Furst Group Recruits COO for Medical Associates Health Plans
February 20, 2025 – Executive recruitment firm Furst Group, which serves the healthcare and insurance industries, has assisted in the recruitment of Nicole Oishi as the new chief operating officer of Medical Associates Health Plan in Dubuque, IA. “We are excited to welcome Nicole to our team,” said Zach Keeling, CEO of Medical Associates. “Her leadership and experience will help us build on the strong foundation we’ve created and continue delivering the excellent service our Health Plans is known for.”
Ms. Oishi brings more than 30 years of diverse healthcare experience, including over 15 years in executive leadership roles. Her background includes managing large multi-site physician groups, holding key positions at Regence/Cambia (a Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plan operating in WA, UT, OR, and ID), and overseeing healthcare purchasing for the state of Washington. She also led operations and clinical programs at multiple healthcare startups, including Collective Medical (now PointClickCare), Matrix Medical Network, and Asserta Health (now Frontier Health). Most recently, Ms. Oishi provided operational and clinical expertise to regional health plans and clinical companies, serving self-funded and fully insured employers, individual and small group plans, as well as Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement members.
In her role with Medical Associates Health Plan, Ms. Oishi will provide strategic leadership to strengthen operations and guide initiatives to drive organizational growth. “I am thrilled to be part of Medical Associates,” she said. “I started my career as a nurse and I have spent the last 30+ years working across the healthcare continuum, to make healthcare better for the patients and members I served. Being able to join an organization that delivers a comprehensive and integrated care model, where the health plan and providers work together as partners, is incredibly exciting.”
Medical Associates Health Plans, established in 1982 by Medical Associates Clinic, is a provider-owned regional health plan serving the Midwest. They offer fully insured health insurance products, including a unique Medicare program, and have consistently received high ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), with their Wisconsin Medicare plan earning five out of five stars for 2025. Their integrated care model collaborates closely with local healthcare providers to ensure members receive coordinated and high-quality care.
Serving Healthcare Organizations
Furst Group, headquartered in Rockford, IL, partners with many of the premier healthcare organizations in the world, from providers and payers to life-science companies and private equity/venture capital firms. While Furst Group’s roots are in managed care, the firm continues to be one of the nation’s leading executive search partners to health systems, hospitals, academic medical centers, post-acute, and hospice and palliative care facilities. Its work with insurers stretches back to the HMO era, yet the firm also teams with life science, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies. Furst Group also has offices in Phoenix, AZ; Radnor, PA; San Francisco; Brentwood, TN; Chicago; Irving, TX; Minneapolis, MN; Seattle; St. Louis; and Washington, D.C.
Related: Furst Group Recruits CEO for Kearney Regional Medical Center
Bob Clarke, chairman of Furst Group, has been a trusted advisor to CEOs and boards for more than 30 years. His acumen in executive search and integrated talent management is valued by hospital systems, managed care organizations, medical groups, indemnity companies, end-of-life care providers, healthcare associations, and other medical delivery systems across the U.S. He concentrates his work at the board and C-suite levels for providers and payers of every variety, creating recruitment processes and counseling boards and search committees. He also partners with boards of directors of healthcare organizations to manage C-suite transitions, develop succession plans, assess leadership teams, and implement leadership development programs.
Past Assignment
Furst Group recently placed Julia Crist as the new CEO of Genevive in Minneapolis, MN. Tim Frischmon led the assignment. “Driven by a commitment to improving access and affordability for underserved patients and a special passion for enhancing elder care services,” Genevive said. “Julia is particularly dedicated to innovating care for seniors, focusing on delivering quality support in the home. We are confident that under her leadership, Genevive will continue to thrive and fulfill our mission of delivering expert, compassionate care to everyone we touch.”
Ms. Crist brings over 20 years of diverse healthcare leadership experience to her role, having worked across international, domestic, for-profit, and not-for-profit organizations. Her career has been driven by a commitment to improving access and affordability for underserved patients, with a special passion for enhancing elder care services. Ms. Crist is particularly dedicated to innovating care for seniors, focusing on delivering quality support in the home.
Related: Furst Group Recruits CEO for Center for Hospice Care
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
