Women Leaders in Healthcare - 2024

As a trailblazing, action-oriented executive, Kim Keck’s commitments to advancing health equity and embracing innovation have shaped her career — making her a fitting choice for the first Modern Healthcare Women Leaders Vanguard Award.

Keck joined the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in 2021, the first woman to serve as its president and CEO. Since then, she has fostered diversity and several women currently hold key roles on the BCBSA executive team. She has supported other women through programs such as Break into the Boardroom, designed to cultivate equal representation in governance throughout the healthcare industry.

Under Keck’s leadership, the federation of 33 independent, locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield companies has made care affordability a major goal. Keck has been vocal about the need to use the association’s reach to narrow disparities in outcomes, especially regarding maternal health. She has spearheaded a multi-pronged strategy including public policy advocacy and provider partnerships. She has also played an instrumental role in collaborations to improve data collection standards.

Keck previously served as president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, where she drove efforts to strengthen insights about social determinants of health and connect residents with high-quality services.