The Denver Division of the American Heart Association (AHA) is excited to welcome Ben Miller, vice president of sales, marketing, and business development for Kaiser Permanente, as the new board chairman. Miller brings nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare space to the AHA and his leadership will be invaluable as we work to create a healthier Colorado for all. Read on to learn more about our new chairman.
- Can you tell our readers a little about you and your professional background? It has been a fun journey – I started as a marketing intern in the Cincinnati offices of Anthem, Inc. My job was to collect provider and member satisfaction data, input into our SPSS Statistical Analysis programs, and create a narrative with the findings. Great place to cut my teeth in healthcare. My tenure at Anthem continued over 17 years, four markets, and multiple roles within our sales/account management and strategy teams. In May 2020 I made the jump from Anthem Inc (BCBS companies) to Kaiser Permanente here in Colorado. Kaiser Permanente has been the pioneer in both values based and coordinated care and, working with a team that makes patient care the number one priority is inspiring. I support and lead our teams in sales, marketing, and business development for Colorado.
- As you think about the American Heart Association and your new role as a board chairman, what are you most excited about? First off, I would like to thank the current board and AHA team for giving me this special opportunity. I’m excited to leverage one another’s skillsets, deepen our external relationships, make those new connections we have all missed, and have fun while doing it. The AHA works hard to make a direct impact on the health of the Denver community through several local initiatives, and I look forward to focusing those efforts and moving the message forward.
- Why is the mission of the American Heart Association important to you? For me it all starts at home. I have four amazing daughters and believe that as a father and leader within the community and AHA, I can help set examples for the next generation on how to improve heart health, how to make the connection for our youth between healthy physical decisions and mental health, and how they can pay it forward as individuals.
- What book have you recently read that you would recommend to others? I just finished Love is Free, Guac is Extra. The author Monty Moran was co-CEO of Chipotle here in Denver. Great tune up for leaders out there.
We’re also excited to announce the addition of four new members that have joined the Denver Board of Directors for the 2021/2022 fiscal year. Please help us as we welcome Dr. Oswaldo (Ozzie) Grenardo, SVP and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Centura Health; Dustin Lijehorn, SVP and Rocky Mountain Office Lead for JE Dunn; Dr. Sarah Perman, ER physician and researcher with UCHealth Emergency Care – Anschutz Medical Campus; and Dr. Thejasvi Thiruvoipati, interventional cardiologist with Kaiser Permanente.
As champions for health equity, by 2024, the American Heart Association will advance cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality. The expertise and leadership that the Denver board of directors brings to the American Heart Association will be instrumental as we work to ensure that every person has the opportunity for a full, healthy life.