Excellence in Food Service: The Most Trusted Companies of 2025
At Cura Hospitality, food service is not a supporting role—it is central to care. As a leading provider of dining and hospitality management, Cura specializes exclusively in senior living, acute care, and behavioral health settings across the United States. From life plan communities and rehabilitation centers to hospitals and memory care facilities, Cura’s dining programs are not just about preparing and delivering meals—they are about enriching lives, restoring dignity, promoting healing, and creating connection.
For Roula Youssef Halabi, Senior Vice President of Global Fertility Services at CooperSurgical, the pursuit of excellence in healthcare has been a lifelong mission.
Born and raised in Lebanon, her formative years were influenced by a culture that valued resilience, adaptability, and community—qualities that would later define her leadership style. Roula’s journey from a trained midwife to leadership roles in the fertility industry is not only a testament to her unwavering commitment to the health of women, babies, and families – the very mission she strives toward at CooperSurgical – but her dedication to excellence in everything she does.
CooperSurgical is a fertility & women’s health company rooted in a dedication to upholding the highest standards and reaching new heights as a leader in the industry: a guiding principle with which Roula found perfect harmony. Since 2023, she has led the global fertility services business, placing paramount importance on excellent quality care for customers and their patients, around the world.
Read on for excerpts from our interview with Roula where she brings to light how she inspires excellence in her teams through passionate leadership and empowering others.
The Path to Leadership
My journey began in the delivery rooms, where I witnessed firsthand the complexities and joys of bringing new life into the world. My education and training as a midwife gave me a deep understanding of the human side of healthcare. However, I felt a pull toward broader challenges in leadership, particularly in the domain of infertility—a field often fraught with emotional and physical hurdles for patients.
I’ve always been driven by the desire to create meaningful change and impact. Transitioning from midwifery to the infertility world having the opportunity to see the business from different lenses, the lens of a patient and the lens of a customer where I was the COO for the largest fertility network in the Middle East, and the lens of a supplier allowed me to address not only the clinical aspects, but also the emotional and social dynamics, of building families, along with the innovation and advanced technology that ensure access to care and improve outcomes.
After a few years in the field, I transitioned into business, combining clinical expertise with strategic acumen. I now bring 24 years of global healthcare expertise and leadership experience to my role, including managing a quarter-billion-dollar P&L and leading M&A endeavors. My journey has also been shaped by effective collaboration within complex organizations, strategic goal-setting, and international expansion initiatives. My multilingual skills (English, French, and Arabic) and dual nationalities (Lebanese and American) have enriched my ability to navigate diverse markets and cultures.
Staying Motivated in a Dynamic Role
For me, motivation stems from my dual focus: advancing medical innovation and making a real difference in patients’ lives. Every product we develop, every solution we deliver, has the potential to change someone’s story and help people achieve their dream of parenthood. That’s incredibly powerful.
Staying driven in a global leadership role requires balancing a demanding schedule with personal values. I credit my family for keeping me grounded; their support is my anchor. My commitment to a balanced and healthy lifestyle, including my active participation in the F45 High-Intensity Team Challenge, helps me maintain the energy and focus needed for my responsibilities.
Integrating Technology and Empathy
In a field as sensitive as fertility, the challenge lies in integrating cutting-edge technology without losing the patient focus. We can’t just innovate for innovation’s sake. We need to ask, ‘How does this improve the patient journey and the patient outcome? How does it support clinics in delivering better care for their patients?’
At CooperSurgical, we have introduced solutions and services that simplify complex processes, such as electronic witnessing systems and advanced genomic testing. But the real triumph lies in ensuring these innovations are accessible and empowering for patients and clinics alike.
Empowering Women Professionals
As a woman in a leadership role, I am deeply committed to fostering an environment where women can thrive. I have championed initiatives that promote mentorship, career development, and a culture of inclusivity. I believe that diverse voices drive innovation.
Empowerment is about creating opportunities and removing barriers. It’s about recognizing potential and investing in people, providing them with the tools to succeed.
My advice to young women aspiring to lead in healthcare is to believe in your vision and don’t be afraid to take risks. Seek mentors, build your network, and never stop learning. Most importantly, measure your success by the people you uplift, and don’t forget to celebrate the small wins along the way. Overcoming Challenges
My career has not been without its hurdles. Navigating a transition from a regional role to a global leadership position in a traditionally male-dominated industry came with unique challenges. These experiences, however, provided invaluable opportunities to break barriers, challenge biases, and pave the way for greater inclusivity.
Leadership is not just about making tough decisions in difficult times. It’s also about transparency, empathy, and ensuring that those decisions align with the organization’s values and long-term vision. As COO at Fakih IVF, I contributed to a significant industry acquisition and gained hands-on experience in board-level operations, preparing me for my current leadership responsibilities at CooperSurgical.
Board Memberships and Industry Contributions
Beyond my executive role at CooperSurgical, I serve as a board member for MECOMED and AVL Skincare, where I leverage my expertise to drive strategic initiatives and foster industry growth. My involvement underscores my dedication to advancing healthcare and related sectors through collaboration and innovation.
Defining Success and The Future of Fertility
Looking ahead, I see a future shaped by more personalized treatment, increased accessibility, and the integration of AI in clinical decision-making. The next frontier is making fertility solutions available to more people, irrespective of geography or socioeconomic status.
For me, success is about impact. It’s not just about hitting numbers or launching products. It’s about leaving a legacy of innovation, compassion, and empowerment. It’s about the lives we touch and the futures we help create.
As I continue to lead CooperSurgical’s fertility services with vision and heart, I am committed to excellence and inspiration to change fertility care for generations to come.
Cura Hospitality: Leading with Heart, Serving with Excellence
At Cura Hospitality, food service is not a supporting role—it is central to care. As a leading provider of dining and hospitality management, Cura specializes exclusively in senior living, acute care, and behavioral health settings across the United States. From life plan communities and rehabilitation centers to hospitals and memory care facilities, Cura’s dining programs are not just about preparing and delivering meals—they are about enriching lives, restoring dignity, promoting healing, and creating connection.
We manage food service from the inside out—not as an outside partner—but as a deeply integrated, collaborative team within the healthcare environment. Cura’s hallmark for preparing fresh and from scratch food in artful presentations for all levels of care make a huge impact on resident and patient satisfaction. Our certified executive chefs, registered dietitians, clinical nutritionists, culinary educators, and service professionals are all Cura-trained and Cura-led, ensuring each client receives not only best-in-class dining but a seamless, mission-driven experience aligned with their goals.
The Completely Satisfied Experience: Cura’s Philosophy in Action
At the core of Cura’s success is our “Completely Satisfied Experience”—a proprietary customer experience philosophy that infuses every touchpoint with compassion, attentiveness, and personalization. This philosophy is more than service standards; it’s a mindset that empowers every Cura team member to listen actively, respond thoughtfully, and serve joyfully.
We don’t just meet expectations—we exceed them by anticipating the needs of residents, patients, and guests. Whether it’s preparing a favorite dish, adjusting menus to meet unique health needs, or creating engaging dining moments that uplift spirits, we aim to make every meal meaningful.
Signature Programs That Enhance Quality of Life
Cura’s approach is grounded in research, refined by experience, and brought to life through our proprietary signature programs, which have transformed healthcare dining into a more person-centered, therapeutic, and engaging experience.
🌿 BeWell Program
Our flagship health and wellness program, BeWell, inspires residents, patients, and staff to make better food choices through colorful, flavorful, nutrient-dense options designed to promote vitality and healing. By blending science with satisfaction, BeWell aligns culinary offerings with wellness goals—empowering healthier lifestyles across the board.
🧠 Connections Memory Support
Developed for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, Connections uses sensory engagement, visual triggers, and consistent service routines to create comfort, encourage appetite, and reduce anxiety. Residents are supported by staff trained specifically in memory care dining, allowing for greater autonomy and dignity.
🍽️ Pureed Creations
Dysphagia doesn’t have to mean diminished dining. With Pureed Creations, Cura transforms texture-modified meals into beautifully plated, highly appealing dishes. Our chefs use advanced techniques to recreate the look and feel of traditional meals, encouraging greater nutritional intake and restoring mealtime joy.
🥖 Handcrafted Delights
This program is all about flavor, freshness, and flair. Replacing the use of high cost, purchased supplements, Handcrafted Delights brings high-quality, scratch-made snacks made out of pantry staples, into healthcare and senior living settings—offering the kind of nutritious snacks that residents look forward to.
Cura Culinary College: Growing Talent from Within
Exceptional food begins with exceptional people. Cura Culinary College, our internal education and professional development platform, was created to cultivate talent, enhance skill sets, and inspire culinary excellence. Through workshops, mentoring, online learning, and hands-on training, team members at all levels gain access to tools that build confidence, grow careers, and fuel creativity.
This investment in our people not only ensures high standards but also supports long-term workforce development—an essential differentiator in today’s tight labor market.
Sustainability with Purpose: Waste Nothing & Doing Good
Cura’s commitment to the environment and community is embodied in our award-winning “Waste Nothing” and “Doing Good” sustainability initiatives. These programs go beyond recycling and composting—they instill a culture of mindfulness, accountability, and social responsibility across all operations.
The Cura dining team at Menno Haven in Central PA are committed to environmental sustainability by composting 600 lbs. of pre-consumer food waste weekly with their neighbour Wilson College. The compost is used to help improve soil properties and provides nutrients to the school’s Fulton Farm, an environmental educational facility, and a working produce farm. Cura at Menno Haven purchases the produce from Fulton Farm – creating an authentic farm to table experience for the residents who call Menno Haven their home!
“Doing Good” encourages community donations, local sourcing, and eco-conscious event planning—creating a ripple effect of positive impact far beyond the kitchen.
Together, these programs reinforce Cura’s belief that great food should never come at the expense of the planet or people.
Responding to Challenges with Agility and Innovation
The evolving demands of healthcare dining—labor shortages, food inflation, changing resident expectations—require a partner that can adapt quickly and respond with purpose.
Cura meets these challenges with resourceful solutions:
- Labor shortages are addressed through Cura Culinary College, internal recruitment, and mentoring programs that foster talent from within.
- Food inflation is tackled through “Rescue Recipes”, creative menu engineering, and waste-reduction practices that ensure quality without compromise.
- Time-sensitive launches are executed with Cura’s signature agility. At Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Washington, PA, Cura launched full dining operations just three days after contract signing—despite the facility lacking a commercial kitchen. Meals were prepared offsite at Cura’s Asbury Heights location and delivered via our mobile system.
A Story of Growth: New Partnerships and Expanding Impact
Cura’s footprint continues to grow—because healthcare and senior living providers trust us to deliver not only meals, but outcomes, excellence, and compassion.
Recent highlights:
- Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA): Cura proudly manages dining at 16 life plan communities across Kansas and Missouri, and at Aberdeen Ridge in Colorado Springs—our first site in Colorado, that opened in Spring of 2025.
- Mississippi Veterans Home, Tradition, MS: A state-of-the-art 100-bed facility, this is the largest of the five Veterans Homes in the Mississippi VA system. Opening in Spring 2025, Cura is honored to serve the heroes who’ve earned the right to dine with dignity.
- Cranberry Park at ShorePointe, St. Clair Shores, MI: Cura’s first account in Michigan, this premier Optalis Health & Rehab Center features 82 beds and multiple country kitchens—a testament to our ability to tailor services to community needs.
- St. Francis Senior Ministries, Tiffin, OH: A faith-based retirement community that now enjoys Cura’s personalized hospitality and culinary innovation.
- Robin Run Village, Indianapolis, IN (a member of Oakdale Seniors Alliance): Cura was chosen for its exceptional culinary standards, strong staff training, and “dining programs that appeal to all lifestyles.” Cura also manages Asbury Heights in Pittsburgh, part of the same alliance.
- Marion Health Network, IN: Cura expanded into Marion Health East, a brand-new 100,000 sq. ft. patient care facility, adding to its existing partnership at Marion General Hospital.
- Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, Erie, PA: Serving more than 1,700 meals daily, this facility supports children and teens from 48 counties. Cura provides nourishment to some of the region’s most vulnerable populations.
Envisioning the Future of Healthcare and Senior Living Dining
Cura is not just keeping up with the future—we’re shaping it. As healthcare dining continues to evolve, we see a shift toward experience-based, flexible, and technology-driven solutions. Cura is leading the way by:
🍷 Creating Dining Destinations
Turning common dining rooms into multi-use spaces where residents can enjoy wine tastings, international cuisine nights, and Chef’s Table experiences. These experiences double as marketing tools for senior living communities, giving prospective residents a taste of what life—and dining—can be like.
🏥 Reinventing Hospital Cafés
Cura transforms hospital cafés into vibrant, restaurant-style destinations that draw staff, visitors, and community members alike. Stylish layouts, made-to-order meals, wellness-forward menus, and digital signage featuring nutritional information, specials, and community engagement activities drive both satisfaction and traffic.
🥗 Supporting Clinical Healing
Our clinicians and culinary experts collaborate to create therapeutic food programs that support healing post-injury or post-op. These custom nutrition plans are designed to help patients recover faster and feel better—because food is medicine.
📲 Integrating Smart Technologies
We are continuously monitoring and implementing technology that enhances communication, ordering, and service delivery. From bedside meal requests to streamlined tray tracking and production planning, tech helps Cura serve better and smarter—without losing our human touch.
🎉 Catering with Purpose
Cura is also the caterer of choice for internal and external events. From fundraising galas to mission-driven community dinners, Cura ensures your culinary is not only memorable—it’s mission-aligned. We help hospitals and communities create events that guests love, donors support, and attendees return to.
The Cura Difference
Cura is more than a food service provider—we are an extension of your care team, a partner in your mission, and a champion of human-centered hospitality. Every day, in every community and hospital we serve, we strive to create dining experiences that nourish the body, delight the senses, comfort the soul, and support recovery, independence, and joy.
We don’t just prepare food—we bring expertise, compassion, innovation, and purpose. That’s the Cura difference. And that’s how we’re nurturing wellbeing with every meal we serve in hospitals, behavioral health, and senior living communities —one meal, one resident, one patient at a time.
