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Cleve L. Killingsworth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Honored as John D. Thompson Distinguished Visiting Fellow

	Cleve L. Killingsworth, M.P.H. '76, will be honored as the 2007 John D. Thompson Distinguished Visiting Fellow on April 26.

Cleve Killingsworth, M.P.H. ’76, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and an advocate of health insurance reform, will be honored as the John D. Thompson Distinguished Visiting Fellow of 2007 on April 26.

Killingsworth is a nationally recognized leader in health care management as well as a thoughtful advocate for intelligent reform within the health care system. “During his 30 years in the health care industry, Killingsworth has earned a reputation as an innovative manager, dynamic teacher, and insightful analyst,” said Elizabeth H. Bradley, Ph.D., professor of public health and Director of the Health Management Program at the Yale School of Public Health.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is one of the largest, independent, not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in the country. As CEO, Killingsworth leads the company's efforts to elevate the quality of services and care delivered to about three million members as he simultaneously works collaboratively with a variety of health care stakeholders to reform and improve the health care delivery system.

Killingsworth has a long and distinguished career in health care management, both in practice and in teaching. He was formerly president and CEO of Health Alliance Plan in Detroit, one of Michigan's largest managed care companies providing value to its more than 500,000 members. He has also served as the senior vice president of insurance and managed care for Henry Ford Health System and president of Kaiser Permanente's Central East Division, which included the mid-Atlantic states and Ohio. In each position, Killingsworth developed overarching performance strategies to achieve significant improvements and identified growth opportunities.

Killingsworth has taught at the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, in health services administration at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and was a lecturer at the Yale School of Public Health. In addition to his graduate degree from Yale, he holds a B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The John D. Thompson Distinguished Visiting Fellow program honors Professor John D. Thompson and his distinguished contribution as an educator and researcher in health administration, including his pioneering work in developing the Medicare payment system. The fellowship program brings a leader in health administration to the School each year to share their career experiences with students and discuss emerging challenges in health administration. The program is supported by the John Devereaux Thompson Academic Development Fund. Recent John D. Thompson Visiting Fellows include Patrick A. Charmel, President and CEO of Griffin Hospital and Griffin Health Services Corporation (2006), Joseph A. Zaccagnino, former President and CEO of Yale-New Haven Hospital and Yale-New Haven Health System (2005), Nancy Johnson, Congresswoman (2004), and Gail Wilenksy, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at Project HOPE (2003).

The 6 p.m. dinner will be held at The Graduate Club at 155 Elm Street and will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. The cost for students is $10 and $45 for alumni, faculty and their guests. If you are interested in attending, please contact Carolyn Cummings at (203) 785-2290 or carolyn.cummings@yale.edu.