Joyce Socao
A staunch advocate of Healthcare Globalization and Medical Tourism, Ms. Socao has led various initiatives in the Philippines and internationally by partnering with the government and private sectors in the development and promotion of the country as a global healthcare destination and in the capability and capacity building of the country’s healthcare organizations towards global competitiveness since 2004. In recent years, she has been advocating the ASEAN Economic Community integration for healthcare trade services and promoting international standards in healthcare and hospitality towards Patient Safety and Excellent Quality Healthcare.
Ms. Socao is the Founder & President of HEALTHCORE—the center for global healthcare management, quality accreditation and medical tourism services in the Philippines—conducting and facilitating workshops and conferences on international healthcare management that includes compliance to the accreditation standards of Joint Commission International, Temos, Accreditation Canada, Swiss Approval/ISO, NABH International, among others. In 2019, she spearheaded the creation of Health, Retirement & Tourism (HeaRT) Alliance of the Philippines – a private sector association that seeks to support the government in developing and promoting the Philippines as a global Health Tourism and Retirement destination – where she was eventually elected founding President. In 2020, she became the Patient Safety Ambassador (ASEAN Region) of the Patient Safety Movement Foundation based in the U.S.
Ms. Socao is a Certified Lead Auditor for ISO 9001:2015 and formerly National Third Party Assessor in the Department of Tourism for the official star-rating of the accommodation sector.
From 2012 to 2017, she was the President and Country Head for Philippines in the Aster DM Healthcare group headquartered in UAE, considered to be one of the largest healthcare conglomerates in Asia with 390+ establishments.
From 2008-2010, she served as International Marketing and Communications Strategist to the Philippine Department of Tourism’s Office for Sports and Wellness Tourism, had a short stint in the Philippines’ Tourism Promotions Board as Vice President, and President/Founder of HIM Communications for six years. Prior to all these, Ms. Socao spent her 11 years working for three of the biggest global investment banks in different roles, the latest of which was as Business Analyst.
She finished Bachelor of Science in Tourism (Cum Laude), with Master in Business Administration, and partially completed Masters in Strategic Economics in UA&P. In 2012-2013, she was Project Editor for Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Health & Wellness section and authored the Philippine Medical Tourism Compendium. Her varied skills make her a well-sought after Consultant and Speaker in many international conferences. She is Judge in International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) Awards since 2013 to present. Most recently, she started hosting a regular radio program in DWIZ 882 titled “Galing Mo Pinoy, Ganda Mo Pinas” sharing her expertise on current issues, healthcare and tourism. She is a part-time professor at the School of International Relations-ASEAN Study Center in New Era University and the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
More than a strategist and educator, Ms. Socao is a passionate learner who loves to travel, try adventure, and engage with people. It was her personal life-changing experience in the healthcare system that served as a catalyst for her to become a staunch Patient Safety and Healthcare Globalization advocate.
