Alumna and CEO of Health Care Service Corporation to Address Nursing Grads at Commencement

Patricia Hemingway Hall (CON BSN ‘75) has defined her own Spartan legacy by accomplishing many firsts for women in healthcare. She was part of the team which established one of the nation's first Preferred Provider Organization, assumed the role of Aetna's first female vice president, and was named the first female president and chief executive officer of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the fourth largest health plan in the United States and the nation's largest customer-owned health insurer. HCSC operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

On Saturday, May 9^th, Patricia Hemingway Hall will address more than 70 undergraduate students, their families and friends as the 2009 Commencement speaker for the College of Nursing at Michigan State University. The ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts. She will share the journey of her professional career through her commencement speech entitled, "I Wish I Would Have Known That: Lessons for Success.”

Following in the Spartan footsteps of her Father, she pursued an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University. Her nursing career began in the clinical setting as an intensive-care unit nurse. After completing a master's degree in public health, health planning and administration from the University of Michigan, she transitioned from the bedside to healthcare administration.

Named one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare for 2009 by Modern Healthcare, Patricia Hemingway Hall has worked tirelessly for more than 30 years to improve healthcare outcomes, specifically in the fight to enhance affordability and accessibility of healthcare for all people. She is a passionate leader that is making a difference in the profession of healthcare.

"We are honored to welcome alumna Patricia Hemingway Hall back to address this cohort of outstanding graduates,” said College of Nursing Dean, Mary Mundt. "The College has had a long history and commitment of graduating nurses that are well prepared to play an instrumental role in advancing the health of our nation. Patricia's path from the clinical setting to health administration distinguishes her triumphant career. We are privileged to celebrate her experiences with our future nurses.”

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The mission of the College of Nursing at Michigan State University is to enhance the health of the community by providing excellence in nursing education, research and practice that will advance the profession of nursing and serve as an advocate for optimal health care for all people. The college currently enrolls more than 500 undergraduate and graduate students. Its 80 faculty members represent a diverse blend of leading scholars and distinguished healthcare professionals who bring real world experience to the classroom.

Contact: Jill Vondrasek, 517.353.8742, Email