John Paul, Allegheny Health Network President and CEO Assumes New Role at Highmark Health

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark Health today announced that Allegheny Health Network (AHN) President and Chief Executive Officer John Paul is joining Highmark Health as special advisor to David Holmberg, Highmark Health president and chief executive officer. He will consult on strategic initiatives that advance Highmark Health's efforts to transform health care. Cynthia Hundorfean will succeed Mr. Paul as president and chief executive officer of Allegheny Health Network in February.

This move is part of a planned transition begun last fall by Mr. Paul and Mr. Holmberg to sustain the next phase of AHN's progress as a leading provider of quality, affordable health care, and leverage Mr. Paul's knowledge and vast experience more broadly across the Highmark Health enterprise. As part of this plan, a national search for Mr. Paul's successor was launched in the fall.

In 2011, Mr. Paul worked as a consultant for Highmark Inc. and was instrumental in developing a new clinical network through the affiliation of West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS), Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Saint Vincent Health System and Premier Medical Associates with Highmark Inc., and formation of Allegheny Health Network in 2013.  Mr. Paul assumed the role of president and chief executive officer in April 2013. Since then he has led the business turnaround of the former WPAHS, while significantly strengthening and expanding AHN's capabilities across the region.

Under his leadership, AHN expanded its reach into the multiple communities we serve.  Among his many notable accomplishments were the life-saving development of a Level II trauma center at Forbes Regional Hospital and the building of the Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion. He also initiated an innovative collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine and pushed to bring health care to an underserved neighborhood with the opening of the Braddock Urgent Care Center. 

"John has been a driving force in preserving health care choice and competition for the good of our communities," commented Mr. Holmberg.  "We have benefited greatly from John's knowledge and vast experience, and are grateful for his many contributions in preparing us for a new era in health care. I look forward to continuing our work together as he moves into an enterprise role."

"Through his long and successful career as an innovative health care executive, John has contributed so much to the health and well-being of the people of western Pennsylvania and beyond, and has served the Allegheny Health Network as a visionary, its architect and its first leader," commented Dr. David Blandino, Allegheny Health Network chairman of the board.

Mr. Paul is succeeded by Cynthia Hundorfean who will join Allegheny Health Network in February and work closely with Mr. Paul to effect a smooth transition. Ms. Hundorfean comes to Allegheny Health Network from the Cleveland Clinic, where she served as chief administrative officer since 2005. She has more than 30 years of diverse experience including hospital management, physician integration strategies, implementation of strategic alliances, joint ventures, service line affiliations and mergers and acquisitions.

"The opportunity to join Allegheny Health Network and the Highmark Health family as they tackle the complexities of the health care system to deliver more effective and efficient care for their patients is exciting," stated Ms. Hundorfean. "I'm passionate about creating a system that functions better for everyone and look forward to working with the highly skilled, caring employees of Allegheny Health Network to do so."

"Cynthia brings years of experience and deep understanding of all aspects of health care delivery. This transition is a natural part of our evolution as a health care leader. I'm confident that under Cynthia's stewardship we will further our efforts to transform health care delivery," stated Mr. Holmberg.

In her role as chief administrative officer, Ms. Hundorfean had direct operational and financial oversight of 25 clinical institutes encompassing over 190 sites and 23,000 employees, as well as matrixed oversight of eight regional hospitals, 16 family health centers, Cleveland Clinic Florida, regional physician offices and several other areas, including Quality and Patient Safety. She also oversaw a $5.5 billion net revenue budget from clinical operations. Clinical volume includes over 5.9 million patient visits per year, 55,000 hospital admissions and 81,000 surgical cases.

Ms. Hundorfean earned an Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University, and Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Robert Meyers College. She is a member of the American Hospital Association and Medical Group Management Association.

Ms. Hundorfean will be based in AHN's corporate office in Pittsburgh and report to Mr. Holmberg.

About Highmark Health
Highmark Health, a Pittsburgh, PA based enterprise that employs more than 35,000 people nationwide and serves 40 million Americans in all 50 states, is the third largest integrated health care delivery and financing system in the nation.  Highmark Health is the parent company of Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, and HM Health Solutions. Highmark Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide health insurance to 5.3 million members in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware as well as dental insurance, vision care and related health products through a national network of diversified businesses that include United Concordia Companies, HM Insurance Group, Davis Vision and Visionworks.  Allegheny Health Network is the parent company of an integrated delivery network that includes eight hospitals, a community-based network of physician organizations, and a group purchasing organization, ambulatory surgery centers, and health and wellness pavilions in western Pennsylvania.  HM Health Solutions focuses on meeting the information technology platform and other business needs of the Highmark Health enterprise as well as unaffiliated health insurance plans by providing proven business processes, expert knowledge and integrated cloud-based platforms. To learn more, please visit www.highmarkhealth.org.

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SOURCE Highmark Health