Health Care: DENNIS MATHEIS

Matheis, former president of Sentara Health Plans and executive vice president of Sentara Healthcare since 2018, was promoted to CEO to the health system in June. He started on Sept. 1, succeeding Howard P. Kern, who retired after a 40-year career at Sentara.

An $11 billion not-for-profit health system with 12 hospitals in Virginia and North Carolina, Sentara employs about 30,000 workers, including 1,375 physicians. It was named one of the nation’s top five large health systems last year in an annual ranking by Fortune and IBM Watson Health.

Matheis oversaw the growth and modernization of Sentara’s insurance plans, including the joint ownership transaction of Virginia Premier with Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.

Matheis came to Sentara after decades of experience in health insurance, having most recently served as senior vice president of Anthem Inc. He held senior roles at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri, Cigna Healthcare, and Humana Health Plan and Advocate Health Care in Chicago. He also serves on the board of directors of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the executive committee for the Virginia Association of Health Plans.