Dana Erickson succeeds Craig Samitt, MD, who retired in May after leading for three years.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBS MN) and its parent company, Stella, have announced its new president and CEO.
Announced earlier this week, senior vice president and president of the health services division, Dana Erickson, will lead the organizations starting November 1.
Erickson joined Blue Cross in 2015 and has served in senior leadership positions since 2019. In her previous role, she led strategic planning, development, implementation, and administration of racial and health equity, care management, provider relations, pharmacy, and medical management for BCBS MN. Prior to that, she served as senior director of care management.
She has also served in clinical and leadership roles at Univita Health and Optum Health.
Erickson is also a registered nurse and respiratory therapist and has experience in direct patient care and leading rehabilitation center operations.
"Dana is an accomplished and impressive leader who knows the health care industry very well, both within Minnesota and across the nation," Michael Robinson, chair of the Board of Trustees for BCBS MN, said in a statement. "After a rigorous national search for our next CEO, we were thrilled to find the strongest candidates right here in Minnesota, with the right choice being inside our Blue Cross family."
Erickson succeeds Craig Samitt, MD, who retired in May after leading for three years. She will assume responsibilities from Kathleen Blatz, a former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice and a Blue Cross Board of Trustees member for more than a decade, who has served as interim CEO since April.
"I am both humbled and excited for the opportunity to lead such an extraordinary company with exceptional, committed people," Erickson said in a statement. "We are strongly positioned to advance our strategic priorities to maintain and improve the health and wellbeing of our members, address inequities throughout the health care system and ensure that high-quality care and coverage are within reach for all."
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Photo Credit: ST. PAUL, MN/USA - NOVEMBER 18, 2018: Blue Cross BlueShield Minnesota corporate entrance and logo. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation United States health insurance organizations. / Editorial credit: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com
Melanie Blackman is a contributing editor for strategy, marketing, and human resources at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.