Independence names new chief medical officer, appoints first chief safety officer

The health insurer made a series of leadership promotions within its Facilitated Health Networks division

Dr. Rodrigo Cerdá will serve as the new chief medical officer at Independence Blue Cross, while Dr. Victor Caraballo will become the health insurer's first chief safety officer. Diana Lehman, a registered nurse, has been promoted to serve as vice president of case and condition management.
Thom Carroll/For PhillyVoice

Independence Blue Cross has named Dr. Rodrigo Cerdá its new chief medical officer as part of a trio of promotions within its Facilitated Health Networks division, which works with health care providers to improve care models and lower costs. 

Cerdá, who joined Independence in 2019, also will serve as senior vice president of Health Services. He will supplant Dr. Richard Snyder as chief medical officer. Snyder, who has served in the role since 2010, will continuing overseeing the division as its executive vice president.


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Cerdá has led Independence's population health, case and condition management and provider experience teams. In his new role, he'll also be responsible for medical management and medical policy, market-facing solutions and health value optimization. 

Independence also has promoted Dr. Victor Caraballo to serve as its first chief safety officer and senior vice president of quality management and Diana Lehman, a registered nurse, to serve as vice president of case and condition management. 

Caraballo, who joined Independence in 2002 as a medical director, has been responsible for the clinical quality of services delivered through its provider network. His new role will expand his responsibilities to include overseeing the company's Health Equity Program. 

Lehman has worked for IBX for more than 35 years. She led the growth of case management for memebers, leading a team of 116 nurses and implementing the Independence Kidney Care Program. Her new role will expand her responsibilities to oversee efforts to improve targeted clinical areas, including post-acute care and diabetes management.