Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced today that Laura Jackson has been named executive vice president for Health Equity, Access and Improvement. In that position, Jackson will lead a new division within Wellmark dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Iowans. The new division will work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders both within Wellmark and externally to energize Wellmark’s ongoing commitment to improve community health, the Des Moines-based insurer said in a release.

Jackson, most recently executive vice president and chief health officer, joined Wellmark in 2002 as senior vice president of human resources. In her new position, she will lead Wellmark’s enhanced efforts to drive health care change and to address Iowa’s social determinants of health — the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life risks and outcomes.

“Events during the last two years at the national, state and local levels highlight the vital importance of addressing disparities in our communities,” said Cory Harris, Wellmark’s president and CEO. “As the leading health insurer in Iowa, we understand the deep need to improve community health outcomes for all Iowans. Laura’s expertise, experience and passion, along with her long-standing connections within the health care industry and the state of Iowa, will invigorate our commitment to community health, with a particular focus on rural health and health equity.”

Jackson said the division will start by looking at data to target the areas with the highest volume of health disparities in Iowa and connecting with stakeholders to thoroughly understand those needs and opportunities to address them.

“I am honored to lead this new division and very important work within Wellmark,” Jackson said. “By focusing on community health, we can make a long-term impact to the lives of the people living in the communities we serve throughout Iowa.”

In addition to these local efforts, Wellmark also supports the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s national health equity strategy. This strategy intends to change the trajectory of health disparities and reimagine a more equitable health care system. To learn more about this work, visit the Health of America Health Equity website.