Jim Hickman

About Jim Hickman

I help healthcare innovators scale where policy and markets intersect. As Founder and Principal of Hickman Strategies, I partner with health plans, government agencies, community-based organizations, and venture-backed startups to drive growth through Medicaid transformation, sales enablement, and stakeholder alignment.As an waiver Subject Matter Expert, CalAIM PATH CPI Facilitator with the Camden Coalition, and Venture Partner at Suncoast Ventures, I bring deep insight into public-sector funding, innovation ecosystems, and what it takes to move from pilot to scalable, policy-aligned impact. Trained in human-centered systems thinking and storytelling for influence through IDEO U, I help stakeholders navigate complex healthcare ecosystems, identify leverage points for change, and build coalitions around shared purpose.With nearly 30 years spanning venture, philanthropy, policy, and healthcare transformation, I\'ve successfully:*Incubated startups and commercialized innovation*Generated revenue and market access for early-stage companies entering California\'s Medi-Cal market*Designed system-aligned care models with measurable outcomes*Brokered partnerships between innovators, payers, providers, and community organizations*Facilitated Continuous Performance Improvement across California counties implementing CalAIMMy approach: Start with the willing, scale to the system. I build trust as infrastructure—connecting policy expertise with implementation know-how to translate complex regulations into actionable go-to-market strategies.I actively advise and invest in organizations solving complex challenges in Medicaid, behavioral health, housing, and public-sector care delivery. I\'m open to strategic advisory roles, venture collaborations, speaking engagements, and select consulting projects with founders and organizations committed to building a more connected, equitable healthcare system.Keywords: waivers, CalAIM implementation, Medicaid GTM strategy, healthcare innovation, MCP contracting, Community Supports, Enhanced Care Management, public-private partnerships, digital health strategy, value-based care, system transformation, population health, venture philanthropy

Experience

1. Strategic Advisor

   Scalehealth

   Oct 2022 — Present

   Serve as a strategic advisor to ScaleHealth, a global health innovation marketplace connecting digital health startups with healthcare systems, payers, and public-sector partners. Leverage my expertise in Medicaid managed care, public-private partnerships, and venture strategy to accelerate scalable, high-impact innovation.

Education

• Santa Clara University

  MBA, Business Administration and e-Commerce

• Stanford University Graduate School of Business

  Certificate, The Innovative Healthcare Leader: From Design Thinking to Personal Leadership

  2016 — 2016

• UC Santa Barbara

  BA, Political Science & Business Economics

Skills

• Entrepreneurship
• Corporate Communications
• Public Speaking
• Strategy
• Budgets
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Non-Profits
• Management Consulting
• Program Development
• Management
• Leadership Development
• International Relations
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Fundraising
• Program Evaluation
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Social Media
• Event Planning
• Policy Analysis
• Speech Writing
• Organizational Development
• Grants
• Public Relations
• Business Strategy
• Start-Ups
• Public Policy
• Policy
• Volunteer Management
• Strategic Planning
• Strategic Partnerships
• Strategic Communications
• Board Development
• Politics
• Public Affairs
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Consulting
• Business Planning