Centene Corporation Expands Medical Team With Appointment Of Dr. Ken Yamaguchi As Chief Medical Officer

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Apr 27, 2015, 08:00 ET

ST. LOUIS, April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced the appointment of Ken Yamaguchi, M.D., to Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, effective immediately.

Dr. Yamaguchi brings more than 25 years of leadership experience to the Chief Medical Officer role. In 1995, Dr. Yamaguchi founded the Shoulder and Elbow Service at Washington University in St. Louis, which has since become nationally and internationally recognized for innovations in shoulder and elbow surgery, as well as research on shoulder and elbow disorders. He has also had national leadership positions including a current appointment as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ken Yamaguchi to our executive management team," said Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of Centene. "His depth of experience in medicine and medical research will be an incredible asset to our company as we continue to provide the best care for our 4.2 million members."

Dr. Yamaguchi completed his residency training at George Washington University, followed by fellowship training in shoulder surgery at Columbian Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. He later received his MBA from the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. He currently is the Sam & Marilyn Fox Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University and will continue in that role as part-time faculty.

Centene also announced the appointment of Mary Mason, M.D., to Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Specialty Companies. For the past nine years, Dr. Mason has served as Chief Medical Officer, leading the development of innovative, award-winning clinical programs that dramatically improve quality and result in lower medical costs in a managed Medicaid population. With Centene's continued growth and diversification, the company recognized the need to have more specific clinical oversight of its business units. As such, Dr. Mason will join the leadership team over Centene's Specialty Unit, bringing a unique blend of clinical expertise and managed care experience that will help Centene expand this important area of the business.

Dr. Mason completed her medical school and internal medicine training at Washington University in St. Louis. She also received her MBA from the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to teaching Health Policy as an Adjunct Lecturer at the John Olin School of Business, she is a volunteer physician at Casa de Salud, which delivers clinical and mental health services for uninsured and underinsured patients, focusing on immigrants and refugees.

"We are pleased to expand our senior team over Centene's Specialty Unit with the addition of Dr. Mason," said Jesse Hunter, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer of Centene. "Dr. Mason brings a wide range and depth of managed care experience to this important growth area of our company."

About Centene Corporation
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government-sponsored healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long Term Care (LTC), in addition to other state-sponsored/hybrid programs and Medicare (Special Needs Plans). The Company operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health management, care management software, correctional healthcare services, dental benefits management, in-home health services, life and health management, managed vision, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.

SOURCE Centene Corporation