Cheryl Kanallakan
Roseville,CA
Summary
Healthcare leader with progressive responsibility in care management, social work, utilization management, and population health across multi-hospital systems. Leads regional teams to improve patient throughput, care transitions, length of stay, and readmission performance while aligning staffing, budgets, and operational workflows with quality and financial goals.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director of Care Management
Sutter Health Sacramento Valley
02.2020 - 10.2026
- Executive leader responsible for strategic direction, operational oversight, and performance management of care management, social work, and care coordination services across 10 acute care hospitals within Sacramento Valley and Central Valley regions.
- Directed multidisciplinary leadership teams responsible for care management operations, patient throughput, length-of-stay performance, resource utilization, discharge planning, and care transitions across a multi-hospital integrated healthcare system.
- Developed and executed regional care management strategies aligned with organizational goals for quality, patient experience, population health, access, and financial performance.
- Oversaw departmental budgets, staffing models, productivity standards, workforce development, succession planning, and organizational change initiatives for large care management teams to enhance operational performance.
- Collaborated with executive, physician, nursing, and operational leaders to enhance resource utilization, streamline care transitions, and improve patient outcomes across the organization.
- Led regional initiatives focused on length-of-stay management, readmission reduction, MDR optimization, reduction of avoidable days, and improvement of delay management processes across the region.
- Implemented Secure Chat communication workflows, fostering collaboration among physicians, hospitalists, and care management teams to facilitate timely decision-making.
- Provided oversight for regional workgroups addressing preadmission screening, discharge barriers, social determinants of health, and post-acute care optimization.
- March 2023 – October 2026
Executive Director, Care Management & Population Health Services
Sutter Health Sacramento Valley
06.2021 - 03.2023
- Directed population health and care management initiatives supporting quality outcomes, network performance, and value-based care objectives.
- Partnered with health plan, physician, and post-acute leaders to strengthen network performance and enhance patient outcomes across continuum of care.
- Implemented hemodialysis care coordination program facilitating outpatient placement, transportation coordination, and continuity of care.
- Developed skilled nursing facility quality program leveraging CMS ratings and quality metrics to enhance post-acute placement decisions.
- Collaborated on development of regional post-acute quality dashboards and bed management reporting tools.
Director of Care Management, SMCS
Sutter Health Sacramento Valley
02.2020 - 06.2021
- Led redesign of the care management delivery model from a dyad to a triad structure integrating care management, social work, and utilization management functions.
- Enhanced departmental performance by reallocating resources and reducing a 375-case utilization management backlog.
- Expanded emergency department care management coverage to 24/7 operations with dedicated social work support.
- Coordinated with physicians and nursing leadership to optimize patient throughput, resource utilization, and discharge planning.
- Developed inpatient hospice workflows with hospice leadership, resulting in increased hospice utilization.
Consultant
Center for Case Management
Natick
01.2014 - 01.2020
- Advised healthcare leaders on best practices in care management, enhancing utilization management and streamlining patient flow.
- Assessed organizational workflows and care management structures, identifying key areas for improvement in efficiency and patient outcomes.
- Partnered with healthcare organizations to develop customized care management strategies, operational improvement initiatives, leadership development programs, and staff education plans.
Senior Director of Case Management
University of Colorado Health
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Directed case management operations across a six-hospital health system encompassing acute care and ambulatory services.
- Standardized operational practices and aligned resource utilization strategies with financial and clinical goals to enhance service delivery.
- Reduced length of stay across the health system through care coordination and throughput initiatives.
- Established system-wide utilization management department, driving revenue growth across the organization.
- Developed emergency department case management program, leading to significant reduction in readmissions.
- Served as the health system's case management subject matter expert for hospital leadership, physicians, and community partners.
Director of Case Management
University of Colorado Health
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Directed care management, utilization management, discharge planning, and care coordination services for a major tertiary medical center.
- Enhanced utilization management outcomes and decreased denial rates through performance management, operational improvements, and staff engagement.
- Developed and launched Emergency Department Care Coordination Program to streamline care transitions and minimize avoidable utilization.
- Developed a triad care coordination model integrating social workers, registered nurses, and utilization management nurses.
- Maintained a 95% employee retention rate through leadership development and employee engagement initiatives.
- Evaluated performance metrics and operational trends to elevate patient outcomes while optimizing organizational resources and financial performance.
Education
Clinical Nurse Specialist -
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California, CaliforniaMaster of Science in Nursing -
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California, CaliforniaBachelor of Science in Nursing -
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California, CaliforniaAssociate of Science -
Antelope Valley Community College
Lancaster, CaliforniaSkills
- Care management operations
- Population health strategies
- Patient throughput optimization
- Care transitions coordination
- Readmission reduction
- Resource utilization and management
- Strategic planning and execution
- Financial performance oversight
- Budget management and analysis
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Regulatory compliance adherence
- Change management processes
- Workforce development strategies
- Multi-hospital leadership
Cover Letter
2026-10-01, October 2026, Hiring Manager, Dear Hiring Manager,, Sincerely,, Cheryl Kanallakan, RN, MSN, CNS, CCM, ACM, I am pleased to submit my application for a senior healthcare leadership opportunity within your organization. Throughout my career, I have been committed to creating high-performing care management programs that improve patient outcomes, strengthen operational performance, and support organizational growth. With more than 35 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience, I offer a unique combination of clinical expertise, operational excellence, strategic vision, and a proven ability to lead change across complex healthcare systems.
Most recently, I served as Senior Director of Care Management for Sutter Health Sacramento Valley, providing strategic and operational leadership for care management, social work, and care coordination services across ten acute care hospitals. In this role, I partnered with executive, physician, nursing, and operational leaders to improve resource utilization, patient throughput, care transitions, utilization management performance, denial outcomes, and overall organizational effectiveness while supporting quality, financial, and patient experience goals.
Throughout my career, I have successfully led multidisciplinary teams through periods of transformation, growth, and performance improvement. My experience spans care management, utilization management, population health, discharge planning, post-acute care, resource utilization, and care coordination across integrated delivery systems. I have developed innovative care models, strengthened post-acute partnerships, optimized operational processes, and implemented initiatives that reduced length of stay, improved patient flow, reduced avoidable days, enhanced care transitions, and supported financial stewardship.
Prior to my work at Sutter Health, I held senior leadership positions with University of Colorado Health and provided healthcare consulting services through the Center for Case Management, where I partnered with organizations to improve care management operations, leadership effectiveness, and patient outcomes. These experiences have given me a broad understanding of healthcare delivery across diverse organizational environments and the skills necessary to lead large-scale initiatives successfully.
My leadership philosophy is centered on collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. I believe exceptional results are achieved through strong relationships, empowered teams, data-driven decision making, and an unwavering focus on delivering high-quality patient-centered care. I am energized by opportunities to build strong cultures, develop future leaders, and help organizations achieve strategic and operational excellence.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience and leadership background can contribute to your organization's mission and future success. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you.
Resume Metadata
Resume 4, 2026-10-24, October 24, 2026 at 9:51:08 PM PDT
Additional Emails
cjokan@icloud.com
Personal Information
Title: SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CARE MANAGEMENT
Timeline
Executive Director, Care Management & Population Health Services
Sutter Health Sacramento Valley
06.2021 - 03.2023
Senior Director of Care Management
Sutter Health Sacramento Valley
02.2020 - 10.2026
Director of Care Management, SMCS
Sutter Health Sacramento Valley
02.2020 - 06.2021
Consultant
Center for Case Management
01.2014 - 01.2020
Senior Director of Case Management
University of Colorado Health
01.2014 - 01.2018
Director of Case Management
University of Colorado Health
01.2010 - 01.2014
Clinical Nurse Specialist -
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Master of Science in Nursing -
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Bachelor of Science in Nursing -
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Associate of Science -
Antelope Valley Community College