David Hughes

About David Hughes

Community Health Centers face a relentless balancing act - fulfilling mission-driven care while navigating financial realities. With decades of experience leading operational and financial turnarounds, I\'ve guided health centers nationwide toward sustainable growth, compliance excellence, and improved patient outcomes.My titles have included CEO, CFO, and COO roles at five distinct health centers across four states, giving me deep insight into the nuanced challenges and opportunities within the FQHC landscape. As Founder of FQHC Forward, I partner with health centers to solve critical strategic, financial, and operational challenges. My approach is pragmatic and hands-on, rooted in creating stability, growth, and resilience.Career highlights include:• Tripling patient volume, staff, and revenue during a seven-year turnaround at Elica Health Centers, achieving consistent profitability.• Expanding dental services tenfold, growing from 7 to 72 chairs, and launching a comprehensive 340B pharmacy program.• Named CFO of the Year (2023) by the Sacramento Business Journal for transforming one of California’s most successful FQHCs.• Recovering millions in reimbursements through optimized financial strategies, including enhanced PPS rates and improved Medicaid cost reporting.• Securing perfect HRSA compliance scores for multiple health centers nationwide.Clients trust me as an interim executive or fractional CFO because I rapidly assess their unique pressures, restore operational clarity, and design financial solutions that are strategic and enduring. I’ve successfully led new access point grants, enhanced PPS reimbursements, transformed revenue cycles, and executed large-scale expansions. My clients gain more than stability—they gain a culture of leadership, accountability, and strategic clarity that lasts.Whether navigating complex regulatory environments, executing financial turnarounds, or building high-performing teams, my commitment remains consistent: to deliver impact that aligns mission with margin, ensuring community health centers thrive today and tomorrow.Let\'s connect: d••••@fqhcforward.com |(36••••••23Board Member – Medi-Cal Medical Dental Advisory Board Appointed Member, advising the State of California on Medicaid program structure, equity, and access. Frequent speaker on HRSA readiness, financial leadership for clinicians, provider productivity, workforce development, maximizing revenue through operations, and executive transition.

Experience

1. Chief Operating Officer Chief Financial Officer

   Elica Health Centers

   Apr 2018 — Present · Sacramento, CA, US

   Recruited to stabilize operations and drive growth following a period of organizational stagnation and leadership turnover. Oversaw a $100M budget, 650+ staff, and 15 sites while transforming Elica into a financially strong, innovation-driven FQHC with improved culture, performance, and reach.• Tripled patient volume, revenue, and encounters in six years while achieving consistent 10% net earnings• Directed $30M+ in capital projects and expanded dental from 7 to 72 chairs• Built a 340B pharmacy network with 100+ contract partners and four in-house sites• Created a Practice Transformation Department, launched Social Care programs supporting CalAIM• Reduced staff turnover from 64% to 26% through leadership development and culture strategy• Achieved perfect HRSA OSV score; transitioned EHR to OCHIN Epic• Optimized PPS reimbursement, resulting in millions in added revenue• Completed and operationalized grassroots strategic plans in 2017 and 2021• Launched a $1M school-based immunization campaign and established a Resource Center for immigrant families

Education

• West Virginia University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Business

• University of Notre Dame

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, American Studies

Skills

• Project Management & Execution
• Recruiting
• Strategic Planning & Execution
• Nonprofits
• Policy
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Recruitment & Retention
• Clinical Research
• Grants
• Practice Management
• Grant Writting
• Effective Leadership Communication
• Financial/Operational Data Analysis
• Organizational/Growth Promotion
• Training & Development
• Training
• Program Development
• Management
• Strategic Planning
• Revenue Cycle Management
• Healthcare
• Relationship Builder
• Financial Turnaround Specialist
• Leadership Development
• Budgets
• Community Outreach
• Fundraising
• Process Creation & Re-Engineering
• Profit & Loss Management