The healthcare sector is experiencing transformative change led by influential leaders focused on improving patient care and promoting health equity. These leaders prioritize expanding access to services, improving affordability, and championing innovative integrated care delivery while addressing health disparities and enacting social responsibility to reaffirm accessible, quality care for all.
Francoise Culley–Trotman, CEO of AlohaCare, represents this leadership by guiding initiatives that elevate patient care and health equity. With over 17 years of experience in healthcare operations and compliance, she has effectively identified gaps and implemented innovative solutions.
Under her guidance, AlohaCare has made significant progress in addressing health disparities through culturally relevant programs like Ke Aloha Mau, which offers Native Hawaiian health services as an extra benefit to its members. Francoise’s devotion to excellence and her ability to successfully navigate in complex environments have strengthened AlohaCare’s role in Hawaii’s healthcare system.
Leading with a Vision for Healthcare
Francoise Culley is the CEO of AlohaCare, a nonprofit health plan founded in Hawaii 30 years ago so that the state’s most underserved residents would have a voice in their healthcare. Transitioning from banking to healthcare in 2005, she is led by a devotion to addressing health disparities and honoring community rights in healthcare decisions.
Her leadership centers on delivering high-quality Medicaid and Medicare coverage that meets the needs of vulnerable populations with cultural sensitivity.
A Legacy of Health Services
In the 1990s, Hawaiʻi’s community health center leaders created AlohaCare to address service gaps in underserved areas. Now, 30 years later, AlohaCare is Hawaiʻi’s only safety-net health plan, with over 292 staff members dedicated to promoting wellness and community access to quality care. Collaborating with community health centers and providers, AlohaCare makes certain its members receive personalized, high-quality care while strengthening the groups it serves.
Direction from Banking to Healthcare
Francoise’s career has uniquely prepared her for her role as CEO of AlohaCare. At JPMorgan Chase, she played a key role in implementing HIPAA compliance, which sparked her interest in healthcare. Her subsequent experience at WellCare deepened her expertise in compliance and leadership. This background in managing risk and operations across regulated industries has equipped her to drive AlohaCare’s mission, confirming the health plan effectively serves its members.
Commanding an Essential Transition
In 2020, Francoise adeptly managed AlohaCare’s shift to remote work amid the pandemic while transitioning to the CEO role. She ensured the continuity of necessary services, maintained alignment with her executive team, and built trust with the board and partners.
The team adapted smoothly, achieved a 92% vaccination rate, and secured a re-procurement award with strong community support.
Passionate About Encouraging Communities
She finds great satisfaction in addressing healthcare disparities and social determinants of health. She is propelled by the opportunity to help areas and families thrive, recognizing that prioritizing health and well-being leads to greater prosperity. Her promise lies in creating opportunities for individuals to achieve better health outcomes and greater quality of life.
Mastering Accountability
Francoise’s extensive compliance experiene enables her to navigate Alohacare’s growth in a highly regulated environment (or industry). She has established programs that prioritize risk mitigation and advance a culture of accountability. As a result of AlohaCare’s mindful approach, risk management is seamlessly integrated into its business strategies, maintaining a minimal risk tolerance while continuing to innovate.
Bringing Strategic Vision
She adeptly balances long-term planning with day-to-day operations at AlohaCare. Drawing on her experience with startups and diverse companies, Francoise integrates detailed attention with strategic intuition. This approach warrants that AlohaCare’s immediate workflows align with member needs while also advancing a 3–5-year strategic vision, allowing for innovation in healthcare improvement.
Accentuating Planning
Francoise values organizational planning as a vital element of her leadership approach at AlohaCare. She believes that every employee should grasp the organization’s objectives, so she leads a business planning process that incorporates input from all levels.
This approach assures that planning aligns with member and partner priorities and adapts to both short- and long-term goals.
Leading Capital Projects
Francoise Culley-Trotman has extensive experience in managing large capital projects and M&A transactions in regulated industries. Since 2003, she has handled various acquisitions and due diligence in banking and healthcare. At AlohaCare, she led the renovation of over 40,000 square feet of office space, improving efficiency and creating a culturally vibrant and collaborative work environment.
A Positive Work Culture
She points out the importance of valuing and listening to employees to increase productivity and adopt a positive work culture at AlohaCare. She safeguards staff engagement through multiple feedback channels, community-building efforts, and celebrating milestones while promoting transparency and trust.
Francoise Culley-Trotman believes in balancing high performance with employee well-being, aligning with Hawaiian values such as warmth, compassion, and mutual respect. At AlohaCare, this approach reflects a commitment to “Aloha,” “Mālama” (care), “Kuleana” (responsibility), and “Alakaʻi” (leadership), securing a supportive and accountable environment for both employees and the communities they serve.
Building Brand Through Engagement
Francoise enriches AlohaCare’s brand by emphasizing its local roots and role in serving Hawaiʻi’s community. She strengthens visibility through community relationships, the Imua Loa giving program, and active participation in local events and conferences.
Fulfilling Mission
She is fulfilled by collaboration with provider and community-based organizations, all with the common goal to serve Hawaii. She keeps AlohaCare committed to its mission through a combination of strategic planning and intentional innovation.
The most rewarding part of her role is hearing how AlohaCare positively impacts lives, and the appreciation from community partners underscores the organization’s value and mission.
Guidance for Ambitious Leaders
Francoise Culley-Trotman advises aspiring healthcare leaders to embrace their unique qualities and passions, as these will drive innovation and distinguish them in the field. She points out the importance of staying true to one’s goals and aspirations, even when faced with challenges. Authenticity, honesty, and compassion, she notes, are key for transforming stressful situations into opportunities for collaboration, trust, and loyalty.
