Charles P. Francis

SVP/Chief Strategy Officer

With over 17 years of experience in healthcare strategy, business development and consulting, Mr. Francis is responsible for CHW's strategic direction, market position and public policy initiatives. He oversees strategic planning, managed care, public policy and advocacy, marketing, communications and system development.

Prior to joining Catholic Healthcare West in February 2001, Mr. Francis was senior vice president, business development for Advocate Health Care, a faith-based integrated health care delivery system in Oak Brook, Illinois.  His experience at Advocate included strategic planning, system integration, physician integration, culture transformation, merger/acquisition, new product development, integrated relationship-based marketing management and operations (including responsibility for three divisions with net revenue of approximately $20 million).

Mr. Francis held the position of senior vice president, business development for EHS Health Care prior to its merger with Lutheran General Health System to become Advocate Health Care.  He also served Ernst & Whinney (currently Ernst & Young) in the consulting division as senior manager responsible for client development, management and performance of consulting services for managed care organizations, hospitals and physician groups.

Mr. Francis received a master's degree in management from Northwestern University's Graduate School of Management.  He is a visiting lecturer at Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and received Kellogg's Health Services Management Alumni Association's 1997 Laura Jackson Award for distinguished contributions to the field and the school.

Mr. Francis is a board member of the American Hospital Association Society for Health Care Strategy and Market Development.