Cindy Ehlers, MS, LCMHC, brings 35 years of industry experience and currently serves as the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for Trillium Health Resources. She focuses on improving access to healthcare and affordability through innovative solutions. She served as Chief Operations Officer and Chief Clinical Operations Officer for the past 30 years. Cindy has lead several major mergers and consolidations for Trillium during her tenure. Most recently, she was deeply involved in operationalizing the Tailored Plan for Trillium, creating true whole person care for the BH-IDD-TBI population. Cindy is a leader in innovation for behavioral health and IDD and the life-long supports needed by these populations in NC.
Cindy is a champion for the implementation of evidence-based practices. Cindy created Trillium’s Innovative Development department, which focuses on evidence-based approaches and innovative opportunities, to address healthcare needs and health disparities throughout North Carolina. She has worked in both in the public and private sectors. Cindy has developed many programs and services overcoming rural barriers and many health disparities to meeting service needs of the BH-IDD population.
Cindy offers a unique perspective in her role as an Executive in the NC system, as she is both a parent and professional. Cindy has six children- several who have special needs; she was a therapeutic foster parent and is an adoptive parent. Cindy understands the system from the perspective of the MCO, from inside out and as a parent of children with special healthcare needs from the outside in. Her lived experience is unique to find in healthcare at this level in an organization. Trillium is the only health plan in the state with a parent who has been a foster parent, adoptive parent and is the parent of children with IDD on the Executive team of the organization.