MAGMUTUAL - Key Persons

Dr. Benjamin (Ben) Cheek has been a practicing OB-GYN for more than 30 years. Like many drawn to medicine, he has always enjoyed helping people and even spent his summers in college working in hospitals. Dr. Cheek became involved in the MagMutual board after meeting its leaders and other board members. He saw it as a great opportunity for continued learning and a chance to defend physicians. This physician involvement has kept Dr. Cheek on the MagMutual board since 1998. He currently serves on the audit and risk; finance and investment; nominating; and optimal outcomes committees of the MagMutual Holding Company board. He is chair of two committees: culture, compensation and benefits and government affairs. He is committed to defending and protecting physicians and the practice of medicine.

Job Titles:

• Member of the MagMutual Holding Company Board
• Pediatrician

Dr. Lewis is a practicing pediatrician near Louisville, Kentucky. She founded her private pediatric practice in 2009, growing it to a two-location, multiple provider practice in a few short years. As Gratis faculty at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, she is very involved in teaching residents and students at her practice as well as giving lectures regarding the business of medicine and medical malpractice. Dr. Lewis joined the MagMutual board in 2019 after chairing the Kentucky claims committee and speaking throughout the Southeast on behalf of The Institute at MagMutual®. Dr. Lewis has a passion for her community and serves on multiple community and statewide boards to better improve access for children in both medicine and education. She also is active on the legislative committee of the Kentucky Medical Association and is on the board of the KY Physicians PAC. As the youngest member of the MagMutual Holding Company board, Dr. Lewis hopes to best represent the perspective of PolicyOwners™ in her peer group. She is thrilled to play an active role with MagMutual as the company solidifies its position as a leader and innovator in insuring all facets of the ever-evolving practice of medicine.

Dr. Aliff's interest in medicine was sparked at an early age by her mother, who worked as a nurse while at the same time pursuing her master's degree. To fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor, she majored in zoology at Marshall University, attended medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at West Virginia University. While in medical school, Dr. Aliff served as student body president and organized multiple community outreach events. Through that experience she became passionate about women's healthcare and chose a career in obstetrics and gynecology. She has been in private practice for two decades with her husband, Mike, as her partner. Dr. Aliff serves on her county's Health Department board and volunteers at vaccination and community health events - a commitment also inspired by her mother, who worked long hours in the free clinics of the southern West Virginia coal fields. She is a member of the board of the West Virginia Mutual Insurance Company, a subsidiary of MagMutual, and also is active in District 4 of the American College of OB/GYN, for which she is vice president of the West Virginia section. Dr. Aliff is honored to have the opportunity to help MagMutual in its continued quest to be the best medical professional liability company and find new and innovative ways to serve PolicyOwners.

Job Titles:

• Pathologist
• Pathology

Dr. Stewart brings more than 30 years of experience as a physician to the MagMutual board and the company's PolicyOwners™. He enjoys working with patients and helping people, as well as the camaraderie that comes with the support and defense of physicians at MagMutual. Dr. Stewart is a pathologist and has served on the MagMutual board since 2006. He is a member of the MagMutual Holding Company board and its culture, compensation and benefits; finance and investment; governmental affairs; and nominating committees. He is chair of the optimal outcomes committee. As a mutual company that works solely for the benefit of its PolicyOwners, MagMutual is unlike any other insurer. For this reason, physicians are involved at many levels of the company, which ensures that physicians like Dr. Stewart are able to serve as trusted advisors and allies, providing exceptional protection and support to PolicyOwners.

Job Titles:

• Certified Emergency Medicine Physician
• Executive Chairperson, Emergency Medicine

Dr. Bill Kanich is a board-certified emergency medicine physician who practiced in Charleston, South Carolina, before joining MagMutual in 2017. He served as MagMutual's Chief Medical Officer and head of The Institute at MagMutual® for five years. In that role, he advised members of The Institute on medical matters and led educational seminars for PolicyOwners.

Job Titles:

• Physician
• Orthopaedic Surgery / Sports Medicine

Dr. C. Thomas (Tommy) Hopkins has served as a physician for nearly 40 years and is part of a family with medical service dating back five generations. Dr. Hopkins has been in private practice as an orthopaedic surgeon for 30 years and served 13 years as a flight surgeon and orthopaedist in the United States Air Force. As a member of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, he has been instrumental in increasing primary care and surgical residencies in Georgia. He has served on the board of Augusta University/MCH Health System. Insured with MagMutual since 1982, Dr. Hopkins was inspired to be part of its board by one of the company's founders, Dr. Bill Collins, whose work and leadership he admired. He currently serves on the audit and risk; culture, compensation and benefits; finance and investment; government affairs; nominating; and optimal outcomes committees of the MagMutual Holding Company board. Dr. Hopkins is passionate about the uniqueness of MagMutual - a company founded by physicians that works solely to protect physicians and healthcare teams and provide the best defense in the industry.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Board
• Diagnostic Radiology / Neuroradiology

With more than 34 years of combined clinical and administrative practice, Dr. James (Jay) Ball brings a wealth of experience to the board of MagMutual. Following in his father's footsteps as a physician, Dr. Ball spent 28 years in the academic and private practice of diagnostic radiology and neuroradiology. He has since served for more than six years as chief medical officer in a large healthcare system. Dr. Ball has been a board member at MagMutual since 2009. He currently serves on the MagMutual Holding Company board, where he chairs the finance and investment committee and is a member of the audit and risk; culture, compensation and benefits; government affairs; and nominating committees. He also chairs the Professional Security Insurance Company board. Dr. Ball is committed to protecting and supporting MagMutual PolicyOwners™ and to improving the safety of practice environments for both physicians and patients.

Job Titles:

• Administrator

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Member of the Board

Focusing on strategy, growth and operational efficiency, CEO Neil Morrell directs MagMutual's overarching business approach, manages daily operations, and is responsible for the development and execution of the company's strategic plans. Under his leadership, MagMutual has experienced continuous organic growth, uncharacteristic for the industry, and improved financial outlook and stability. He first joined Magmutual in 2012 as president and chief operations officer. After completing his law degree, Neil qualified as a barrister at the Inns of Court School of Law in London, U.K. Following this he worked at Hiscox, G.E. Lloyd-Roberts & Others and Advent Syndicate 780 as both a primary professional liability underwriter and a reinsurance treaty underwriter. Neil then transitioned to Willis Re, serving first as the managing director of Willis Re North America, London, before relocating to the U.S. and becoming the managing director and executive vice president of Willis Re Chicago. In that role he was also tasked with running the Healthcare Practice Group for the entire Willis Re Group.

Dr. Bohlke found his way to medicine by witnessing the impact a family physician had on patients' lives in a small town in south Georgia. He has been practicing family medicine for nearly 27 years and has been a board member at MagMutual since 2006. Dr. Bohlke was introduced to the MagMutual board through his mentor in private practice who also was a long-time policyholder. Not only was the experience of serving on a committee rewarding, but Dr. Bohlke believes his work on the board helps fellow physicians around the state as well. Dr. Bohlke is proud to serve MagMutual PolicyOwners™ and believes physicians benefit from a mutual insurer where policyholders own and lead the company. His experience has helped him not only learn more about MagMutual, but also support the company's mission of serving and protecting physicians. Dr. Bohlke serves on the MagMutual Holding Company board and is chair of the audit and risk committee. He also is a member of the culture, compensation and benefits; finance and investment; government affairs; nominating; and optimal outcomes committees.

Dr. Lietz has practiced emergency medicine for 28 years in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Mid-Atlantic Emergency Medical Associates, where he serves as president and CEO and as a member of the board. He earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and his medical degree from The Ohio State University School of Medicine. He completed an internship with the Eastern Virginia Medical School Department of Internal Medicine and residency training with the same institution's Department of Emergency Medicine. A fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Lietz is a member of the North Carolina College of Emergency Physicians and the American College of Emergency Physicians. He serves as chair of the Novant Health Emergency Services Shared Governance Council and is a former president of the North Carolina Medical Board, serving two terms with the organization. Dr. Lietz has worked with MagMutual for the past several years as a member of the board's Finance Committee.