Excellence in Governance - 2023

Deavens, president and CEO of Independence Blue Cross’ parent company Independence Health Group, has served on Hartford HealthCare’s corporate board since 2013, including as chair from 2020 to June 2023. Under his guidance, the board and executive team focused on increasing access to care. While many organizations paused expansion projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hartford HealthCare added 30 care sites in fiscal 2022. Deavens is also a strong advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, starting with changes at the board and senior leadership levels. In 2022, people of color represented 35% of the system’s board members, a 25% increase compared with 2019. Other moves included the formation of a DEI council and four colleague resource groups to provide input from across the system on short- and long-term goals related to diversity.