WEDI, the nation’s leading authority on the use of health IT to create efficiencies in healthcare information exchange, today announced that Charles W. Stellar has been named by the WEDI Board of Directors as WEDI’s president and CEO. Stellar has served as WEDI’s interim CEO since January 2016. As an executive leader with more than 35 years of experience in healthcare, association management and organizational leadership, Stellar will continue to oversee the strategic guidance of the organization, its staff and committees.
“Charles has been an incredible asset to our organization during a transitional time and has helped lead us forward to achieve the goals and initiatives set forth by our board,” said Jean Narcisi, chair of the WEDI board. “Charles has demonstrated the dedicated strategic leadership to further WEDI’s role as a recognized leader and advocate for healthcare IT, launch new initiatives, drive awareness of healthcare’s ongoing challenges, and collectively improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare IT.”
Previously, Stellar retired as executive vice president of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the trade association representing the nation’s health insurance industry, where he was the key liaison between AHIP’s 350 plan and 400 affiliate members, ensuring consistency in messaging and shaping AHIP’s membership strategy. At AHIP, Stellar’s extensive portfolio included overseeing member services related to positioning the association and its diverse membership to a variety of national, state and local audiences.
Stellar also provided comments: “The time I’ve spent as interim CEO for WEDI has shed light on many important issues this association is working to address for the industry. The dedicated board, executive workgroups, loyal sponsors and diverse membership base are what makes the success of this organization possible. I look forward to propelling us even further so as to make incredible impacts to healthcare IT.”
Prior to his tenure at AHIP, Stellar was president and CEO of the American Managed Care and Review Association (AMCRA); executive director of Healthmaster HMO/IPA; deputy administrator of Charter Medical Services in Saudi Arabia; executive director of EyeCare Associates; associate executive director of the American Association of Foundations for Medical Care; and associate executive director of the American Association of the Professional Standards Review Association (PSRO). Stellar earned bachelor degrees in health administration and business administration at the University of North Carolina.
