WHA announces new Executive Director
The Washington Health Alliance promoted Denise Giambalvo to the role of executive director, building on her 14 years of leadership with healthcare purchaser coalitions, to guide the organization into its next 20 years.
Giambalvo, who served first as WHA’s director of purchaser strategies and then assumed a broader title of director of member engagement and business strategy, assumes her new role at the end of June when Executive Director Drew Oliveira, MD, MHA, steps into a new role with the organization.
“After several rewarding years working with our dedicated members at the Washington Health Alliance, I am honored and thrilled to step into the role of Executive Director. Having worked with health care purchaser coalitions for over a decade, I’m deeply inspired by our highly engaged membership’s commitment to improving health care quality, affordability and access for our families, friends and neighbors in Washington,” Giambalvo said. “I embrace the opportunity to collaborate more closely with them and to lead the Alliance into a period of significant growth and impact with our talented staff.”
Giambalvo, who draws on experience throughout coalitions and the retail industry, assumes leadership of WHA at a time in which its members face enduring challenges to meet fiduciary responsibilities and ensure high-value care for millions of Washingtonians.
“The Washington Health Alliance is delighted to welcome Denise Giambalvo as our new Executive Director. Denise brings a wealth of talent, deep expertise including past coalition executive leadership, and a dynamic approach that have already greatly benefited our organization,” said Board Chair Carol Wilmes. “A seamless transition for the executive director means the Washington Health Alliance will lose no momentum in achieving the mission of quality, affordable, and effective health care for all in Washington.”
Prior to joining WHA, Giambalvo was Vice President at Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH). She also served as Executive Director for the Employers’ Health Coalition (EHC) in Fort Smith, AR.
Since starting with WHA at the beginning of 2022, Giambalvo has played a core role in broadening the organization’s offerings to include targeted collaboratives, actionable market-leading insights, solution-focused forums, and much more.
“Denise’s impact on our membership has been clear, and her commitment to driving market change is unmatched. She is a well-regarded leader among coalitions nationwide and has no shortage of ideas, big and small, to deliver on our mission,” said Oliveira. “Denise is the right person to help the WHA continue in our mission of bringing value to our members. Her leadership will benefit all in our communities.”
Oliveira, drawing on a four-decade career in Washington health care, will continue as medical director, leading our health care quality efforts following the retirement of Sharon Eloranta, MD, as medical director at the end of June.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Giambalvo after she was interviewed by its executive committee.