Have you Heard?

View Episode 11 Transcript

Thomas J. Grote leads the Banner|Aetna joint venture as Chief Executive Officer. He’s responsible for:

• Building a more sustainable model of care enhanced by a unique member experience for members in Arizona
• Improving product offerings while lowering costs
• Creating a clinically connected network and growing Banner|Aetna’s footprint throughout the state

Before becoming the CEO of BannerlAetna, Grote managed operations of Aetna’s Arizona and New Mexico markets for a year and a half. He also oversaw the west territory markets, including California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.

Before moving to Arizona, Grote served as president of Aetna's Capitol market from 2010-2015. This market includes Maryland, DC, and Virginia.

Grote joined Aetna in 1987 as an employee benefits representative. He’s held a variety of sales and profit and loss management roles throughout his 30-year career.

Grote graduated from the University of Notre Dame. There, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Finance. And in 1988, he received his Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation.

View Episode 10 Transcript

William E. Gillis, Psy.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Senior Director, Aetna Behavioral Health

Over 21 years of experience as a California licensed clinical psychologist, complemented by extensive experience in behavioral health operational, quality, program design, innovation, strategy, and product support within commercial health plans.  

In my current role as Senior Clinical Director of Behavioral Health, I am responsible for Behavioral Health Program Design, performance of Behavioral Health Benefits for National Customers, and am involved with innovation and strategy and as a subject matter expert for Sales and Accounts, Behavioral Health Medical Integration Model, and the Motivational Interviewing initiative.  I am well versed in evidence-based treatment, behavioral health clinical operations, quality management, innovation and program design, behavioral health utilization/cost trends, integrated partnerships that promote holistic care, and product and customer support.  

I am a key leader in Behavioral Health Transformation, Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral Health and Medical Integration, BH Program Case Management Redesigns, and Joint Venture and Accountable Care Organization partnerships.

In addition, I have also served in direct service Behavioral Health leadership and provider roles.  This included positions as a Clinic Director and Director of Quality Care Management of integrated Behavioral Health clinics.  These clinics were highly integrated with local medical groups, providing invaluable experience to reinforce the importance of holistic integrated care.

Personal interests:  cycling, home brewing, bee keeping, hiking, backpacking

View Episode 9 Transcript

Jeny McNair, MD

A hospitalist/internist by training, Dr. McNair has significant experience in UM/UR for commercial, Medicare, and MA plans, as well as care management.  As a physician leader, she has managed teams of physicians and healthcare providers, spurring them to excellence.

Since joining Aetna in September of 2017, Dr. McNair has focused her efforts on Care Management execution and outcomes for the Joint Ventures.

Dr. McNair graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and completed her residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina.  She is board certified in Internal Medicine.

Dr. McNair recharges her batteries sailing with her family aboard Trouvaille, their catamaran.

View Episode 8 Transcript

Corey Woods was elected mayor of the City of Tempe in March 2020. In his professional career, he is the chief of staff at ASU Preparatory Academy. Woods is responsible for assisting the managing director with operations, external partnerships and strategic initiatives. He previously served as the chief operating officer for the Greater Phoenix Urban League, director of college and career articulation for the Phoenix Union High School District and director of government relations for the American Lung Association of Arizona. 

His personal commitment to community service extends to board memberships for many organizations including Newtown Community Development Corporation, Friendship Village, and Landings Credit Union. Woods is also an emeritus board member of Equality Arizona, active member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Tempe, former board chair for Children’s Action Alliance, and former two-term board president of the Tempe Boys and Girls Club - Ladmo Branch.

Woods served as a Councilmember for the City of Tempe from July 2008 – July 2016. He was elected to the Tempe City Council in May 2008 and reelected in March 2012. Woods was instrumental in guiding city policy that led to Tempe's perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s “Municipal Equality Index.” He championed initiatives in the areas of affordable housing and human services while working tirelessly to improve community development standards to attract business investment and protect neighborhoods.

Woods graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in April 2000 with a B.A. in Political Science, and a minor in African-American Studies. After college, Woods was a teaching assistant at ASU for three years. In May 2018, Woods earned a Master of Arts in Educational Policy from ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton College of Education.

View Episode 7 Transcript

Todd Lazar is a Vice President and Chief Growth Officer for Aetna’s North Central Territory. In this role, Todd has regional responsibilities for commercial growth across all product lines including channel management, sales effectiveness and the service experience provided to our customers and producers.

Todd is an innovative leader with 18 years of experience including 7 years at Aetna and 11 years of Management Consulting experience.

Previous to this role, Todd was responsible for National Distribution for Aetna’s ACA business. He also held senior leadership roles in National Accounts, Service Operations and the Mid-Atlantic market.

Todd holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Miami University (OH) and currently resides in Chicago with his wife and two young children.

View Episode 6 Transcript

Joanne Mizell joined Banner/Aetna as Chief Operating Officer in February 2018, with over 20 years Aetna experience and nearly 30 years in the Employee Benefits industry.  In this role, and as a member of the executive leadership team, Mizell will oversee operations of the organization and support the execution of the strategic goals set by Banner/Aetna’s Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer.  

Mizell is a proven leader who has consistently delivered growth to various organizations and market segments by developing strong teams, crafting creative strategies and fostering deep community and client relationships.   As Chief Operating Officer of Banner/Aetna, Mizell leverages her experience and well-established network in Arizona to execute the organization’s mission of helping employers improve the health and well-being of their workforce, while simplifying the coverage-to-care-to-payment of health care for its members.

Mizell started her career in Orange County and Los Angeles, California before relocating to Arizona in 1998.  Mizell’s previous roles at Aetna Included building sales and service teams for large employers, managing the growth, client satisfaction, and profit & loss for a four state market that included Arizona.  Mizell also led the creation and build of a new product portfolio for Aetna's National Accounts segment, simplifying the selection, purchasing and administration of voluntary products for Aetna’s largest clients.  Outside of Aetna, Mizell was a broker/advisor at an international insurance brokerage firm, where she served as lead health care and benefits design strategist for larger, complex clients.

Mizell has also worked in both paid and volunteer leadership roles for several humanitarian and animal protection organizations.  She continues to be actively involved in formal local and state advocacy aimed at improving lives through proposed legislative and policy changes in Arizona and in the United States.

Prior to beginning her career at Aetna, Mizell studied Business Administration at California State University at Fullerton, while working full-time in the employee benefits department of Hughes Aircraft Company.  Making lives better by delivering best-in-class employee benefits has been her career journey ever since.   Mizell’s role at Banner/Aetna takes that experience and passion to the next level.

View Episode 5 Transcript

Dr Sven Jungmann joined the German army at the age of 18 and eventually became a paratrooper officer. While this was a genuine manifestation of his desire to bring peace to people living in crisis areas, he came to realize that opportunities to have a lasting impact would be limited, so he switched direction and began to study medicine in various parts of the world. He studied public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and public policy at Oxford, gaining first-hand insights into the unique mechanics of healthcare systems and, particularly, their shortcomings. After several years working in pulmonary care, oncology and emergency medicine at Helios and Charité, Sven became Chief Medical Officer at a digital corporate venture of Helios, Europe’s largest private hospital provider.

He is now Chief Medical Officer at FoundersLane, a Corporate Venture Builder focused on digital health and sustainability. He also sits on the advisory board of Spring, a major German online prescription platform, advises healthcare start-ups around the world and supports investors in their due diligence for digital health investments.

View Episode 4 Transcript

Brad joined 98point6 in 2017, bringing nearly 20 years of experience working as a physician, most recently serving as chief medical officer at Cue. He also served as chief medical officer at Shift Labs and Mobisante. Brad still practices as an emergency physician at EvergreenHealth and is medical director of emergency preparedness, trauma and urgent care. He received his BA from UCLA and his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He has earned both a Bronze Star and the Combat Medic Badge for his service in Iraq as a United States Army physician. Brad enjoys traveling through Central America with his twin daughters and is passionate about designing global health solutions.

View Episode 3 Transcript

Dr. Robert Groves:

As Vice President of Health Management, Banner Health and Chief Medical Officer, Banner Health Network, Dr. Groves is responsible for physician leadership in population health management. He’s also responsible for delivering on clinical performance and utilization management in the volume to value transition.

Dr. Groves earned his M.D. degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He completed Internal Medicine training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He also completed fellowships in Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Groves also serves as Chief Medical Officer, Banner|Aetna.

Dr. Edward Clarke:

Dr. Clarke assumed the role of CMO for the Banner Insurance Division and Banner Health Network in 2018, where he is responsible for the clinical performance of the Banner Insurance products and the CINs in Banner markets, as well as building/introducing value based care clinical models across Banner Health integrated assets. A family physician originally trained in the Phoenix market, he has deep value based care experience gained by serving as the CMO for another CINs in the Phx metro market, as Banner system expertise through his role as Banner Medical Group CMO in 2016.

Dr. Clarke completed a sports Medicine fellowship at Univ. of Az. Tucson, Family Medicine Residency at Banner Good Samaritan, his M.D. at Univ. of Texas Southwestern-Dallas, and undergraduate degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering at Texas A&M University-College Station.

View Episode 2 Transcript

Chuck Lehn assumed the role of President, Banner Health Network, in 2017, where he is responsible for developing accountable care solutions for Banner Health and its affiliated physicians. He also has executive oversight for Banner Network Colorado and University of Arizona Health Plans.

In his three decades at Banner, Lehn has served in such areas as strategic growth, corporate finance, rural health care administration, provider network development, managed care, and health plan leadership.

Lehn has a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, and a master’s in health care administration from the University of Minnesota.

View Episode 1 Transcript

Thomas J. Grote leads the Banner|Aetna joint venture as Chief Executive Officer. He’s responsible for:

• Building a more sustainable model of care enhanced by a unique member experience for members in Arizona
• Improving product offerings while lowering costs
• Creating a clinically connected network and growing Banner|Aetna’s footprint throughout the state

Before becoming the CEO of BannerlAetna, Grote managed operations of Aetna’s Arizona and New Mexico markets for a year and a half. He also oversaw the west territory markets, including California, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.

Before moving to Arizona, Grote served as president of Aetna's Capitol market from 2010-2015. This market includes Maryland, DC, and Virginia.

Grote joined Aetna in 1987 as an employee benefits representative. He’s held a variety of sales and profit and loss management roles throughout his 30-year career.

Grote graduated from the University of Notre Dame. There, he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Finance. And in 1988, he received his Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation.