SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 –The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization of employers and other purchasers focused on health care safety and quality, announces the election of Michelle Martin, Paramount Executive, as its new Board Chair, and welcomes a new Director, Lina Walker from AARP.
Michelle Martin, Vice President, Total Rewards Experience at Paramount, was elected as Board Chair. Previously serving as Vice Chair, Martin brings an employer perspective with her longstanding experience in human resources and health benefits. As an employer-driven organization, Leapfrog benefits from her leadership in using Leapfrog safety ratings to inform employees and shape high quality health benefits programs. She succeeds David Goldhill, who led the Board through a period of significant growth including the launch of the Leapfrog ASC Survey and the Leapfrog Judie Burrows Education Institute.
“I’m especially thankful for David Goldhill. His leadership and guidance brought extraordinary progress to Leapfrog,” Martin said.
In addition to Martin, the new slate of officers are as follows:
- Vice Chair: Linda Schwimmer, President and CEO, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
- Treasurer: John Zern, President and CEO, Ryan Specialty Benefits
- Secretary: Sally Welborn, Executive Director, Advisor, Welborn Advisory Services
- At-Large Executive Committee Member: Vice Admiral Raquel Bono, MD, MBA, FACS, Chief Health Officer, Viking Cruises
Additionally, Lina Walker, Vice President, Health Security at AARP was elected to the Board. As the newest Leapfrog Board of Director, Walker’s rich experience in advocacy, policy, and outreach in areas like health care affordability and quality, retirement issues, and health equity will provide critical insight as Leapfrog expands its footprint in policy work.
“I am thrilled to join an esteemed group of change makers, who are committed to transforming our health system in meaningful ways so that it is safer and better for people and their families,” Walker said. “I look forward to serving on Leapfrog’s board to help it continue its critical work and leadership to advance higher-value care, including its efforts to provide patients and purchasers timely and relevant information to improve decision-making.”
Martin thanked three Board members who completed their terms in August 2022 for their dedicated service and leadership: Susan Reinhard, RN, PhD, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Director, AARP Public Policy Institute, Chief Strategist, Center to Champion Nursing In America; Martin Hatlie, JD, CEO, Project Patient Care; and Marleece Estella, MD, Senior Vice President, Global Health and Wellbeing, BP. Learn more about the Leapfrog Board of Directors here.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter.