William Winkenwerder, MD, MBA

Dr. William Winkenwerder is a highly regarded American healthcare industry leader. He has been a recognized business and health industry executive for over four decades. Originally trained as a physician, his career includes several leadership roles in both the private and public sector. He served in senior executive positions at large healthcare delivery systems, and also at major health insurance companies. This culminated in his time as CEO of Highmark Health, one of the nation’s largest health systems.

Winkenwerder also spent nearly eight years in public service, first as an appointee of President Ronald Regan at the US Department of Health and Human Services, and then as an appointee of President George W. Bush at the US Department of Defense where he was Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs from 2001-2007.

It was in this second role, while working at the Pentagon, that Winkenwerder was deeply involved in both US national security and international security matters, supporting medical care for US military service members in Afghanistan and Iraq, but also leading efforts to respond to HIV/AIDS in Africa, the Asian tsunami in Indonesia, and outbreaks of global infectious diseases. His work involved regular engagement and coordination with the White House, CIA, FBI, State Department, Homeland Security and Health & Human Services, as well as non-government organizations and countries around the world…China, Russia, UK, EU countries, Pakistan, and nations throughout the Middle East and Africa.

A student of politics and international affairs, Winkenwerder believes it is imperative that the US remains a strong economic and military power, while also building lasting strong relationships with allies in all parts of the world, and avoiding conflicts with adversaries who have different values and purposes. He believes that young Americans who wish to engage globally must educate themselves on all sides of issues and learn from our best thinkers and analysts and from meaningful service in the real world.

Dr. Winkenwerder is a graduate of Davidson College (1976), the University of North Carolina School of Medicine (1981), and the Wharton School of Business (1986). He currently serves on several corporate boards, including UNC Health, and he is the Chairman of CitiusTech, a global health technology services company. He previously served as a member of the Davidson College Board of Trustees from 2015 until 2022.