Subscribe to the pod Pre-Register for Our Live Webinars

A Conversation with Highmark Leaders – Innovations in Digital and Hybrid Care

A Conversation with Highmark Leaders – Innovations in Digital and Hybrid Care

Doug Henry, PhD

Vice President and Medical
Director of Enterprise
Behavioral Health,
Highmark Health

Doug is a clinical psychologist licensed in Pennsylvania and California and brings over 20 years of experience in professional applied psychology, including inpatient, outpatient, and administrative assignments. Attracted by the integrated payer-provider model and emphasis on patient-centered treatment, he joined the Allegheny Health Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Institute in 2017 as vice president. In addition to his role at the enterprise, he continues to serve as a leadership dyad for the Institute.

Before joining AHN, Dr. Henry served as clinical administrator at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic for UPMC Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services, the UPMC Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, and the UPMC Center for Eating Disorders.

Mari Vandenburgh,

Vice President of Health
Programs and Solutions,
Highmark Health

Mari is responsible for identifying and managing best-in-class healthcare solutions to improve Quadruple Aim outcomes related to chronic and episodic clinical conditions and validating multi-year business case value drivers and ROI. She has been with Highmark in various roles since 2005. Mari has a Bachelor of Science from Duquesne and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

A Conversation with Highmark Leaders – Innovations in Digital and Hybrid Care

Doug Henry, PhD, Vice President and Medical Director of Enterprise Behavioral Health at Highmark Health, and Mari Vandenburgh, Vice President of Health Programs and Solutions at Highmark Health, join Eric to share Highmark’s innovative approaches to transforming care delivery through digital and hybrid solutions.

Topics include:

  • Post-Acute Care Innovations: AHN At-Home Care program’s multidisciplinary approach integrates mental health support to reduce readmissions and save $600 PMPM in total care costs.
  • Addressing Network and Access Gaps: Highmark’s strategic initiatives to expand access through geo-analysis, virtual-first strategies, and enhanced provider partnerships.
  • Virtual Mental Health: A closer look at Highmark’s partnership with Spring Health to provide personalized, outcome-driven mental health care, achieving symptom remission in six weeks or less for 70% of patients with moderate to severe conditions.
  • Living Health Strategy: Leveraging personalized nudges and integrated digital platforms to boost member engagement, with 79% receiving their first mental health care through the program.
  • Innovation for Loneliness and Beyond: Doug shares groundbreaking grant projects, such as using technology and social prescriptions to address loneliness and improve senior care outcomes.

This episode is packed with actionable insights for health plans seeking to close access gaps, enhance member experience, and drive measurable outcomes in mental health and beyond.

Tune in to learn from Highmark’s bright spots and discover strategies to replicate their success.

Doug Henry, PhD

Vice President and Medical
Director of Enterprise
Behavioral Health,
Highmark Health

Mari Vandenburgh,

Vice President of Health
Programs and Solutions,
Highmark Health

  • SUBSCRIBE

    to the Bright Spots in Healthcare Podcast

Excellent programming.  This was my first time attending, and I will be a regular listener. Topics are relevant and timely.

— Margot Ozyp, Vice President, Contract Operations and Performance, Equality Health

I learn something practical every time I tune in!

— Heather Peterman, Director of Healthcare Research and Quality, Minnesota Department of Health Services

These webinars are very helpful and relevant.  They are easy to listen to and have a great variety of topics, speakers and information.  The pace is really engaging.

— Michelle Nelson, Senior Director, Health Improvement, United Regional Health Care

Great conversation about real-life problems caring for real-life patients!!!

— Kim Tjanden, Medical Director, Community Health, CentraCare

Enjoy your programming. Always much needed and relevant information.

— Mary Freeman, Director, Baptist Memorial Health Care

The topics were directly aligned with our company’s missions!

— Tracy Fennessy, Senior Relationship Manager, Business Development & Community Health, Point32Health

Who knew there would be a podcast about my actual job? I appreciate hearing how others are navigating the health plan world.

— Hayley Peebles, Lead Care Manager, Network Health

The Bright Spots series is always very well organized. Provides insight and recapping of key points. Happy to never be lectured or read to, but rather a great productive conversation style.

— Marie Wendt, Director of Clinical Quality & Care Management, Great Lakes Physicians Organization, P.C.

Your programming is spot-on for presenting new and innovative ways to improve health outcomes and care to our members.

— Shelley Krawchuk, RN, CPHQ, Clinical Program Manager, Health Net, Inc

I appreciate the well-balanced nature of the presentation. It gave me great ideas that can be easily implemented.

— Eileen Esposito, Vice President, Ambulatory Clinical Practice, Catholic Health

This is a great opportunity to bring together experts and have an open conversation. There are so many questions. One whole session could be on questions about how engaging it is! Thank you!

— Tracey Greene, Vice President, Personalized Health, Aetna National Medicaid

I picked up quite a bit that I had not considered with SDoH digital divide. It was especially interesting to hear from the panelists their thoughts and the programs they have put into place to improve the member experience, as well as barriers with language and culture. Thank You!

— Jesse Stakes, Associate Director, Clinical Quality, United Healthcare

Great information! Very timely and relevant to what is happening in healthcare.

— Laurie Evans, Director, Business Analytics, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee

The session inspired ideas and initiatives to share across my team at Humana on how we can strengthen our service delivery and implement these strategies in the buildout of new lines of business.

— Nicole Bell, Senior Market Development Professional, Humana

My first time connecting with Bright Spots and I am hooked! We are all managing through uncertainty and this group has amazing thinkers in their field, living in this real healthcare world and providing clarity for the future.

— Robert Santilli, CEO, Gunnison Valley Health

Your programming provided a real-world perspective. This approach created relatability; moreover, it will be easy to apply some of the work to enhance the patient experience.

— Leslie Marsh, CEO, Lexington Regional Health Center

Excellent overview of value and importance of video marketing; as a medical director myself, it opened my eyes to various opportunities for our health system to improve.

— Gerard Isenberg, MD, Chief Medical Quality Officer, University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center

A pirate’s bounty of meaty information!

— Julianne Eckert, Director, Quality Improvement, Clover Health

Menu

Subscribe to the Pod
Pre-Register For Webinars

Secure Payment

The Medicare Advantage Leadership Council (MALC) is an invitation-only peer community for senior Medicare Advantage leaders to exchange proven strategies and real-world “bright spots” across STARS, CAHPS, HEDIS, benefit design, risk adjustment, operations, and provider partnerships.

By activating your Medicare Advantage Leadership Council (MALC) membership, you’re choosing to be part of a small, trusted peer community of leaders who believe progress happens through honest conversation, shared learning, and the willingness to challenge what’s comfortable.

If you’re here, you likely already know: doing this work well can’t happen in isolation.

Membership is limited and approved by Bright Spots Ventures.

Activate your 2026 membership

$695/yr.
Pay with Stripe

☐ I acknowledge and agree to the MALC Membership Terms & Conditions.