Medical Team

Meet our medical provider team.

Smiling man with stethoscope around his neck

Dr. John Mast

Dr. Mast was named medical director of Masonic Village in 2020. He is a geriatric specialist certified in geriatric and family medicine with Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.  

Dr. Mast completed his medical residency at East Tennessee State University. He attended a pre-med program at Goshen College in Indiana and medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine at Indianapolis. Prior to Masonic Village, he worked in family medicine at Norlanco Medical Associates in Elizabethtown.  

He would like to see hospice reach even more people and provide quality end-of-life care for more individuals at an earlier stage. Some individuals don’t enter hospice until they are very close to death.  

“Hospice can always make a difference, no matter when it’s consulted, but the longer hospice has to help individuals, the more they can do,” he said. 

Headshot of smiling woman outdoors

Dr. Ruth Wagner

Dr. Wagner serves as associate medical director and works with staff as the palliative care physician. 

She earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from American University and graduated from Rutgers University’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed her residency in family medicine and her fellowship in hospice and palliative care at Lancaster General Hospital.  

Dr. Wagner previously worked with Hospice and Community Care’s hospital palliative consult team, was a provider at the outpatient palliative care clinic at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute and was an attending physician at the Bob Fryer & Family Inpatient Center for hospice care.  

“I pursued a career in palliative care because I believe medicine, no matter what stage of illness, should be tailored to meet our individual needs based on our personal values,” she said. “This quote from Dr. Edward Trudeau has always resonated with me as my role as a physician: ‘To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.’” 

Smiling woman outdoors

Dr. Robin Gish

Dr. Gish is an associate medical director for the hospice program.

She graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science degree and attended medical school at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, where she earned her medical degree. She completed a family practice internship and residency at Harrisburg Hospital.

Dr. Gish previously worked at Norlanco Medical Associates and Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Health in family practice and urgent care.

“My goal in hospice is to work to bring comfort and compassion to every patient and family who we serve and to be a support to the amazing team that makes up Masonic Village Hospice,” she said.

Smiling woman standing outdoors

Nancy Estep

Ms. Estep is a nurse practitioner for the hospice and palliative care programs. She helps patients manage multiple complex conditions and illnesses with a focus on comfort and quality of life.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from York College and a bachelor’s degree in health planning and administration degree from Penn State University. She also holds a master’s degree in nursing from Widener University and a master’s degree in business administration from Shippensburg University. She first worked at Masonic Village in 2004 as a nurse manager and has worked as a certified registered nurse practitioner with Penn Medicine/Lancaster General Health in geriatrics.

Smiling woman with grey background

Beth Sampsell

Ms. Sampsell is the nurse practitioner for the hospice and palliative care programs. She works closely with our registered nurses, social workers and chaplains and provides education to patients, families and staff.

She has a registered nurse diploma from Geisinger School of Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Penn State University. She earned a master’s degree as a clinical nurse specialist and her post master’s degree as an adult nurse practitioner from Penn State University. She recently finished an additional master’s degree at the PA College of Health Science as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and is certified as a hospice and palliative nurse. She first worked for Masonic Village in 1994 and has taught nursing at local colleges and universities.

“I believe that one’s palliative and hospice journey is very personal and individual,” she said. “I strive to embrace the patient’s own goals of care and work hard to support them in any way possible. I believe the patient and their family are ‘in charge of their journey’ and work closely with them to make decisions together and collaborate on care. It is an honor and privilege to care for patients and their families at end of life.”