"Dare to Change"

That’s the motto of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which in 1978 welcomed Dan Hilferty to improve playgrounds in the tough neighborhoods of Portland, Ore.

Forty years later, Dan recently retired from his role as CEO of Independence Health Group (Independence), one of the largest health insurers in the country and fourth-largest Blue Cross company in the system.

Throughout his tenure and decades of leadership in the health care industry, Dan never stopped daring to change.

His experience in the JVC formed the foundation of a career rooted in service to others. Dan has worked tirelessly to make quality health care more accessible and affordable.

Innovative and strategic partnerships have been calling cards for Dan, including:

• Quil, a joint venture between Independence Blue Cross and Comcast NBCUniversal to revolutionize the consumer experience in health care
• Tandigm Health, a leading population health services organization that arms primary care physicians with tools and support to accelerate the adoption of value-based care models
• A first-of-its-kind, five-year agreement with University of Pennsylvania Health System, which reduced hospital readmissions for Independence members by an unprecedented 25 percent in its first year

He also oversaw the launch of Independence’s Center for Innovation – aptly renamed the Daniel J. Hilferty Center for Innovation upon his retirement – which applies a human-centered approach to help other organizations solve some of their greatest challenges.

Prior to his role at Independence, Dan led AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies and Mercy Health Corporation, where he expanded access to health care for low-income populations.

A civic champion dedicated to bettering the City of Brotherly Love, he served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia from 2018-2020 and was an instrumental leader in hosting the 2015 Papal visit and the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Learn more about Dan Hilferty.