Patricia Hemingway Hall: Destined to be a Spartan, Destined to be a Leader.

Brought up with Spartan pride, Patricia Hemingway-Hall (CON BSN ‘75) was destined to be a trailblazer for women in leadership. Following in her father Ernest Hemingway's (BUS B ‘38) footsteps, Patricia had no doubt that carrying on the family tradition by attending Michigan State University would best prepare her for a career in nursing. However at the time, she did not know how profound her mark on the healthcare profession would be.

With a career in nursing or teaching being prevalent amongst women of Patricia's generation, it was her passion for the sciences and a strong desire to work with people that lead to her pursuit of an undergraduate degree from the College of Nursing at Michigan State University.

Patricia began her career working hands-on in the clinical setting as an intensive-care unit nurse. While she enjoyed the work, she wanted to expand her opportunities for career advancement by broadening her academic preparation. After completing a master's degree in public health, health planning and administration from the University of Michigan, Patricia transitioned from the bedside to work in healthcare administration. Combining a strong nursing foundation with advanced education and clinical experience helped to position her for a larger range of professional possibilities.

“The clinical setting gave me the opportunity to experience things some other people never will. The experiences gave me a special appreciation of what life has to offer and perspective of what really matters,” stated Patricia. “Nothing is more stressful than the patient outcome decisions that a registered nurse faces on a daily basis. The services we provide as nurses can translate into the best and worst parts of people's lives.”

With more than 25 years of experience in the health insurance field, Patricia has held positions at A. Foster Higgins, Aetna/Partners Health Plans, VHA and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida she established the companies first Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and at Aetna she assumed the role as the company's first female vice president.

She joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas in October 1993 to head a new division, Utilization Management and Network Management. In March 1994, she was promoted to chief operating officer of the Northeast Texas Geographic Business Unit. In March 1998, she was promoted to senior vice president, Geographic Business Units and Health Care Management.

She served as president of Health Care Service Corporation's Texas Division from 2001 to 2006, responsible for Sales and Marketing, Managed Care Network Operations, Medical Policy, Contracting, Provider Affairs, Government Relations and Public Affairs. In 2006 she assumed the role of executive vice president of Internal Operations for Health Care Service Corporation, overseeing the company's Finance, Claims and Customer Service, Information Technology, Tax and Actuarial divisions. In October 2007, she was named the first female president and chief operating officer of Health Care Service Corporations, putting her in line to be the next chief executive of the nation's fourth-largest health insurance company.

Patricia credits her accomplishments to hard work, timing and the ability to not only identify opportunities but to also act upon them. By touching all aspects of the field – clinical, provider, consultant and employer – she has been able to use her knowledge and experiences to further advance her professional status and the outcomes of the healthcare system.

Patricia is passionate about working to make a difference for the uninsured in the U.S. She aims to focus on increasing comprehensive wellness and decreasing the monetary burden caused by lack of individual preventative healthcare. With statistics showing that over 60 percent of adults and 40 percent of children in society today are either overweight or obese, contributing to 40 different disease states, action needs to be taken by both individuals and the healthcare system to create a healthier lifestyle for the majority of people.

“We have a wonderful healthcare system in this country, but it is not perfect. There are so many opportunities on a community level to enhance affordability and accessibility to healthcare. I want to make a difference in the healthcare system. I want to make a difference in people's lives.”

Patricia Hemingway-Hall is making a difference. She has carried on the Spartan legacy of excellence by accomplishing many firsts for women, the healthcare profession and quality patient care. She is a role model for all little girls with big dreams.

The College of Nursing at Michigan State University is proud of the accomplishments of our alumni. If you would like to be considered for an upcoming alumni profile please E-mail the editor, Jill Vondrasek, at jill.vondrasek@hc.msu.edu with information about your occupation and how the College of Nursing prepared you for a successful career.