INDEPENDENT HEALTH ASSOCIATION - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Chief Risk Officer
• Senior Vice President
• Vice President

As Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer, Anne O'Neill leads and manages the company's efforts to mitigate risks to future growth and existing assets. Her responsibilities include overseeing enterprise risk management, the information risk office and business continuity functions.

Job Titles:

• Chief Medical Officer
• Executive Vice President
• Certified Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians

As chief medical officer, Dr. Billittier is responsible for providing the clinical leadership for all medical management initiatives for Independent Health. He also helps set clinical direction for engaging members in their health and in designing programs that enable employers to actively promote health and wellness, and informed decision-making for their employees. Anthony J. Billittier IV, M.D., joined Independent Health in June 2019, bringing more than three decades of experience in the medical field to the organization. In addition to his current role as executive vice president, chief medical officer, Dr. Billittier is currently a clinical associate professor in both the University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and School of Public Health and Health Professions. Dr. Billittier has maintained his academic practice of emergency medicine with the University at Buffalo emergency medicine residency at the Erie County Medical Center, and continues to provide medical oversight to many Emergency Medical Services agencies including Mercy Flight. Dr. Billittier has also been an emergency physician with UB|MD for more than 28 years, and, more recently, a partner in Mobile Healthcare Partners. He previously served as the chief medical officer of Millennium Collaborative Care, Erie County Medical Center's Performing Provider System initiative, and most recently was the founding Dean of the D'Youville College School of Health Professions. Prior to that he served as commissioner of health in Erie County for 11 years. In addition, Dr. Billittier participates in numerous community service activities including service on the HEALTHeLINK board. He also serves as the medical director for the Elderwood Health Plan, Managed Long-Term Care Plan and for Person Centered Services. A board-certified Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, Dr. Billittier is a graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Medicine's three-year accelerated program and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his emergency medicine residency and emergency medical services fellowship training at Allegheny General Hospital, Medical College of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. He has also co-authored eight book chapters and more than 60 articles and other publications on emergency medicine and public health topics.

Job Titles:

• Director, Corporate Communications
• Media Relations Contact

Job Titles:

• President
• in 2021 As Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

As president, James A. Dunlop, Jr. has been tasked with leading the process to prioritize work and better sustain the financial performance of the organization. Jim Dunlop joined Independent Health in 2021 as executive vice president, chief financial officer, bringing extensive health care financial experience to the organization. In 2024, after three years in that capacity, was elevated to the role of president. In his newly appointed role, Jim has been tasked with leading the process to prioritize work and better sustain the financial performance of the organization. For over twenty-three years, Dunlop worked within the Catholic Health system, and was formerly its chief financial officer. Dunlop previously served as director of reimbursement for Sisters Hospital; director of finance for Sisters Hospital, Kenmore Mercy Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital; and vice president, finance/corporate controller, for Catholic Health's four acute care hospitals on five campuses, five long-term care facilities, a home health care agency, a senior neighborhood corporation, six diagnostic and treatment centers, 11 primary care centers, a physician PC and five foundations. Dunlop has a bachelor's degree in economics and public policy from the University of Rochester and a Master of Business Administration degree in accounting in health care management from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is also a certified public accountant. Dunlop has been recognized by Buffalo Business First as one of its 250 Influential Leaders from 2014-2019, as its Chief Financial Officer of the Year in 2009 and as a 40 Under 40 honoree in 2006. He was also the recipient of the Up and Comers Award by Modern Healthcare Magazine in 2008.

Job Titles:

• Chief Financial Officer
• Executive Vice President
• Named Chief Financial Officer

Jared M. Gross has been appointed as executive vice president & chief financial officer for Independent Health effective February 26, 2024. In this role, Gross will be responsible for the financial budgets and operations of the organization, including the development of the financial and operational strategy, managing the company's financial assets and reporting the financial results of Independent Health and its affiliate companies. Gross succeeds James Dunlop, who was recently elevated from CFO to president for Independent Health as part of the company's long-term leadership succession planning process. Michael W. Cropp, M.D., will remain as the company's chief executive officer. As chief financial officer, Jared Gross is responsible for the budgets and financial operations of the Independent Health, including the financial forecasting and the development of financial plans, managing the company's financial assets and reporting the financial results of Independent Health and its family of companies. As executive vice president, chief financial officer, Jared Gross is responsible for the budgets and financial operations of the Independent Health, including the financial forecasting and the development of financial plans, managing the company's financial assets and reporting the financial results of Independent Health and its family of companies. Gross plays a pivotal role in steering the financial direction of the organization and ensuring the optimization of the company's financial assets. Gross brings more than twenty-five years of financial experience in the health care field to Independent Health. His professional experience includes serving as vice president and chief financial officer of Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States, where he was responsible for the financial performance of the $6 billion revenue region with 825,000 members. Gross led the development of a sound, comprehensive strategic financial plan, and oversaw all aspects of financial management. He also served as senior vice president of enterprise initiatives & analytics at Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc., where he led two divisions in addition to numerous cross-divisional and corporate-wide initiatives. Gross has a bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from Brown University. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer
• Executive Vice President

As chief operating officer, John R. Rodgers is responsible for overseeing all business operations within the organization, including Sales, Product Development, Information Technology, Office of Strategy Management, and Independent Health's ancillary businesses - Pharmacy Benefit Dimensions®, Nova Healthcare Administrators, Inc.® and Reliance Rx.® Prior to his current role, Rodgers was chief marketing officer at Independent Health, where he was responsible for overseeing the long-term positioning and direction of Independent Health's sales, marketing, communications, product development and implementation and market research areas. He also oversaw the strategic and business planning of Independent Health's Pharmacy Benefit Dimensions™. In 2009, during his tenure in this position, Rodgers and the rest of the Independent Health executive team were named executive team of the year by HealthLeaders Media magazine. Rodgers is active in many professional organizations, including the American Marketing Association, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacists, American Pharmaceutical Association, Pharmacists Association of Western New York (PAWNY) and the Pharmaceutical Society of the State of New York. He is currently the president of the board of trustees for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Western and Central New York Chapter and has chaired the organization's Diamond Ball several times, most recently in 2015. He is also a member of the Child & Family Services board of directors. In 2011, the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy awarded Rodgers the Willis G. Gregory Memorial Award. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society honored him with the Service to Mankind Award in 2010, and the Pharmacy Association of WNY named him Pharmacist of the Year in 2007. Rodgers has a bachelor's degree in pharmacy and a master's degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he has been an adjunct professor in the University's School of Pharmacy. He serves on the Dean of the School of Pharmacy's National Industry Advisory Committee. Rodgers also has an active pharmacy license and practices as a retail pharmacist on a part-time basis, providing him a multi-dimensional view within the health care industry.

Job Titles:

• Executive Vice President
• General Counsel

Kenneth Sodaro, executive vice president, general counsel, oversees the Legal, Compliance and Auditing Departments. He is responsible for all legal matters for Independent Health, including contract and lease negotiations, and representing the company in regulatory matters, appeals and other legal issues.

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer
• President

Independent Health announced today the implementation of a strategic succession plan. As part of the leadership succession planning process, President and CEO, Michael W. Cropp, M.D., will remain CEO, and he will be supported by current Chief Financial Officer Jim Dunlop who will be elevated to the role of President effective February 26. Michael W. Cropp, M.D., is the chief executive officer of Independent Health. Under his leadership, the organization delivers products and services that improve the health of almost 400,000 customers - and has been consistently recognized nationally for excellence in quality, service and innovation. Michael W. Cropp, M.D., is the president and chief executive officer of Independent Health. Under his leadership, the organization delivers products and services that improve the health of almost 375,000 customers - and has been consistently recognized nationally for excellence in quality, service and innovation. His focus on building leadership capacity for sustainable accountable quality care reaches beyond Western New York as he serves in leadership roles on the boards of national health care organizations, including America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Dr. Cropp is chairman of the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP). In addition, he has established several community initiatives to improve access, quality and affordability of health care. He is the founding chairman of the P2 Collaborative of Western New York - one of the original grantees in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) grant. He is also the founding chairman of the Western New York Clinical Information Exchange (HEALTHeLINK), a consortium of multiple community stakeholders working to provide electronic access to health information across our entire community - a recipient of the government's Beacon Community award. Dr. Cropp's approach of engaging physicians as partners, implementing initiatives with community-minded results, and focusing on customer-centric ideals have earned Independent Health both local and national recognition. For three consecutive years, Independent Health is the highest ranked health insurance plan in the New York/New Jersey region by J.D. Power and Associates Member Health Insurance Plan Study SM. The company also maintains Accreditation for our commercial products with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an independent organization that evaluates health plans throughout the country. Independent Health has continued to excel with NCQA's Health Plan Rating measuring system, maintaining a 4.5 out of 5 in 2022. Dr. Cropp received his bachelor's and medical degrees from Brown University, and completed his residency in family practice at Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, which is affiliated with Brown University. In addition to his medical education and training, Dr. Cropp earned an M.B.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Job Titles:

• Chief Human Resources Officer
• Executive Vice President

Patricia Clabeaux oversees the Human Resources department, including the Learning Center. She is responsible for developing and implementing the organization's workforce strategy, and for sustaining an engaged workforce and positive organizational culture to enable the company to achieve its strategic goals. Clabeaux oversees all aspects of the company's workforce strategy, including organizational development, change management, benefits and compensation, associate development, talent acquisition and retention, rewards and recognition, associate relations, human resources technology and compliance. She leads and executes strategies to ensure the company's human capacities and energies are aligned with the company's mission, vision and values. Clabeaux also leads numerous initiatives and programs intended to increase associate satisfaction, and works with key areas of the company to ensure initiatives have adequate resources to achieve successful outcomes. Clabeaux is an active member of the community and serves as chair of the board of directors for the Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted Center for Sight. In addition, she serves on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus board of directors and the advisory board for several hotel management programs. She was instrumental in the development and support of the National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Management. She earned her bachelor of science in business administration with a concentration in human resource management from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Job Titles:

• Nurse Chat