SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Included Health, the first company to fully integrate navigation and virtual care, today announced the appointment of Michael Bender to the company’s Board of Directors. The board will continue with seven seats. At the same time Hill Ferguson, former chief executive officer of Doctor On Demand, is leaving his seat, as planned during the merger of Doctor On Demand and Grand Rounds Health.
Owen Tripp, chief executive officer of Included Health, said, “Michael knows healthcare and he knows operations. He’s scaled some of the strongest brands in the market today and understands how to tackle complex challenges in our industry. I look forward to learning from his perspectives as we grow. And I thank Hill for his immeasurable contribution building Doctor On Demand and so, Included Health.”
“Included Health is positioned to lead in the fast-growing category of next generation integrated care delivery. I’m excited to support their mission, leadership, and new way of thinking about how we can, and will, get care,” said Bender.
Michael has over three decades of experience in senior leadership roles in healthcare and consumer-facing organizations, and proven strategy and operational experience. Most recently, Michael was the president and chief executive officer of Eyemart Express, an optical retailer that offers prescription eyeglasses, designer frames, and sunglasses for men, women and children.
Prior to Eyemart, Michael worked at Walmart for eight years, including as chief operating officer of global e-commerce. Before that he was president and general manager of retail and alternate care at Cardinal Health, a health care services company, where he was responsible for sales and marketing efforts for the $65 billion retail and alternate care business. Michael also serves on the boards of Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS), Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI) and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Northwestern University.
Included Health’s current board members are Kelly Barnes, Michael Bender, Bryan E. Roberts, Ph.D., Robert R. Schmidt, Kathleen Sebelius, Owen Tripp, and N. Robbert Vorhoff.
About Included Health
Included Health is a new kind of healthcare company, delivering integrated virtual care and navigation. We’re on a mission to raise the standard of healthcare for everyone. We are the only complete, connected healthcare delivery platform designed to support the unique care experience of each person. We offer our members care guidance, advocacy, and access to personalized virtual and in-person care for everyday and urgent care, primary care, behavioral health, and specialty care. It’s all included. Learn more at includedhealth.com.