Medicaid serves as a crucial safety net for countless families across the United States, ensuring access to essential healthcare services. I'm glad to be part of an organization that continues to ensure vulnerable populations receive the care and support they deserve. I look forward to bringing forth the voices of providers who have dedicated their lives to serving these populations, and also representing advocating for the patients and children impacted by Medicaid.
Dr. Johanna Vidal-Phelan serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Quality and Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Insurance Services Division. She leads the organization’s efforts to improve patient care and drive excellence. Additionally, Dr. Vidal-Phelan maintains an active clinical practice as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Dr. Vidal-Phelan earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Wellesley College and received her Doctor of Medicine from UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where she was honored with the Sidney J. Sussman, MD Award for Academic Excellence in Pediatrics. She completed her General Pediatrics Internship and Residency at the University of Washington Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Vidal-Phelan also pursued an MBA from George Washington University School of Business, and in 2022, she earned the Certified Healthcare Insurance Executive (CHIE) designation through the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Executive Leadership Program.
Dr. Vidal-Phelan is a passionate advocate for transformative healthcare models. She serves as the Board President of the Greater Pittsburgh American Heart Association and is a board member of the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP). As a fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, she is actively involved with professional organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), and the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED).
Her advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic earned her the Al Día Top Doctor Award in January 2021. In 2022, she received the YWCA Heroine Award and the ELP Perkins Wroth Leadership Award, recognizing her as a compassionate and visionary leader in healthcare. In 2024, Dr. Vidal-Phelan was recognized as one of Becker’s Healthcare Hispanic and Latino Leaders to Know.
