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Dr. Crystal L. Clark, MD, MPH, has been named deputy director for the Center for Social Impact at UPMC Health Plan.
In 2019, the Center for Social Impact was launched to evaluate and expand programming and innovations that address the social needs and social determinants of health of the communities that UPMC serves. The mission of the Center is founded on the principle of whole-person care for members and patients.
Clark will provide advice and guidance on the clinical impact of the center's expansion, program development, and implement evidence-based approaches that address the social needs many individuals face in their own community to improve health care equity in access and outcomes of health care.
Clark is currently the associate vice president and general manager of Community HealthChoices with UPMC Health Plan in the Southeast Zone, and she will continue in this role. Her new appointment as deputy director for the center was effective Feb. 4.
Based in Philadelphia, Clark is part of the senior leadership team that oversees the clinical and operational management of care for the more than 130,000 UPMC Community HealthChoices participants statewide.
"Dr. Clark's notable background in leading transformational initiatives will serve the Center for Social Impact very well across the Commonwealth. As she is focused in multiple areas, including population health management, health equity, and quality improvement, we are excited about the Center's future," said Ray Prushnok, associate vice president, program development, and executive director for UPMC Center for Social Impact.
Prior to joining UPMC Health Plan in 2019, Clark worked for four years as medical director for Fedcap Inc. Based in New York City, she served as the ranking physician and oversaw a citywide contract awarded by the New York City Human Resources Administration to provide clients with the continuum of assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation services to facilitate health, wellness and self-sufficiency.
In this capacity, Clark managed clinical services, led physician recruitment and retention efforts, implemented process improvement protocols for staff physicians, nurses and social workers and worked closely with executive management to ensure work readiness and employment goals were met. She had previously held positions as chief medical officer for a large inner-city hospital in Baltimore and at a federally qualified health center.
In November 2020, Clark was nominated and elected to the fall class as a distinguished Fellow with the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Founded in 1787, it is the oldest medical organization in the United States.