Leslie A. Margolin: President & CEO of Partners Transforming Health,
Former Senior Executive at Anthem/Blue Cross, Kaiser Permanente and CIGNA HealthCare (CA)
Leslie A. Margolin Elected Chair of March of Dimes Los Angeles Division Board
of Directors
Los Angeles Division Board Chair helps lead fight for healthy babies in Los Angeles
(Los Angeles, CA – March 7, 2011) – The Los Angeles Division Board of Directors of the
March of Dimes is pleased to announce the election of Leslie A. Margolin as Chair of the
Board. From its successful war against polio to today’s efforts to prevent prematurity, the
March of Dimes has educated millions about prenatal care and funded research that has saved and improved innumerable lives. Much of Margolin’s own work has focused on patient safety and education, and her leadership on these issues dovetails with the goals that the
March of Dimes has championed for more than seventy years.
Margolin has a passion for the work of the March of Dimes. She was a top fundraiser and
Event Chair for the Walk for Babies in 1995 and again in 2009. These walks focus attention
on the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today – premature birth, affecting more
than half a million babies each year. While at Anthem Blue Cross, Margolin addressed this
issue head-on by launching “Patient Safety First…A California Partnership for Health”, a
patient safety initiative unprecedented in size and ambition. March of Dimes Executive
Director Angele Price welcomes Margolin saying, “The March of Dimes applauds Leslie’s
success as a revenue leader and is proud to support her work on the “Patient Safety First”
program aimed at reducing early, elective pre-term births….She is already helping to save
lives and reduce major healthcare costs associated with prematurity.”
Margolin’s senior executive leadership in California healthcare includes her key roles at
CIGNA, Kaiser and Anthem Blue Cross. Dr. Chuie Yuen, her colleague at CIGNA and
former March of Dimes Board member, notes Margolin “demonstrated remarkable business
success as CIGNA’s President at the same time effecting change, catalyzing partnerships
with physicians and hospitals, cultivating a culture of compassion and commitment at
the workplace, and establishing herself and her organization in the community by
selflessly giving time, energy, and expertise…. Her impact has been profound and lasting on
healthcare, businesses, communities, and those individuals fortunate to serve with her”.
Margolin’s strong commitment to serve her community has led her to assume a number of
public service roles including Board membership with the LA Urban League, Presbyterian
Health Plan (New Mexico), and AIDS Project Los Angeles. About her tenure at APLA,
Executive Director Craig Thompson remarked, “Leslie led us through an 18-month process
that literally transformed our agency, Los Angeles County and services for people with
HIV/AIDS across the country”.
Known for her commitment to achieving high performance through her clear vision and
collaborative management style, Margolin has been repeatedly recognized for her leadership
skills and accomplishments. In 2006, she was named one of four Bay Area “Women of the
Year” by the American Diabetes Association and was also honored as the Southern
California Chapter of Women in Health Care’s 2010 Woman of the Year.
A graduate of Connecticut College, Hofstra University School of Law, and New York
University School of Law, Margolin recently co-founded The Margolin Group and Partners
Transforming Health, focused on building virtually integrated networks of hospitals,
physicians and payers for the purpose of delivering meaningful and durable improvements in
the quality, safety, affordability and experience of care for the benefit of consumers and the
people who deliver care to them.
About the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is committed to funding research to find the answers to premature births
and providing comfort and information to families who are affected. The March of Dimes is
the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide
and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of
babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest
resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook
and follow us on Twitter
For Immediate Release:
Sara Hyde
State Director of Communications
(415) 786-5903