Deborah Rice- Johnson

Deborah Rice-Johnson is president of Highmark Health Plan and Diversified Businesses for Highmark Inc. In this role, she is responsible for providing senior leadership and strategic direction for Highmark’s core health insurance business, serving 5.3 million customers and managing more than $15 billion in revenue. Additionally, Rice-Johnson has responsibility for product development, provider networks and reimbursement, clinical services, sales and operations. She is also responsible for Highmark’s insurance-based subsidiaries: United Concordia Dental and HM Insurance Group.

Rice-Johnson has more than 30 years of experience in the health insurance industry, having held a variety of management positions at Highmark and its predecessor company. Throughout her career, she has developed a passion for improving the health care experience, particularly as it relates to oncology services. She is committed to positively impacting the employment situation of our nation’s military veterans through championing private-sector hiring efforts.

In addition to her position at Highmark, Rice-Johnson serves on the boards of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, Carlow University, the Duquesne Club, Blue Health Intelligence and Whitaker Center. She is board chair of the Epilepsy Foundation Western/Central Pennsylvania and board president for Variety – the Children’s Charity. She is also on the board of trustees for the Civic Light Opera of Pittsburgh. In 2014, she was named a Carlow Laureate, the University’s most prestigious alumni award, recognizing those whose work, thought and action demonstrate the highest standards of professional accomplishment and leadership.

Rice-Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Carlow University.