Eric McCafferty: Bridging the Gap Between Capital and Care

Some stories begin with privilege. Eric McCafferty began with perspective. Working his first job at 13 to afford bus fare, he watched his parents navigate the difficult math of paying for prescriptions with loose change. Those early moments did more than build character; they instilled a sociological curiosity about how systems work—and who they leave behind.

That curiosity became the architect of his career. As a Howard Hughes Research Scholar and a Haverford College graduate, Eric didn’t just study healthcare; he studied the human ecosystems that drive it. At McKinsey & Company, he spent a decade advising global pharmaceutical giants and private equity leaders, learning that a merger isn’t just a financial transaction—it’s a collision of cultures that can either improve patient care or disrupt it.

Eric’s career is defined by this duality: the ability to navigate the boardroom and the exam room. He led large-scale transformations at major players like Patheon, AdaptHealth, and Mallinckrodt, eventually driving strategy and M&A for Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen), a $200 billion enterprise. Yet, he never lost sight of the mission. At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he founded the Climate & Healthcare Unit, securing over $1.4 billion to build sustainable healthcare infrastructure in the developing world.

Today, as Founder of JCM Advisory Services, Eric helps healthcare organizations grow responsibly. His work is rooted in a simple, empirically tested truth: strategy fails when it ignores the operational reality of the people delivering care.

The Origin of JCM Advisory

JCM Advisory Services was born from a gap in the market. After years of sitting on both sides of the table, as the advisor and the operator, Eric saw a recurring problem. Large consulting firms excelled at delivering high-level frameworks, but often missed the nuance of execution. Clients didn’t need another slide deck; they needed a roadmap that survived contact with reality.

“I founded JCM Advisory to close the distance between strategy and execution,” Eric explains. “A plan is only as good as its ability to be implemented by the people on the ground.”

JCM Advisory is designed to move with agility. The firm blends the rigorous analytical discipline of a top-tier strategy firm with the pragmatic, hands-on approach of an operator. Whether advising on a complex merger or integrating new technology, the goal is consistent: help healthcare systems create value that is measurable, sustainable, and human-centered.

Mission and Expertise

At its core, JCM Advisory exists to unlock value in complex systems. The firm operates at the intersection of Strategy and M&A, specializing in sectors that require a delicate touch, such as home health, hospice, and patient access.

“We focus on structural integrity,” Eric notes. “Our clients—ranging from private equity firms and hedge funds to governments—come to us when they need to know if a deal will actually work in practice, not just on a spreadsheet.”

The firm’s expertise spans due diligence, post-close integration, and turnaround support. But unlike traditional firms that hand off a report and walk away, JCM Advisory stays engaged. Eric’s “boutique” approach means he is personally invested in the outcome, ensuring that capital investment translates into improved patient outcomes.

Lessons in Leadership

Working across the distinct worlds of McKinsey, Cencora, and the Gates Foundation gave Eric a rare “tri-sector” perspective on leadership.

Clarity is Currency: Whether advising a CEO or a Minister of Health, Eric learned that ambiguity is the enemy of progress. “People follow what they understand,” he says.
The Sociology of Business: A strategy is only effective if it accounts for the culture it enters. Eric’s background allows him to spot the “human” risks in a merger that financial due diligence often misses.
The Power of Partnership: The most powerful solutions emerge when private capital and philanthropic mission align. Eric has spent his career translating between these two worlds, finding the common ground where profitability meets purpose.

Inside JCM Advisory

For Eric, the work is dynamic. A typical day balances high-level strategic counsel with deep-dive analysis. Mornings are often reserved for “intellectual work”—refining deal thesis and dissecting data to find the narrative hidden in the numbers.

The afternoons shift toward connection. Eric views advisory not as a transaction, but as a relationship. He spends significant time pressure-testing ideas with clients, ensuring that every recommendation is practical and actionable.

“I constantly ask myself: ‘Does this add value?’” he shares. “Not just shareholder value, but systemic value. Are we making the healthcare system smarter? Are we making it kinder?”

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, JCM Advisory is positioned to guide investors through the next wave of healthcare transformation. Eric sees a massive opportunity in the shift toward home-based care and the “hospital-at-home” model. As CMS reimbursement structures evolve, the firms that will succeed are those that can marry efficiency with empathy, a sweet spot where JCM Advisory thrives.

For Eric McCafferty, this isn’t just business; it’s a continuation of that early conviction in the locker room. It is a commitment to using his expertise to build a healthcare system that works for everyone.

“Strategy should always serve people,” Eric says. “If we get the systems right, the care gets better. And that is the only metric that truly matters.”

Finding Balance

For Eric, balance is a matter of discipline. He prioritizes time with his family, making sure that moments away from work are intentional and meaningful. Travel, reading, and staying connected to his East Coast roots provide additional grounding, offering perspective beyond the boardroom.

These personal anchors help him recharge and return to his work with clarity and focus. Eric believes that maintaining this equilibrium is essential not only for his own well-being but also for leading effectively, ensuring that the decisions he makes at JCM Advisory are thoughtful, measured, and sustainable.

A Final Word

Eric McCafferty sees leadership as a commitment to clarity, integrity, and impact. He believes that strategy should always serve people, never the reverse. Across healthcare, philanthropy, and advisory work, his focus remains on building systems that improve outcomes and create meaningful, lasting change for communities.

“Every decision, every initiative, should answer one question: does this make care better, more accessible, and more efficient?” For Eric, leadership is not about recognition, but about using expertise and opportunity to drive results that matter, ensuring that the work done today benefits patients, organizations, and society for years to come.