Monday, February 17, 2025

Optima Health president and CEO to retire at the end of 2017

After 21 years with Optima Health, Michael Dudley will be stepping down from his role as President and CEO of the healthcare provider. (Photo Courtesy of Optima Health)

Optima Health’s president and CEO will retire at the end of the year, the health insurance company announced Friday.

After 21 years, Michael Dudley will retire from both his leadership role with Optima as well as from his senior corporate vice president position with Sentara Healthcare.

Dudley announced his retirement plans internally almost a year ago.

“I cannot thank Mike enough for the dedication, passion, enthusiasm, and motivation he has given Optima Health over the past 21 years,” Howard Kern, president & CEO of Sentara Healthcare, said in a press release. “Mike leaves a legacy to be proud of and leaves Optima Health in a strong position for new leadership to take the helm.”

Dennis Matheis (Photo Courtesy of Optima Health)

Optima also announced that Dudley’s successor will be Anthem executive Dennis Matheis.

Matheis has spent the last 13 years with Anthem and will be transitioning from his role as President of Anthem Central Region and Exchanges and Integration Leader for the Anthem-Cigna Combination.

“Dennis’ leadership and operating expertise with health plans, his experience in multi-state integration efforts, and familiarity with a variety of health plan products make him the ideal candidate to build upon what Mike has accomplished,” Kern said.

Matheis is expected to enter his new role at Optima on Nov. 1, where he will work alongside Dudley for two months.

Following the transition of power, Dudley is expected to take on a year-long executive role managing special projects within Sentara.

Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing
Sarah Fearing is the Assistant Editor at WYDaily. Sarah was born in the state of Maine, grew up along the coast, and attended college at the University of Maine at Orono. Sarah left Maine in October 2015 when she was offered a job at a newspaper in West Point, Va. Courts, crime, public safety and civil rights are among Sarah’s favorite topics to cover. She currently covers those topics in Williamsburg, James City County and York County. Sarah has been recognized by other news organizations, state agencies and civic groups for her coverage of a failing fire-rescue system, an aging agriculture industry and lack of oversight in horse rescue groups. In her free time, Sarah enjoys lazing around with her two cats, Salazar and Ruth, drinking copious amounts of coffee and driving places in her white truck.

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