#United States #Oakland #Kaiser Permanente #Public Affairs #Beth Leonard

Beth Leonard Joins Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente has announced that Beth Leonard will be stepping into the role of Senior Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer starting on February 2. This key position will see Leonard at the helm of the organization’s communications strategy, government relations, and community engagement activities across federal, state, and local levels.

In her new role, Leonard will report to Sam Glick, the executive vice president for Enterprise Strategy and Business Development. Her position at Kaiser Permanente will entail close collaboration with other senior leaders in the organization, including executive medical directors and regional presidents. Glick has emphasized Leonard's exceptional skills in communication and advocacy, stating that her leadership will be instrumental in shaping the discourse surrounding health care transformation. Kaiser Permanente aims to offer its value-based care model to a broader community, ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care.

Beth Leonard brings with her a wealth of experience - more than twenty years - in public affairs and the health care sector. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, she served as the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance. In that position, she was responsible for fostering both internal and external relationships, managing media interactions, digital and social media outreach, along with government affairs and community engagement strategies.

Before her tenure at Walgreens, Leonard was the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at EmblemHealth, a non-profit health plan and provider organization based in New York, serving over three million members. She has also held the position of Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at AHIP (formerly America’s Health Insurance Plans) and has a rich background in political campaigns, having worked on numerous presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial races.

Leonard holds a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Her academic and professional pursuits underline her commitment to enhancing health care outcomes.

Kaiser Permanente’s Commitment

Kaiser Permanente has a strong mission to shape the future of health care and is recognized as a leader among America’s not-for-profit health plans. Established in 1945, Kaiser Permanente aims to deliver high-quality, affordable health care and continually strives to improve the health of its members and the communities it serves. Currently, the organization caters to approximately 12.6 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia.

Kaiser Permanente’s approach to care is comprehensive, focusing on the overall well-being of its members, which is facilitated by a dedicated team of medical professionals. Their commitment extends to leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovations in health promotion, chronic disease management, and preventive care.

With the addition of Beth Leonard to their leadership team, Kaiser Permanente looks poised to strengthen its position in the national health care conversation, pushing forward initiatives that can enhance access and quality of care throughout the community.