Sister Agnelle Ching, OSF, has served as chief executive officer of St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii since September 2005.
Under Sister Agnelle’s leadership, St. Francis Healthcare System has broadened its service offerings to meet the health care needs of Hawaii’s rapidly growing senior population. She oversaw the multi-million dollar modernization of St. Francis Hospice’s two freestanding inpatient hospice facilities in Nuuanu and Ewa; the start-up of St. Francis Palliative Care to provide care and pain management for those with chronic diseases; the introduction of telehealth monitoring for home health patients on Oahu and Kauai; and the construction of Franciscan Vistas Ewa, a $40 million senior independent living community that combines affordable housing with health and wellness amenities.
She received the Sacred Hearts Academy Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009, is on the Board of Directors of the Aloha Medical Mission and is a member of the Hawaii Long Term Care Commission.
Sister Agnelle rejoined the System at a critical time, when it was planning the divestiture of the renal dialysis program as well as St. Francis Medical Center and St. Francis Medical Center-West. She had previously been with St. Francis from 1991 to 1999, serving as vice president for St. Francis Healthcare System. During that time, Sister Agnelle was instrumental in establishing the System’s mission effectiveness program and in initiating the parish nurse/community outreach program (now called St. Francis Healthy Lifestyles Program) to empower both children and adults to take an active role in maintaining their health. In addition, Sister Agnelle was responsible for several departments at St. Francis Medical Center, including the Dental Clinic, Communications, Environmental Services, Food/Nutrition Services, and Spiritual Services.
Born and raised in Hawaii, she received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, master’s degree in religious education from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and professional diploma in administration and supervision from Fordham University in New York.
Sister Agnelle enjoys learning about the Hawaiian culture including its music and dance.