John Browne Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at CHAS Health FQHC

In this episode of our FQHC leadership podcast, we sit down with John Browne, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer at CHAS Health, to unpack what it takes to scale a Federally Qualified Health Center in today’s challenging environment. John shares his two‑decade journey at CHAS Health and offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at how the organization grew from a two‑exam‑room clinic into a multi‑state system serving more than 130,000 patients annually. We discuss intentional growth, building strong community partnerships, integrating behavioral health through CCBHCs, and how CHAS continues to move forward despite financial and workforce pressures facing health centers nationwide. This conversation is packed with practical insights for FQHC CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and senior leaders, including: How to approach growth when margins are shrinking Why community partnerships are essential to sustainability Lessons learned scaling culture across 1,800+ employees Using dashboards and data visibility to drive performance Why CFO experience is powerful preparation for operational leadership Developing confident future leaders inside your organization If you’re navigating uncertainty, thinking about growth, or trying to lead with clarity in complex times, this episode offers real‑world perspective from the field. This podcast features candid conversations with FQHC leaders across the country. 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction 00:20 – John’s Career Journey & Growing Up in Health Centers 02:58 – CHAS Health: Growth, Scale, and Service Model 07:30 – Growing Strategically in a Challenging Environment 10:47 – Community Partnerships That Actually Work 18:44 – Scaling Behavioral Health & CCBHC Lessons Learned 22:37 – Leadership, Efficiency, and Managing Rapid Growth 32:35 – From CFO to COO: Data‑Driven Leadership 45:55 – Final Advice: Leading Through Uncertainty