Michelle Stephan

Senior Consultant

Denver, CO

Michelle Stephan has over 30 years of clinical and healthcare consulting experience, specializing in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Her expertise spans operational assessment, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, risk management, strategic planning, and organizational leadership. She has proven success identifying and implementing process improvements, fostering collaboration, and developing programs that improve patient access and outcomes. 

Before joining Health Management Associates (HMA), Michelle was an independent consultant focused on operational assessments for FQHCs and look-alike health centers. Working on behalf of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), she conducted operational site visits, evaluating health centers’ administrative and clinical compliance, Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) site visits and PCA (Primary Care Association) site visits. She also advised health centers on compliance strategies, quality standards, efficient care delivery, board recruitment strategies and board development. She prepared organizations for mock site visits, supported grant and FTCA applications, and led educational sessions at industry conferences. 

Prior to her consulting work, Michelle gained direct executive and operational experience. She served as chief executive officer for Siouxland Community Health Center in Sioux City, Iowa. In this role, she led a strategic $11 million new facility expansion project under budget, increased annual revenue from $13 million to over $18 million, and added multiple providers to expand service capacity. She also implemented behavioral health integration initiatives, advanced value-based care models, and developed partnerships to enhance community health. 

Michelle’s operational experience includes serving as quality director at Siouxland Community Health Center, where she prepared the center for several Joint Commission accreditation visits and managed compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, and federal regulations. She began her career as a nurse, providing direct patient care and supporting clinical operations. 

Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Morningside College and completed the Community Health Center Executive Fellowship Certificate program at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has served in leadership roles with a number of organizations including the Iowa Primary Care Association, the Midwest Clinician’s Network, and multiple local community boards.