home health aide to founder and Executive Director of the Home Health Aide Training Institute (HHATI) in New York. Under her leadership, HHATI has trained thousands, emphasizing her philosophy of “training with the heart”—blending technical skill with deep empathy and compassion.
Her influence extends through the Talk with Maria show and her global philanthropic initiative, “Maria’s Global Gift of Love,” providing essential aid to communities from Nigeria to Bali. Her lifetime of service has been honored with a Presidential Tribute of Excellence Award from President Joe Biden and recognition from the New York State Legislature.
At her core, Dr. Santiago is a transformative advocate who believes in the profound dignity of both the caregiver and the person in their care.

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