Member Spotlight: Mary Dinnean
Mary Dinnean came to Atlanta by way of Boston Children's Hospital and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, where she watched healthcare affordability become a crisis in real time. Now she's a Director of Strategic Business Initiatives at Elevance Health and a Flare Scholar with Flare Capital Partners, working on the problem that keeps her up at night: how to make healthcare more affordable while improving the actual care experience. We talked to Mary about what she's building, the connections that matter, and why she thinks robotic innovation in elderly care deserves more attention.
Tell us your story - how did you find your way into healthtech?
I found my way and developed my interest in healthtech / healthcare innovation, through my first job at Boston Children’s Hospital. I was a business developer on the national growth team. I was in that role during the height of COVID, and saw the rapid expansion of virtual care, hospital at home, remote patient monitoring, and other tech enabled solutions that allowed the hospital to care for more patients in novel ways; increasing accessibility and often lowering out of pocket costs. These were solutions I wish my family had access to years ago while navigating my sister’s complex care needs.
From that experience, I knew I wanted to play a larger role in scaling healthcare innovation/ digital health. I then went onto work for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island building virtual care benefits and scaling women’s health offerings such as Maven. Innovating care access is incredibly rewarding and a passion I bring to my current role at Elevance Health and as a Flare Scholar with Flare Capital Partners.
What healthcare challenge are you working on, and why does it matter to you personally?
How to make healthcare more affordable, while improving the care experience - a tall order! I’m currently a Director of Strategic Business Initiatives at Elevance Health, focused on executing cost savings strategies; savings that are then passed onto members in the form of lower premiums, out of pocket maximums, and copayments. It’s no secret we have a worsening healthcare affordability crisis that is disproportionately impacting the already underinsured, including those who buy their insurance out of pocket, the elderly, and Medicaid recipients. Getting ahead of this trend is now more important than ever, and hits home for me as my parents are now both on Medicare.
Tell us about a connection you made through Bonne Fire that actually mattered. What happened?
There are so many amazing connections I made through Bonne Fire but I need to call out Rachel Wilson for her willingness to connect, mentor, and get others a seat at the table. She is doing incredible work changing the landscape of venture / PE funding; getting capital and resources into the hands of underrepresented founders. In addition to her own mentorship, she has gone out of her way to introduce me to others working to make investing more equitable. She is someone to follow!
What's one healthcare problem you're obsessed with solving right now?
Making healthcare apps easier to navigate and enjoyable to use, particularly insurance apps and patient portals. Healthcare needs to be more consumer friendly and take notes from other industries.
Go-to spot in Atlanta for a working coffee meeting?
For Five - Midtown
Ash Coffee - Virginia Highlands
One healthcare trend you're watching closely?
Hear me out… robotic innovation in elderly care
