Leveraging data and partnerships to improve community health

Catherine Anderson is the senior vice president of health equity strategy for UnitedHealth Group. She is a key member of the sustainability team, working to support efforts across UnitedHealthcare and Optum to advance health equity. In this role, Catherine is responsible for engaging internal and external stakeholders and partners to shape policy, convene communities, and design interventions to reduce disparities. UnitedHealth Group is a health care and well-being company with a mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone through two distinct and complementary businesses. Optum delivers care aided by technology and data, empowering people, partners and providers with the guidance and tools they need to achieve better health. UnitedHealthcare offers a full range of health benefits, enabling affordable coverage, simplifying the health care experience, and delivering access to high-quality care. Catherine has more than 30 years of experience in public policy development, legislative affairs, advocacy, and product development. Previously, she was senior vice president of policy & strategic engagement for UnitedHealthcare Community & State. In this role, she served as a key member of the executive team and spearheaded national strategy to direct and shape public policy and advocacy efforts for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and more. Catherine led strategic and business development for new products and oversaw community-based integration models that advance health equity and address social determinants of health. She currently serves as board chair for Medicaid Health Plans of America. She established a national Health Equity Advisory Board at UnitedHealthcare, serves on UnitedHealth Group’s Health Equity Steering Committee, is the chair of the UnitedHealthcare National Advisory Board, and is the chair of the UnitedHealthcare Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Board. Catherine earned a B.A. in political science/sociology from Phillips University, a master’s in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver, and a master’s in health care delivery science from Dartmouth College.