Blue Shield of California has appointed Indian American healthcare quality leader Kedar S. Mate, MD, chief medical officer of Qualified Health AI, to the nonprofit health plan’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Mate brings more than two decades of experience advancing healthcare quality, patient safety, innovation, and health system transformation in the United States and around the world, Oakland, California-based company stated.
Mate leads the clinical vision and strategy for Qualified Health AI, a digital health company focused on helping healthcare organizations safely and effectively deploy artificial intelligence technologies.
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Prior to founding the company, he served as president and CEO of Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the world’s leading international healthcare quality and patient safety organization.
“Kedar has spent his career helping healthcare organizations deliver better outcomes for the people they serve,” said Pamela DeCoste, Board Chair for Blue Shield of California. “His experience as a physician, healthcare executive, and innovator will bring valuable perspective as Blue Shield continues working to make healthcare more affordable, accessible, and worthy of our family and friends.”
Dr. Mate’s experience advancing equity, healthcare quality, safety, and affordability through leadership roles spans healthcare delivery, policy, innovation, and technology. He has advised leading healthcare organizations, government agencies, and global institutions, including the World Health Organization and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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Dr. Mate also brings extensive governance experience through board and advisory service with organizations including MLK Community Health System, Healthcare Excellence Canada, Center for Care Innovations, and the National Academy of Medicine’s Artificial Intelligence Code of Conduct initiative.
“Blue Shield of California has long been a leader in pursuing better health outcomes and a more affordable healthcare system for its members,” Dr. Mate said. “I’m thrilled to join the Board of Directors and look forward to supporting the nonprofit organization’s mission and commitment to providing access to quality healthcare that’s sustainably affordable for all.”
Dr. Mate is a senior scholar at Stanford University’s Clinical Excellence Research Center. He practices internal medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital and serves on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medicine. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School and a bachelor’s degree in American history from Brown University.