100 Most Influential People in Healthcare - 2021

Despite dealing with several controversial coverage decisions and some lawsuits, UnitedHealth Group projects revenue growth with more than $300 billion projected for 2022.

Witty took the helm of UnitedHealth following a stint with the World Health Organization to develop COVID-19 vaccines. Witty was also president of UnitedHealth’s Optum business. Before joining UnitedHealth and Optum, he was CEO and director of GSK, leading the drug and vaccine giant from 1985 to 2017. He is internationally recognized for his work to develop and expand access to vaccines. He envisions greater collaboration between UnitedHealth’s insurance business and Optum.

Witty speaks: “It’s not virtual only but virtual first as part of the overall continuum of care. Over 60,000 physicians now work within the Optum environment. We’re essentially integrating our virtual platform within all of that network so you don’t have to make a choice between virtual and physical. It’s just there as part of the mix.”