20 for the Next 20: Ryan Ashlock, Adventist Health Castle

Ryan Ashlock
President, Adventist Health Castle

Ryan Ashlock’s journey within the Adventist Health network began when he was born.

His mother was a nurse, his father had an accounting practice focused on healthcare consulting and his grandfather helped start the Adventist Health system. Ashlock was born at Adventist Health Glendale in California and got his first hospital job there.

In 2021, he was promoted from COO to president of Adventist Health Castle in Kailua and now oversees a local health system with 1,250 employees, 370 active medical staff members and 70 employed physicians.

“It was kind of a full circle moment for me,” says Ashlock.

Before coming to Hawai‘i, Ashlock was CFO at Adventist Health Feather River in California.

He currently lives in Kailua with his wife and daughter.

Before joining Castle, “We were basically a flat, declining revenue organization.” But with strategic growth planning, the hospital increased its operating revenue by 35% from 2019 to 2023.

During that time, Castle also invested over $60 million on projects like expanding its operating rooms, upgrading its imaging capabilities and opening new primary care and specialty clinics.

It was especially important to get specialists in urology, cardiology and gastroenterology on the Windward Side, says Ashlock, so people “don’t have to go into town for that care.”

The hospital created the COPE Health Scholars Program, which offers high school and college students hands-on learning opportunities with Adventist. Since 2020, the hospital has hired 50 COPE Health Scholars as full-time employees.

Ashlock also spearheaded a philanthropy program that raised $3 million to support primary care expansion, oncology services and workforce development.

Eric Stevens, president of Adventist Health in Northern California and Hawai‘i, says Ashlock “has a very deep heart for his community” and has the expertise, humility and relentlessness to lead an organization.

“He’s a deep thinker, is always prepared and will never be the loudest person in the room,” says Stevens. “But he probably is the most well-thought-out person.”

Ashlock credits his staff as his inspiration. “They’re the ones that do that hard work to care for our patients.”

“They’re the ones that get me up in the morning, motivated to be able to help support this organization – to put it in the best position possible so we can all support the health and well-being of the community that we get to serve.”