Matthew E. Woodruff, Chief Executive Officer

Matthew Woodruff is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Alliance. As CEO, Mr. Woodruff oversees the entire operation of the health plan and ensures that all Alliance members receive timely access to quality health care and the highest levels of customer service.

Mr. Woodruff previously served as the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for the past eight (8) years and was responsible for all Alliance ongoing operations, providing oversight to Claims, Communications & Outreach, Contracting, Credentialing, Data Validation, Facilities, Member Services, and Provider Services. As COO, Matt reorganized his internal departments and create promotional opportunities for his teams and departments. He has also worked to update and improve the facilities and overall physical workplace environment.

Matt’s experience as a leader in health care has garnered him recognition as a Distinguished Service Awardee from the Department of Health and Human Services. He also serves as the Chair of the Membership and Registration Committee for his son’s local Boy Scouts chapter. Matt lives in the East Bay Area, California with his wife, Maria, and their two children. When he is not working he enjoys jogging, reading, and spending time with his family.

Matthew attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California and earned degrees in psychology, and religious studies.

Steve O’Brien, MD, Chief Medical Officer

Steve O’Brien, MD is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the Alliance where he is responsible for the oversight of the Medical Management and Quality Improvement team. In this role, Dr. O’Brien’s focus is to ensure that the Alliance continually delivers programs with quality care and service which will improve the quality of life for Alliance members.

Under Dr. O’Brien’s leadership, the East Bay AIDS Center grew to the largest HIV program in the San Francisco East Bay. At Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Dr. O’Brien led significant improvement in Quality and Physician Satisfaction scores as well as developing Sutter’s largest 340B pharmacy program. He is a member of the American Academy of HIV Medicine Board of Directors and the California State HIV Medical Advisory Committee. He has been recognized with service and quality awards from Sutter, Alta Bates Summit Medical Staffs and was recognized by Alameda County Office of AIDS Administration as provider of the year for outstanding contributions to HIV care in the community.

Dr. O’Brien is a 20-year resident of El Cerrito, California where he enjoys hiking in the East Bay hills with his dog and with friends. Dr. O’Brien trained at the University of Washington, where he earned BA, BS and MD degrees, before moving to the Bay Area in 1990 for residency training at UCSF in Internal Medicine. After several years on faculty at UCSF, he became Medical Director at the East Bay AIDS Center. From 2011 through 2017, he served as the CMO at Sutter’s Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley and Oakland until joining the Alliance as the CMO in January 2018.

Ruth Watson, Chief Operations Officer

Ruth Watson is the Chief Operations Officer at the Alliance. She is responsible for all Alliance ongoing operations, providing oversight to Claims, Communications & Outreach, Contracting, Credentialing, Public Affairs, Facilities, Member Services, and Provider Services.

Ruth is currently also responsible for the oversight of enterprise project methodology and execution, management of health care programs, and in collaboration with senior leaders, the establishment of a culture of integrated planning across the organization.

Ruth is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of executive management experience in commercial, Medicare, and Medi-Cal operations management. Before joining the Alliance, Ruth served as the Chief Operating Officer for Gold Coast Health Plan, the Ventura County managed Medi-Cal Plan, and oversaw the successful Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion of the plan membership from 110,00 to 200,000.

Ruth is a member of the California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) and the Local Health Plans of California (LHPC). Ruth has a keen interest in providing educational opportunities for all children. She has served as a volunteer for several years at School on Wheels, a national organization that provides free tutoring and mentoring to children from kindergarten through 12th grade living in shelters, motels, vehicles, group foster homes, and the streets of Southern California.

When she is not working, Ruth enjoys gardening, cooking, the theatre, and travel.

Ruth holds a BS from Boston University and an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts.

Tiffany Cheang, Chief Analytics Officer

Tiffany Cheang is the Chief Analytics Officer at the Alliance where she is responsible for company-wide reporting and analytics to support and ensure data driven decision making across the organization. Prior to joining the Alliance in 2013, she held Director positions in analytics at HealthNet, Blue Shield of California and North American Medical Management. Tiffany attended the University of California at San Diego and earned her B.A. in Economics. She received a Master of Public Health degree from California State University at San Diego.

Gil Riojas, Chief Financial Officer

Gil Riojas is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the Alliance where he is responsible for the overall financial management of the company. This includes oversight of financial budgeting and forecasting, financial reporting, vendor management and statutory compliance as well as other related activities.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Gil worked for more than 15 years at the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) where he oversaw the Financial Review Office and was responsible for monitoring the financial solvency and compliance of over 124 managed care plans in California. Gil also served as an expert reporting to the Department’s Financial Solvency Standards Board and created the Department’s first comprehensive financial analysis report of Local Initiative and County Organized Health Plans. Gil currently volunteers as a board member for Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT), a local non-profit organization whose mission is to create equitable access to outdoor experiences for youth of color and low-income youth.

Gil lives in the East Bay and when he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, mountain biking and generally all things outdoors. Gil attended Pacific Union College and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants and of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Anastacia Swift, Chief Human Resource Officer

Anastacia Swift is the Chief Human Resource Officer at the Alliance where she is responsible for the overall administration, coordination, and evaluation of the Human Resources Department. In addition, she coordinates related activities with other Alliance departments and outside agencies.

By starting at the basic level of an HR assistant, and developing her education, practical knowledge, skills, and abilities, Anastacia built her career in human resources to become a versatile HR professional. Before accepting her current position with the Alliance, Anastacia served as a consultant to the company’s Human Resources Department. Her prior work experience consists of being an Employment and Employee Relations Manager with a San Joaquin Delta Community College, and the Total Compensation Manager with Alameda County Medical Center. Both of these positions required proficiency in employee supervision and training, knowledge of federal and state laws, and interactions with labor unions. Anastacia supports continuing education for HR professionals and has served as an adjunct instructor for private colleges.

Under Anastacia’s leadership, Delta College corrected deficiencies related to the college’s staff evaluation process, resulting in the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges, reporting the deficiencies as “completely satisfied.”

Anastacia is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). She has held a Professional HR (PHR) certification since 2003. An alumna of Holy Names University in Oakland, Anastacia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in human resource management, and a Master’s degree in business administration, management and leadership, and organizational development.

Sasi Karaiyan, Chief Information Officer & Chief Security Officer

Sasi Karaiyan is the Chief Information Officer & Chief Security Officer at Alameda Alliance for Health (Alliance). He is responsible for Alliance’s Information Technology, Digital Strategy spanning all Applications, Enterprise Data Exchange and Integration Services, Information/Cyber Security and Infrastructure. These functions are a vital part of nearly every aspect of the customer experience. Sasi leads the continued development of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment throughout the organization.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Sasi spent 15 years in global IT transformation, application life cycle portfolio, system integration, performance management, big data analytics, enterprise governance, project portfolio and 24/7 operational excellence for health care providers and payers.

Sasi received his MBA in Computer Information System from Missouri State University, and an MBA in Finance from International School of Management Studies. Sasi lives in Pleasanton with his wife and their 3 children. His hobbies are include spending time with family and friends, traveling, playing basketball, wine tasting, cooking and dining.

Richard Golfin III, Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer

Richard Golfin III is the Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer at the Alliance, where he oversees all regulatory affairs, compliance, privacy, and legal services. As a dynamic industry leader, Richard has grown Compliance and Privacy Programs to exceed industry standards and promoted a system of regulatory and privacy compliance built on an integrated system of policies, procedures, and the Corporate Compliance Program. Richard has also built from conception a Special Investigations Unit, which garnered special recognition from the California Attorney General’s Office for its quality of review and case recommendations.

Richard is a member of the Local Health Plans of California – Governance Committee, Co-Chair of the Local Health Plans of California – Compliance Officer’s Committee, Member of the Healthcare Compliance Association, Member of the Compliance Certification Board, and a Member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has also done voluntary work for the Los Angeles Mission, the Healthcare Compliance Executives of Southern California BridgeRoads Mentorship program, and served as a Board Member of the Los Angeles Drama Club and Shakespeare Institute. Richard is a sitting member of the Board of Governor’s at the Bread Project in Berkeley, California.

Richard lives in Oakland with his 10-year old Airedale Terrier, The Fitz. He attended Drake University & Drake Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor specializing in Health Law and Policy, and a Bachelor’s of Science & Business Administration Dual Major in Marketing and Business Management. Richard is a sought after public speaker and a long-time educator. He has previously taught as an Associate, Adjunct, and guest faculty at universities in Southern California and abroad.

Lao Paul Vang, Chief Health Equity Officer

Lao Paul Vang is the Chief Health Equity Officer at Alameda Alliance for Health, where he is responsible for agency-wide health equity, diversity, racial-gender equity, social justice/inclusion, and belonging. Prior to joining the Alliance, he served as an Executive Director with the Federal Way Public School District, where he was a member of the Racial Equity Policy Committee that was instrumental in the development and implementation of a comprehensive racial equity policy for the district for the first time in its history. He also served in several other key leadership roles with management oversight on the development and implementation of large-scale community-based healthcare equity programs, human rights advocacy, social justice, and criminal justice institutional reforms.

Lao attended the University of Liberia and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management and a Master of Arts in International Relations. He is fluent in four languages (English, Hmong, Laotian, and Thai). In his spare time, he enjoys camping, fishing, and traveling with his family.