Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah welcomes Dr. Mike Woodruff as its new executive medical director. In this executive leadership role, he will drive clinical strategies focused on improving health care access, affordability, access, quality and member experience. Woodruff will oversee initiatives to promote provider partnerships, engage key employers in enhancing workforce well-being to manage health care costs, and support business growth.
“Woodruff has expertise in understanding the interdependence of clinical excellence, patient experience, employee well-being, and operational performance,” said Dr. Donna Milavetz, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Regence. “With that knowledge and his proven leadership, he will complement our
team as we drive clinical and business strategies to benefit those we serve.”
Previously, Woodruff was the chief patient experience officer for Intermountain Health in Utah, Idaho and Nevada. In that role, he led patient safety, quality and experience-of-care while driving significant improvements in outcomes at a lower cost. His career has focused on standardizing clinical workflows,
designing sustainable improvements, leading work in emergency medicine, clinical informatics and suicide prevention, in addition to clinical practice with Utah Emergency Physicians.
“Woodruff has a strong track record of implementing simple, user-friendly interventions that build trust and provide meaningful value,” said Jim Guemple, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. “This invaluable experience will strengthen our work to make health care easier to navigate, more accessible,
and economically sustainable for our members, employer clients and provider partners.” During the past few years, Woodruff has demonstrated health care leadership through his involvement in the National Quality Forum, participating in quality measure creation and co-chairing a National Quality
Partners Action team on patient-centered care.
“I’m excited to join Regence and help advance its mission, which aligns with my focus on alleviating suffering, keeping people healthy, and achieving better outcomes at a more affordable price,” said Woodruff. “I look forward to working with our clinical team to develop straightforward, human-centered
improvements aimed at transforming the health care experience in Utah.”
Woodruff is a board-certified emergency medicine physician who recently completed a Next Generation Leaders Fellowship with the American Hospital Association. He received his residency training at the University of Utah and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Woodruff earned his medical
degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
