Aetna's president, Karen Lynch, and Marilyn Tavenner, the president and chief executive officer of America's Health Insurance Plans (“AHIP”), have been chosen by Modern Healthcare as two of the “Top 25 Women in Healthcare.”
The biennial list recognizes female executives from all sectors of health care and highlights their accomplishments and positions as role models in their companies and in the larger industry.
Modern Healthcare recognizes women leaders who drive diversity, creativity, and productivity amidst a turbulent time for the industry. According to the publication, “a diversity of thought and experiences produces better outcomes.” Their leadership and instruction is vital, not only to women who continue to join the workforce in increasing rates, but to the success and profitability of their respective organizations.
In 2012, Ms. Lynch joined Aetna as executive vice president and head of specialty products. In less than three years, she became Aetna's first female president, acting as a key architect of Aetna's strategy to drive consumer-focused, high-value health care.
In addition to helping move Aetna's strategy forward, Ms. Lynch is also a mentor and role model for other women. Ms. Lynch has used Aetna's Employee Resource Group for Women as a platform to share her expertise with women throughout the company.
The advice she's given to this group is that everyone, regardless of gender, should pursue their passion: “When you work with purpose you're naturally able to inspire and influence others to follow you, and you are more relentless about driving for awesome results. That approach is what ultimately provides the competitive edge – not gender.”
In 2016, Ms. Lynch also was named as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Business” by Fortune.
Prior to joining AHIP in the summer of 2015, Ms. Tavenner served as administrator/principal deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) from 2010-2015. Prior to her appointment to CMS, she served as Secretary of Health and Human Resources in the cabinet of Virginia Governor Tim Kaine from 2006-2010.
From 1981-2005, Ms. Tavenner was employed by the Hospital Corporation of America (“HCA”), beginning as a nurse at Richmond-based Johnston-Willis Hospital and eventually becoming the chief executive officer in 1993.
In 2001, she became president of HCA's central Atlantic division, and later was appointed group president of outpatient services before resigning from HCA in December 2005.
She earned both her B.S. in nursing and her M.H.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].