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New president of Sentara Health Plans focused on growth and member-driven health care
Accomplished executive poised to usher health plan into next era
Michael Cole, the new leader of Sentara Health Plans, believes in learning from the communities that Sentara has the privilege to serve.
“Our members are more than numbers,” said Cole, who started as executive vice president and president of Sentara Health Plans on June 15. “They are our neighbors, our families, and people who depend on us during some of the most important moments in their lives.”
“We have a meaningful opportunity to expand our impact, strengthen how we serve our communities, and continue raising the bar as an integrated delivery network,” added Cole.
Cole sees opportunities for significant growth in the Mid-Atlantic region, from serving vulnerable populations through expanded Medicaid coverage to strengthening relationships with other health systems.
"My goal is to serve as many patients and members as we can to promote long-term health," said Cole.
He comes to Sentara from the Pacific Northwest, where he served as president and CEO of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Regence BlueShield of Washington. He has lifelong connections to Virginia—he was born in Richmond—and to the East Coast, where many of his family members live.
"I am very familiar with the healthcare ecosystem on the East Coast, and Sentara stands out as a model for how an integrated health system should think about the industry," Cole said. "I am excited to join an organization where the health plan and broader system are truly working as one to deliver excellent service and care to our members and communities."
Sentara Health Plans serves more than 1 million members across Virginia and Florida. Beyond growing the plan, Cole looks forward to deepening the alignment between Sentara’s health plan and care delivery divisions to enhance consumer experience, as well as continuing Sentara’s tradition of exceptional member services.
"Health care is a critically important part of the fabric of any healthy community," Cole said. "I believe very strongly in locally-oriented models that can be scaled across geographies while remaining focused on patients, members, and their communities."
Cole brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the healthcare industry, with extensive expertise in strategy, growth, affordability, and operational performance.
With Regence, he served 2.5 million members across the Pacific Northwest. Prior to Regence, he served as president of Aetna’s North Atlantic Territory and as president and CEO of Aetna Keystone, where he led operations across 11 states, supporting 6 million members. His leadership has spanned commercial markets, Medicare, network strategy, specialty services, and compliance.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Cole is deeply engaged in community and industry leadership, serving as a long-time board member of Erie Family Health Centers in Chicago, a federally qualified health center providing care to underserved communities. He is also on the board of Trillium Family Services in Portland, Oregon, an active mentor within the healthcare startup ecosystem, and a longstanding member of The Economic Club of Chicago.
Cole earned his MBA in Finance and Marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
A proud father of three, he is an avid hiker and cyclist in his spare time. He is also a foodie and loves to travel.
"I look forward to getting to know Virginia Beach and the surrounding area, making it home, and immersing myself in the Hampton Roads community," Cole said.
He is also eager to tackle new challenges at Sentara.
"I am excited to continue the tradition of excellence at Sentara—and to meet this moment, when delivering truly integrated care for our members and communities matters more than ever."
“Our members are more than numbers,” said Cole, who started as executive vice president and president of Sentara Health Plans on June 15. “They are our neighbors, our families, and people who depend on us during some of the most important moments in their lives.”
“We have a meaningful opportunity to expand our impact, strengthen how we serve our communities, and continue raising the bar as an integrated delivery network,” added Cole.
Cole sees opportunities for significant growth in the Mid-Atlantic region, from serving vulnerable populations through expanded Medicaid coverage to strengthening relationships with other health systems.
"My goal is to serve as many patients and members as we can to promote long-term health," said Cole.
He comes to Sentara from the Pacific Northwest, where he served as president and CEO of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Regence BlueShield of Washington. He has lifelong connections to Virginia—he was born in Richmond—and to the East Coast, where many of his family members live.
"I am very familiar with the healthcare ecosystem on the East Coast, and Sentara stands out as a model for how an integrated health system should think about the industry," Cole said. "I am excited to join an organization where the health plan and broader system are truly working as one to deliver excellent service and care to our members and communities."
Making health care more person-focused
Sentara Health Plans serves more than 1 million members across Virginia and Florida. Beyond growing the plan, Cole looks forward to deepening the alignment between Sentara’s health plan and care delivery divisions to enhance consumer experience, as well as continuing Sentara’s tradition of exceptional member services.
"Health care is a critically important part of the fabric of any healthy community," Cole said. "I believe very strongly in locally-oriented models that can be scaled across geographies while remaining focused on patients, members, and their communities."
More than two decades of leadership experience
Cole brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the healthcare industry, with extensive expertise in strategy, growth, affordability, and operational performance.
With Regence, he served 2.5 million members across the Pacific Northwest. Prior to Regence, he served as president of Aetna’s North Atlantic Territory and as president and CEO of Aetna Keystone, where he led operations across 11 states, supporting 6 million members. His leadership has spanned commercial markets, Medicare, network strategy, specialty services, and compliance.
A record of community engagement
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Cole is deeply engaged in community and industry leadership, serving as a long-time board member of Erie Family Health Centers in Chicago, a federally qualified health center providing care to underserved communities. He is also on the board of Trillium Family Services in Portland, Oregon, an active mentor within the healthcare startup ecosystem, and a longstanding member of The Economic Club of Chicago.
Cole earned his MBA in Finance and Marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.
A proud father of three, he is an avid hiker and cyclist in his spare time. He is also a foodie and loves to travel.
"I look forward to getting to know Virginia Beach and the surrounding area, making it home, and immersing myself in the Hampton Roads community," Cole said.
He is also eager to tackle new challenges at Sentara.
"I am excited to continue the tradition of excellence at Sentara—and to meet this moment, when delivering truly integrated care for our members and communities matters more than ever."